I am considering the future design of an 800 yard enclosed range for ballistic testing and true no wind condition load development. My main question is whether or not this is something others would have and interest in. My thoughts are that the final project would be able to be rented out for other fellow shooters to set up and do their testing. With the current design and material costs I don't see this being a money maker, but am hoping to at least make back some of the cost. I am located in the Wichita Kansas area, so I know travel would be an issue for some. Any thoughts and or guidance are greatly appreciated.
Proposed 800yd Enclosed Range
- Thread starter hick135
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kc0pph
Well-Known Member
Fort AP Hill (Aberdeen Proving Grounds) on the East coast has a underground facility that i think they let some civilians shoot on. Its where (to my knowledge) a lot of the testing is done for major manufacturers .
Just letting you know.
Just letting you know.
Fort AP Hill, VA DOES NOT have an underground range, much less allow civilians to use the ranges.
Cannot say about APG MD.
BH
Cannot say about APG MD.
BH
kc0pph
Well-Known Member
Not sure about underground, that is what I was told while i was there. I do know they have some sort of controlled range, and i do know it is leased out to Horinday and others. I was there while they were getting cleared at the gate.
800 might be a stretch, calculate the slowest cartiges moa dope in MOA for that distance and times by 8" to find out how tall your structure would have to be at the apex, plus another 6 feet for good measure.
To ensure no frost or water damage your talking about some coin,
Now if you put some international shippijng containers back to back, cut the ends out, and figured you had 8 foot ceiling you could make a nice 500 yard tunnel.
To ensure no frost or water damage your talking about some coin,
Now if you put some international shippijng containers back to back, cut the ends out, and figured you had 8 foot ceiling you could make a nice 500 yard tunnel.
kc0pph
Well-Known Member
Hey Cowboy, Can you make a 4 port muscle brake that will thread on my 338-378 wby, I want to replace the original one on the Mk5 with a Muscle Brake.
The current design will use 30 ft tall precast concrete walls with a concrete roof. By my calculations a 45-70 could be shot with an 800 yd zero and I would have about 4 ft of safety room at the apex. Next real question is how much would you realistically be willing to pay to rent it for a day, half day, hour, or whatever. Another issue I'm thinking about is if I should offer to have on supply a selection of powders and components or require everyone to bring their own. Depending on mode of travel this might be an issue. I have a very good local source for everything most would need so with a little heads up it could be picked up and just added to the rental fee. Keep coming with ideas and thoughts.
kc0pph
Well-Known Member
Well if you poured your own concrete ceilings and make everything 6" thick with 35' walls and a 12' wide range you are looking at about 4000 cubic yards of concrete...
I looked up the cost of concrete and saw it is going for 250 a yard. So your total price would be about 1 million dollars. Lease it out for 250 a day and that will take you 10 years to make back your money assuming you can have it booked 365 days a year.
I looked up the cost of concrete and saw it is going for 250 a yard. So your total price would be about 1 million dollars. Lease it out for 250 a day and that will take you 10 years to make back your money assuming you can have it booked 365 days a year.
kc0pph
Well-Known Member
That is if my math is correct, and not including rebar and the cost of labor, or leveling out the ground. You would be better off making a metal shed, or making an earth wall on both sides and covering it with a metal roof.
kcebcj
Well-Known Member
I don't think concrete is 250 a yard. I poured about 300 yards two years ago and talked a deal at 80 a yard in California and that was all 6 sack pumped. It could have changed though.
Any way contact the NRA. I knocked around putting in a 3 station 100 yard rifle and a 5 station 25 yard pistol underground and they had a lot of info on the money side of things. I decided against it as there were not enough people living around for it to pencil out.
Any way contact the NRA. I knocked around putting in a 3 station 100 yard rifle and a 5 station 25 yard pistol underground and they had a lot of info on the money side of things. I decided against it as there were not enough people living around for it to pencil out.
kc0pph
Well-Known Member
There is an idea, Dig a trench 800M long and spray concrete the walls or put up some type of netting, then put a concrete roof over the top of it (or metal), and then bury the darn thing with a foot or so of dirt.
As for the 250 number I dont know just googled it
As for the 250 number I dont know just googled it
RMulhern
Well-Known Member
Why??
Who the hell shoots in a DEAD CALM??
Would be about as useless as tits on a boar hog!!
Who the hell shoots in a DEAD CALM??
Would be about as useless as tits on a boar hog!!
kcebcj
Well-Known Member
Why??
Who the hell shoots in a DEAD CALM??
Would be about as useless as tits on a boar hog!!
I think shooting in a perfect environment would be great for working up loads especially beyond 500 yards. Any error would be either human or mechanical. You would not be sitting there scratching your head wondering if there was a small puff of wind coming up the canyon you just shot across that caused the miss or drift or what.
Once a load is developed in a perfect environment and all the drop and spin drift info recorded and proven all one would need to do is adjust the info as needed to the existing environment in which you are shooting.
There is concrete drain pipe large enough to build something like that and the installation could be sloped to help counter bullet fall somewhat resulting in smaller pipe. (Food for thought)
