Range Question

[giggitygiggity]

How easy is it to push dirt around to make a backstop? I ask because my current range is setup on a flat piece of ground. My backstop is basically a pile of wood. However, I'd like a nice mound of earth instead. Does anyone have suggestions for how to best move the dirt. I have a tractor with front endloader. Thanks.

 

[JoeMal]

I think you answered your question in your second-to-last sentence.

A tractor with a front endloader would seem to work great for moving dirt...

 

[aka108]

Dig our a trench, piling the dirt in a berm between the trench and you shooting position.
The trench makes a good placel to burn trash if permitted in your area.

 

[lions]

Having a tractor with a front end loader, it all depends on what your soil is like. If you have sandy soil you can just push it like a bulldozer, if your soil is full of flint like mine, you will need a backhoe to loosen it up. I would recommend skimming from the top rather than trying to actually dig in with your bucket.

 

[padd54]

You already have a good start with the "pile of wood". I would cover the wood with dirt.

 

[crazydaysorg]

I live on fairly flat land, but found an area with a slight slope. Probably a 3-4 foot drop over 25 yards. My neighbor was kind enough to dig into and drop the dirt at the end for the backstop. The only issue I had, since I live in an area with a ton of clay, was drainage. The neighbor has been out a couple more times to make sure there is a slight grade to allow proper drainage from the backstop.

 

[NavyLCDR]

You might want to check county ordinances. Our gun range got in trouble for digging shooting pits and piling up the dirt to make backstops, because the county requires a permit to move a certain number of cubic yards of dirt, even on private property - it had nothing to do with the shooting or the fact they are a gun range - it was all about moving the dirt.

 

[giggitygiggity]

There are no ordnances or laws or anything that would prevent me from doing whatever I want with my property and range. I know a tractor with a front end loader is essentially a must. However, I just didn't know if there were any "tricks of the trade or anything.

 

[M2 Carbine]

Does anyone have suggestions for how to best move the dirt. I have a tractor with front end loader. Thanks.

I didn't have a front end loader, so I rented a bulldozer to get me started. I had him just cut down below the surface and push the dirt up into a backstop.


I bought a front end loader to continue building up the backstop and work on the range. It's a constant work in progress.
BE VERY CAREFUL with that front end loader. A full bucket will roll the tractor in the blink of an eye.

 

[EHCRain10]

If your soil is really packed, a plow or disk pulled behind the tractor can help to break the soil up and make it easier to pick up with the front end loader. I would support only digging down a few inches in any one location if you can. I would use the length of the range to acquire the soil. If you lower the entire area by 4-6 inches depending on the area of the range you should have more than enough soil.