Range setup - need suggestions

jpfrog

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2011
Messages
1,371
Location
TX
My buddy recently acquired some acreage here in TX. We hunt birds and deer in the fall/winter, but the rest of the year is pretty much dedicated to pistols (IDPA) and other forms of shooting. There aren't any really great ranges around us that have distances past 200 yards, so now that he has the land we were thinking of setting up a "range" at his place.

There is a strip cut through is property for power lines, which would make the most sense for location of the shooting positions and targets, but it's on a hill that has probably 100ft. or so of elevation change from one end to the other. It's also running right through what appears to be a pretty common travel area for deer, pigs, yotes, etc. and I'm wondering if locating our "range" there would disturb the fall/winter hunting even though we'd only be using the range to practice during spring/summer. There's also a LARGE field that is pretty much flat that could be used as well. Both locations could provide 1,000 yard shooting options.

My other questions are around setup, once we've picked a spot. We are both already pretty confident shooting off hand with our deer rifles out to 300 yards or so. For longer ranges we will be using longer rifles (I have a custom 300WM and he's got a 7mm Sendero) and either benches or tripods. Does it make sense to setup multiple shooting positions on the range or multiple target locations? I'm thinking portable shooting bench at previously marked shooting locations is probably best- with the target location remaining the same. I could build a modular bench out of lumber and when we're ready to move locations just load it onto the truck...more of a pain than permanent benches, but also gives the ability to remove our setup for when we're not using it.

Finally- targets. We're thinking of steel mainly. Any things to consider or watch out for? We're also thinking paper (similar to the orange peel targets) that will let us see our hits clearly at longer distances.

Your thoughts and suggestions are much appreciated!

-JPFROG
 
Just my opinion of course.
I would set up a permanent bench (if I was to use a bench) and have multiple portable steel targets throughout. Maybe have a portable paper one to check zeros. Spotting hits on painted steel is probably easier then paper (even shoot-n-see) at longer range. Plus the audible feedback is nice with steel.
As far as the animals, amazing what they will get used to. We have to shut down our ranges all the time for deer and turkey, hogs... maybe not so much,lol. I have shot coyotes off public ranges while everybody was firing.
 
i would agree with Bravo on the permanent bench and mutiple targets. that way you can unload everything in 1 place and have it handy when needed instead of having to pack and move it all when changing distance..where in texas are you located ??
 
Thanks for the replies- the one shooting location with multiple targets certainly does make sense in terms of ease of packing/unloading. The hill option would have me shooting top of the hill down facing south southeast and shooting up the hill would be facing north northwest. From the fields, we can setup in just about any direction wanted.

I live in Dallas, but my buddy's place is a couple of hours east of Dallas.

-JPFROG
 
I have multiple target stations as well as multiple shooting stations. I have 4 benches, 2 stay where they are, and 2 are to move around as needed.

Animals do get used to the shooting; I shoot every day. When we sighted in out deer hunting shotguns and pistols the day before hunting season, there were 3 deer bedded down just 50 yards from where we were shooting from, they weren't concerned.
 
Thanks for the replies- the one shooting location with multiple targets certainly does make sense in terms of ease of packing/unloading. The hill option would have me shooting top of the hill down facing south southeast and shooting up the hill would be facing north northwest. From the fields, we can setup in just about any direction wanted.

I live in Dallas, but my buddy's place is a couple of hours east of Dallas.

-JPFROG

I'm in Allen just north of Dallas and shoot several places including our ranch 2hrs south at Buffalo.

We've gone to shooting steel for long range for the immediate feedback.

You can get AR500 steel targets in south Dallas here:
Targets

Call them and they'll cut whatever size/shape you want. I usually just get a 12" square with a couple of .5" holes at the corners. Then, hang from a couple of chains with clips. Two steel posts in the ground make great hangers. The main thing is to keep perpendicular and suspended to absorb impact and not deflect.

This is also a fairly mobile target setup. So, you can re-orient things to practice in different conditions, distances, etc.

We contemplated building a nice bench and ultimately decided on shooting prone. We have several spots that work well. And, you can dump a load of dirt if you need to build a burm.

If it's not an all day public range, wildlife will adapt.

Best of luck!
Richard
 
Warning! This thread is more than 13 years ago old.
It's likely that no further discussion is required, in which case we recommend starting a new thread. If however you feel your response is required you can still do so.
Top