Would you consider either of these houses backyard shooting appropriate?

[Blackbeard]

I know it's at least a mile. My principal one is in Iowa but the one nearby in Illinois is well-situated.

 

[Milkmaster]

The only way I would do it there is with a berm of substantial size to guarantee safety. An hour or two of dozer work can make a right nice berm with a desending path into it. Lay a piece of PVC pipe to make sure it drains and overseed it. Done properly, whether or not there are woods or anything else behind it is a non factor. Good Luck with it!

 

[bearcreek]

I know it's at least a mile. My principal one is in Iowa but the one nearby in Illinois is well-situated.

But you said "at least a couple miles". Which is it? At least a couple or at least one? Either way it's excessive. I know of 4 public ranges within about 30 miles of me, all of which are used for LEO training as well as by the general public. Not a one has nearly that distance behind it with no roads or houses.

 

[jmorris]

Yep, key is to keep them "in". How many indoor ranges have you ever been to that have nothing behind them for even an 1/8 mile? I bet none. Many have another business within distances measured in yards or even feet, not miles.

Keep rounds inside your property is the key.