Henry Rifle Forums

After I finish mowing I’m going to work on the range. I bought eight more centerfire gongs. All i need is the hanging chains to get here. Ive been reluctant to shoot centerfire because it scares the wildlife away. I’ve purchased a silencer and am waiting on the paperwork for a second one and will bw buying a third when i pick the second one up.

That looks awesome, i hope you have a great time using it

I’m thinking of having a metal road sign made that says Boot Hill Shooting Range. Then under it have a safety message and maybe a slogan like “ You can be buried here but don’t die here”.

The first thing that popped into my head seeing the round plates was; I would want to paint them bright green and pu Kermit the frogs face on them. I know, I have a weird sense of humor.

RetiredSeabee wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 16, 2026 8:41 am

The first thing that popped into my head seeing the round plates was; I would want to paint them bright green and pu Kermit the frogs face on them. I know, I have a weird sense of humor.

The eyelets could be eyes and maybe a bright red tongue .

I finished putting the wood protectors on. They look great and I’m thinking of painting the wood and protectors olive drab.


This type might work better for having a high cross board between two and hanging gongs under them.

I worked on the range for a few minutes this morning. I still have five more gongs to hand but need hardware to do so. Silver is for centerfire and orange is for rimfire.

I worked on the range again today. I still have another base to put out. It will have a 4x4 foot plywood panel that i can staple cardboard and paper targets on.

Back to the drawing board. The good news is it really makes a sweet ring.

I changed the gongs from another location. These are hung with hardened steel chains and attached to the top chain with a wire tie to have them hang lower. The sound isn’t as sweet and to do all of them a longer length will be expensive.


This is where i stole them from. A bird is nesting in that orange center trap.

What a bird brain.

That is nice!
I love having my own range. shooting steel is a fun engagement.

If you start shooting your centerfire unsuppressed, the wildlife will react at first, but as you continue to shoot they will get used to the noise and ignore it. We shot ppc matches with deer grazing in the unused ranges alongside. In bootcamp in the 70s, rabbits would hop across the 500 yard known distance range while the Marines fired M16s for practice/qualification. The rangemaster would warn that "anyone engaging LIVE targets on MY range will be in the brig before the sun sets."

^^^^^^^

Many years ago shooting a handgun silhouette match a deer wandered behind the far targets. Of course a cease fire was called but what a dumb deer.

Gene, your range is looking great and the colors of your targets sure pop.

BrokenolMarine wrote: ↑

Fri Jun 26, 2026 8:41 am

If you start shooting your centerfire unsuppressed, the wildlife will react at first, but as you continue to shoot they will get used to the noise and ignore it. We shot ppc matches with deer grazing in the unused ranges alongside. In bootcamp in the 70s, rabbits would hop across the 500 yard known distance range while the Marines fired M16s for practice/qualification. The rangemaster would warn that "anyone engaging LIVE targets on MY range will be in the brig before the sun sets."

We had lots of deer on the range in Seattle. They liked it because it was nice grass and clover.

Hatchdog wrote: ↑

Fri Jun 26, 2026 10:21 am

^^^^^^^

Many years ago shooting a handgun silhouette match a deer wandered behind the far targets. Of course a cease fire was called but what a dumb deer.

Gene, your range is looking great and the colors of your targets sure pop.

Thanks. I’ll have it mostly finished in another month.

I rehung three of the gongs on longer chains and painted the chains. They look great and are strong enough to take bullet splatter. The big problem is they sound bland. Especially compared to the ones hung by picture wire.


These are the sweet sounding ones!


This is the problem. A bullet impact just near the wires can brake them.
Of course these are the best. You can’t tell because they are painted but the wood posts have metal guards on them. I suspect these will last several years.

The sun came out so the lighting is different. I painted the swing frame green to concealed more.

I am halfway thru the refurbish of my pistol range.
About to start cutting and laying the used phone poles.