Backyard Range

[flanman]

Anyone built their own. Last year I stacked 4&1/2ft diameter rolls of hay two high and two deep. I then used 2X8 pounded into the ground in front with plywood mounted for stapling targets and the same in the back to ensure nothing went through. Well it worked well however it is proving to not be a long-lasting design. I am thinking for poinding steel rods into the ground then drilling holes into the bottom of 4X4 or 6X6 and then attaching the tops with 2X4 and then hanging plywood on this frame. This way I can remove the front and pile up the hay.

Anyone have any thoughts on this approach or a different approach that has already had the kinks worked out of it?

thanx

flanman

[tnknucklehead]

my son and i have built one useing 6to 8 in dia logs 2.5 ft long plied up tightly with good resuilts for shooting 367 & 44 mag at 35 to 40 yards

[Denny Crane]

I use big bales of hay with RR ties stacked in front and then a stack of hedge firewood with the targets in front of that. Normally shoot steel including a duelling tree. The RR ties work good as long as they are not the primary backstop. They only last a few hundred rounds before they kind of fall apart but the firewood in front of the ties will last a long time with very few rounds making it to the ties.

If I am using the ransom rest and need a paper target holder I normally use a political yard sign stuck in the ground in front and tape the targets.

[PonyLover]

You would be time and money ahead to build a bullet trap (for handgun only). Put hardened steel at an angle in front of a hole to catch the bullets. You could fille the hole with sawdust or just leave it open. Hay or wood just won't hold up. I learned that at 14.

[trap4570]

I have dirt for a backstop at 100 meters.. I covered it with a frame roof to prevent rain washing off the pile. I also have 25 and 50 meter target stands that use the 100 meter backstop.

[ssgunnip]

Go down to the local seamstress and have her sow you up a batch of kevlar curtains as a hanging backdrop lol. I have been wondering the same myself. I mightbe putting in a range at some point and wondered if there was a good website or book with detailed instructions/ideas.

[porsche]

If possible in your area a dirt berm works well, is able to catch the lead for re use, can be shaped for looks if desired, and is cost effective. I use a mix of sand and black dirt piled up with tractor loader. 4x4 posts in ground with plywood on which to staple targets, and looks better too. Trim with weed eater where grass grows.

[dickttx]

I thought of the hay rolls two or three years ago, but soon realized that hay was much too expensive to use, and would soon dereriate. Probably cheaper to hire a dozer to make a berm.
Finally ended up using my pond dam, at an angle so there was nothing behind it.

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The Coldwell target stand, made of 1/4" rod is very handy. The morning after elections I scrounge the campaign signs, then attach targets with clothespins.

[trap4570]

I built my target frame out of 2X4's with carriage bolts and wing nuts for easy replacement. I got tired of having my backstop look like a trash dump after repeated use with target and backer board litter all over the ground. I used to buy the black fiber board used on houses - but it is no longer available. So I've resorted to scrounging old truck mudflaps that I've bolted to the frame and then covering them with Tyvec house wrap. I glue it on with liquid nails. After one spot gets shot up pretty good I just cut a small square patch of Tyvec and cover the area. Tyvec holds tape really well and the tape comes off easy. It's tough stuff.

[texasleaguer]

I made my target holder out of 3" pipe. It's 40" wide and the opening is 36" long. I use heavy butcher paper rolls that are 36x1000ft. I just pull the paper down and clamp it between the two bottom pipes. A magic marker, targets, tape, and some imagination and I can play all afternoon. When the paper gets shot up too bad, I just pull down a new sheet like a window shade,and cut off the used one. I made a roof to cover the roll and it keeps it dry. As for a back stop, I live in a canyon, so it's already there.