Is dirt enough?

[deaspy]

I will be building a 2 lane range in my back yard this summer (finally). I was just wondering if dirt would be good enough for the back stop or should I use lumber also. I feel that dirt should do the trick but I am looking for second opinions for safety's sake.

I will be using .40, .45 and .223.

Your thoughs and comments will be appreciated.

thanks,
JH

[c-unit]

I'm in no way an expert, so you may want to wait for others to reply as well. But, I think it would depend on several things. 1) How much dirt you used and 2) What would be behind this. I mean, if theres 20 acres of woods, it would be completely different if there was a house 50 yrds. behind this range.

[J-Mann]

Shooting range in your back yard! You are indeed a very lucky person.

If possible I think it would be best to have a natural barrier (hill) behind the dirt to further stop the round. As c-unit said, this is hard to gauge due to not knowing the landscape around your house. You don't want to be liable for a stray round. You may be able to stack some sand bags up to stop rounds, but that will definitely be some work.


J-Mann

[Cascade]

I'd suggest you contact your local outdoor range and ask what they use. Enjoy your new range (I'm so jealous).

[sigy]

Shooting range in your backyard? I'm jealous too.

[nwohsy]

If that pile of dirt is 25 ft high you should be ok, but I guess that depends on how long the range is. 50 yard range with a 25 ft high pile of dirt, ok. If you are shooting that 223 on a 200 yard range, then you will definately have to go higher with the dirt. Your backyard may wind up looking like a local highway department facility. yes I too am very jelous.

[Cascade]

I guess we're all assuming you live in an area without local ordinances prohibiting the discharge of firearms (like within city limits). I'm sure you've covered your bases and live in a lovely little rural and non-incorporated section of the world. Right?

Let all of us jealous people know how you eventually decide to construct your range. Enjoy!

[deaspy]

Thanks for the reply's.

I live in Orange County Virginia (about as rural as it gets). I have 4 acres (square) and would like to set up on the back right corner. The land slopes slightly down hill on my property then drops into a small ravine/valley. Behind the area that I plan to use is nothing but woods. I do have a house behind me but it is about 100 yards behind the back left corner across the valley. I did not even know it was there till all the leaves came off the trees. I was thinking a dump truck load or two of dirt shaped in "U" in the target area would probably be the best way to go.

thanks again,
JH

[Cam]

deaspy,

Does that house 100 yards away have any kids? What about kids in your general area? There is a good chance that once they hear the gunfire they'll start wondering over in your direction to see what is going on. Is your property fenced in? Posted?

[deaspy]

Cam,

No kids, no fence and no postings.

I think they shoot from there back yard. The house is on a dirt road that passes on the left side of my property, so that the right side of their house is pointed toward the back of mine. It may be more than 100 yards, probably closer to 300.

Note, on weekends it can sound like down town Bagdad around here. I have even heard a full auto once or twice.

good question. The woods are very dense and overgrown. We are kinda near the Wilderness Battlefield. The only thing wandering around back in my woods are Gohsts and deer.

thanks,
JH

[J-Mann]

Man, sounds like the wild west out there! Surely with all those neighbors you could trade one of 'em a hog or chicken to push you up some dirt with their tractor. You'd better decide if you are with the Hatfields or the McCoys pretty fast. "Fire on the mountain run boy run! Devil's in the house of the risin' sun....."


Good luck to younse (banjos playing in background for effect),


J-Mann

[JimSpoor]

I'm not a contractor but I would think that it will be more like five or six dump trucks and then some bulldozer work. It all depends on the way your property lies but I would think you would want your berm 8 foot high MINIMUM and at least 12' deep at the base. Not that it would take that much dirt but you need the base for the stability. In my estimation the height is more critical. It is much more likely for a round to get loose over a berm than to punch through one. If you don't re-enforce the berm in some way to prevent erosion at least plant it with a deep or mat rooted grass.

P.S. Growing up I too was able to target practice with my firearms in the backyard. Fortunately our property laid in such a way that I had a natural backstop. (Side hill). Good Luck and congrats on the good living.

[CanineCop]

I also am not a contractor but... It seems to me that if you don't contain your dirt pile it will become a spread out shollow mound within a couple of seasons. You might be better off with sand bags or maybe stacked tires filled with dirt or cement. If you go with tires, you'll want two rows so you can put the center of one tire behind the joint where the first two come together.
I had a range in my yard when I lived in Alaska but I had a natural backdrop. I still miss it, I'm envious.
Good Luck with your project, John

[CalDep]

AS the other's have posted, I am in no way a range contractor, but was a range master for several years. I would recommend renting a bulldozer, as someone else stated, and digging in to the upward slope at least eight feet, so that you have containment on three sides (The end of the range and the two sides). The last thing you want is a round getting out of the range and accidentially killing something (ie:kid, family pet, whatever). Maybe install a flag pole, and every time you decide to throw a few down range, raise a large red or orange flag. Let your neighbors know that you are putting in a range (Unless you want your range all to yourself, and don't want to share) and tell them that when the flag is up, the lead's fly'in.

PS, I'm jealous too!!!!

CalDep

[deaspy]

I probably will do a combination of everything, tires, sandbags, dirt mounds in U and anything else I can find to make it safe.

For anyone who is interested, I have a satellite photo of the property and surrounding area with the property lines, house and shooting area labeled. If you would like to see it, email me at deatwo@erols.com and I will send it to you. I could not get it down small enough to post here. It is only 90Kb.

thanks,
JH:ufo: :shoot1: