Backyard/home pistol ranges?

[cuda67bnl]

I’m curious how others have their backyard ranges set up. What do you use for targets? Sizes? What distances? Care to share pics? I’m looking for new ideas……

 

[Torn]

Mine is a 45 yard primarily pistol range with various size steel (pistol caliber only), stands for paper and walls I can set up for USPSA. Sloped for drainage, removed all rocks, planted grass and a mountain for back stop.

 

[Spas-12 Owner]

I've got a 3 sided, 30x40 yard, U shaped range to run shoot n move drills as well as some basic shooting experience. I can push to 150 yards, but it's only straight shooting.

I use steel thats rifle rated, IDPA size cardboard and paper targets, with stands. Some random fun targets and old real estate signs because they were being thrown away.

I use dirt and tires for my back stop, as I'm in middle Ga with no mountain, lol.

I like plastic barrels, filing cabinets and anything you could think of to use for props while shooting.

 

[cuda67bnl]

Mine is in kind of a bowl, out back in the woods. If you look close, you might see some glimpses of orange steel. 2nd pic is a panoramic shot.

 

[steviesterno]

I live in down town ATL and I just pop a few rounds off my balcony every few nights. No targets, and I find it really helps keep rent reasonable.

 

[GAgunLAWbooklet]

Just remember this about backstops:
you may shoot a steel target expecting that if the bullet hits the target it will shatter and the fragments won't go any significant distance.

You may figure that if you miss the steel target, then the bullet will go directly into your backstop and bury itself in the dirt.

Both of these statements are true.

But what if you just nick the edge of a steel target

or a wooden target frame

or the edge of some other object that you are shooting -- a reactive target?

Then your bullet will not continue flying in a straight line into the backstop / berm. It will veer off at a sharp angle possibly missing the backstop entirely.

 

[palmettomoon]

Just remember this about backstops:
you may shoot a steel target expecting that if the bullet hits the target it will shatter and the fragments won't go any significant distance.

You may figure that if you miss the steel target, then the bullet will go directly into your backstop and bury itself in the dirt.

Both of these statements are true.

But what if you just nick the edge of a steel target

or a wooden target frame

or the edge of some other object that you are shooting -- a reactive target?

Then your bullet will not continue flying in a straight line into the backstop / berm. It will veer off at a sharp angle possibly missing the backstop entirely.

Or the ground. If your bullet strikes the ground (say under the target and not into the berm) at any type of angle other than straight on flat, it IS going to ricochet and you are NOT going to be able to see it or guess where it goes.

 

[GAgunLAWbooklet]

I can't find a good picture of the backstop that I created--- it's hidden behind this giant sheet of cardboard.

But it's about 6 feet tall. A straight vertical wall of Georgia clay several feet wide.
Made by digging into the side of a pretty steep hill by hand using picks and shovels (although a bobcat or a mini excavator would've been handy!!))

All of the targets that we shoot
go directly in front of it -- close to the wall of dirt.

That steel gong you see to the left of the target is not in the proper position to shoot-- when it's time for us to ring the steel we will move it over to the right to be directly in front of that backstop and as close to dirt wall as possible .

 

[Timber Cruiser]

Before I moved to the mountains I had a nice setup. 350 yards marked every 50 with steel, paper and an enclosed bench that doubled as a bad weather blind for deer season. I miss it terribly.