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Building a home gun range can be a significant undertaking. You’ll need enough space on your property, a selection of steel targets, and a proper backstop. Additionally, you must ensure safety not only for yourself but for everyone around you. In this blog, we help you select a space, design your berm, and choose the correct targets for your range.
The first thing you’ll need to determine is where to locate the range on your property and the desired shooting distance. This depends entirely on your preferences and what is feasible given your property size.
The challenging part is identifying the best location on your property. Laws regarding shooting ranges vary from state to state and city to city, so be sure to check your local regulations on zoning, firearm discharge, noise ordinances, and building permits, among others.
Building a 1000-yard range is somewhat more complex than constructing a standard range. This complexity arises not only from the length but also from the use of high-powered rifles. At least 120 acres of land are recommended to provide ample space for a backstop and sufficient buffers on either side of the shooting lane.
Backstops/berms are a crucial part of a shooting range to be 100% certain that the bullets you shoot stay in the range. You have a few different options when it comes to shooting range backstop.
Railroad ties are a great way to stop bullets because they are relatively inexpensive. You can get a railroad tie for about $15 apiece which is much less than building any of the other options. Just like steel and rubber backstops, it allows you to build a range on flat land.
Angled steel backstops work similarly to targets where the bullets are deflected downward into the ground. If you have limited space, steel backstops will be a great option.
Rubber backstops absorb the bullets, slowing them down safely inside the backstop. It’s a great option if you have limited space, and you don’t want it to ring like your targets.
An earth backstop is just a large pile of dirt to stop the bullets. This is by far one of the most popular options especially when your land has large hills that you can make use of.
There’s no one-size-fits-all requirement for private shooting ranges, but for public ranges, the Department of Energy advises that a berm be 26 feet tall and 10 feet wide at the top. While you’re not legally required to meet those specs on private land, they’re a good benchmark for what a safe and effective backstop might look like on your property.
Once you’ve covered the safety and layout basics, it’s time for the fun part of choosing your targets. Think about how you plan to use the range: whether you’re a sports shooter, hunter, or just a weekend warrior, the best setup will look a little different for each purpose.
If you’re a sport shooter, practice with the same types of targets used in your competitions. We have a wide variety of AR500 Torsos and other Steel Gongs designed specifically to meet the needs of competitive shooters.
If you’re just a weekend shooter we recommend getting a variety of different targets that you can set up at different distances, so you can pick how challenging of a target you want to hit. We also recommend a Dueling Tree if you shoot with others—because who doesn’t love a little friendly competition?
For our hunters, we recommend getting targets to simulate the animal/vitals of what you’re shooting. We have a Small Game Knock-Down Target, or if you’re shooting large game animals like deer or elk you could get an AR500 Gong the size of their vitals. Setting a few of these up at different distances can help improve your shot when changing distances for when hunting season comes around.
You’ve now built the bulk of your range. There are some additional things that you can add to make your range a little easier to use. We recommend having a table when shooting to keep your firearms clean when you are reloading or if you’re shooting multiple guns. Lastly, the only other thing we recommend is marking your distances. This not only helps you know how far you’re shooting, but it also prevents you from damaging your targets by shooting too close.
Tailor your shooting range to your needs. With a wide selection of AR500 steel targets, plate racks, mounting equipment, and more, Angry Hornet is a one-stop shop for competitive shooters, weekend warriors, and hunters alike.
All of our products are made in the USA and ship nationwide. Built to take on the elements, our targets are rated for an expansive range of firearm calibers, from .22LR all the way up to .50BMG.
