New Range..... Help!!!

[Catwhacker]

I'm pretty new to LRH. I have a place on my ranch that EVENTUALLY I'll be able to shoot to around 1320-1330yards. It's on the edge of a wheat field, with my back stop on the south end shooting from the north. It has raised, hard terraces @ 325, 610, 865, 1030, & 1320-30yds. Are there any little things I can do or put in to make it a better place to shoot? I guess things that y'all have figured out with experience & time. Thanks ahead of time

 

[D.ID]

It is just a matter of terrain. All you can do is take it one placement at a time. Sometimes digging backstops or mowing down shooting lanes can be a pain. Sometimes it is nothing but shifting firing position twenty feet to the right or clearing that one tree nature inconveniently placed right in the otherwise perfect line up. I do not know if there are any hard fast rules (unless you have a back ho and are not afraid to use it) There are way to many variables to every individual piece of property. Do one at a time, till it is what you want. Good luck

 

[calib]

If you are going to be using steel spend the extra money to get good ar500

 

[rscott5028]

Steel is a good investment for long range shooting due to the immediate feedback.

Even so, there'll be times you want to shoot paper, repaint steel, and other reasons to run back and forth.

So, easy access with a vehicle in all types of weather is a good idea whenever it's an option.

Otherwise, steel's the way to go.

-- richard

 

[Catwhacker]

Thank you all for the input. I have been gettin by with some standard 3/4" steel plates. My 6.5 creedmoor BARELY dents em @ 400. I shoot mostly @ 610yds. My buddy came up with a 2'x4' piece of AR500 to shoot bigger stuff at.... Thanks again, y'alls help is definitely appreciated & needed

 

[WildRose]

One more bit. Hang them suspended by good chains from a square frame rather than on poles. You'll get a lot more life out of the steel and make fewer trips to have to re hang them.

 

[Broz]

I hang all my steel with old rubber belting. You can get ot from implement places that repair big round hay bailers like Vermeer or JD. The belting will take hits for years and stil hold the steel.

AR 500 is worth every penny. It lasts and rings much better than mild steel.

Add to your terraces or push up enough dirt so you have a decent sized back stop behind th target. This will help you spot misses to get dialed in. Also if your dirt is rich soil or moist spread a bag of ag-lime behind the target and mix it in. This will make your bullet splashes more visable as it will send off a better dust ball.


Lastly, replace your rangefinder with a better model that has a smaller beam divergence. That way you will know if that last terrace is at 1320 or 1330 yards.

Jeff

 

[Catwhacker]

I never thought about using baler belts. I bet I can find some pretty easy. I have access to a lot of 3/4" & 7/8" steel rods from the oilfield, that's what I planned on building the frames out of.... I'm using a leica LRF 1600 rangefinder. I just couldn't remember the exact range of the top end offhand.

 

[calib]

+1 for the belting a chain will only take a couple hits. I use fire hose with the canvas and rubber it lasts, just don't use a knife to slice a hole through it if you are using any big guns the weight of the plate and the force of the bullet slamming it eventually will tear it.

 

[Broz]

I never thought about using baler belts. I bet I can find some pretty easy. I have access to a lot of 3/4" & 7/8" steel rods from the oilfield, that's what I planned on building the frames out of.... I'm using a leica LRF 1600 rangefinder. I just couldn't remember the exact range of the top end offhand.

That belting will last a long long time even whith bullets passing through it. fold a loop and bolt it back to itself at the top usinglarge washers. Then run that rod right through that loop. That will let it swing real nicely.

Just kidding about the RF...

Jeff