Backyard range ideas

[reedman]

Sir Henry's posting and picture of his 30 yard range off his backyard patio (with the mandatory grill) got me thinking. I'm not in any city limits, and have been considering a backyard range for my 4+ acre backyard, but I was always thinking that it would probably involve getting a couple loads of dirt hauled in for a berm. Sir Henry has some wood fencing (and maybe more--couldn't tell from the straight-on picture) as a backdrop for his .22 pistol. I have a 22-250, my Henry is a .357, and handguns include .38/.357, .45, and 9mm. Maybe multiple layers of wood (fencing, with multiple layers of 3/4" plywood behind and sand in-between...maybe even include layers of cinder block). Thinking about a distance of 32 yards (which I understand from a long-distance shooter friend of mine should sight in about the same as 100 yards). Would love to hear your thoughts if you have done something like this.

Maybe a couple loads of dirt is cheaper and easier...

Jim

Newly acquired Henry H006M
Ruger M77 Mk II
Remington 870 Express Mag
Glock 19
S&W 640-1
S&W 1911 SC e

[BigAl52]

If it were me I would do the dirt berm with some sides on it back toward to house. The sides dont need to be to long but I would still do some.

[Rifletom]

If it were me I would do the dirt berm with some sides on it back toward to house. The sides dont need to be to long but I would still do some.

Yep, sound idea right there. Do wish I could do that here, but, alas....., desert will work for now.
reedman, do the dirt thing. As you said, probably a lot easier.

[fortyshooter]

Dirt or sand will work well. I built a box 3ft x 4ft x 16 inch and filled with sand as a test at my range. Nothing we shot at it penetrated up to .308 rifle.
Then I built a 11x10x 6 foot tall enclosure and filled it with 22 tons of sand...basically a contained sand pile with of course an open front.
Works very well as a berm keeping rounds from traveling thru my woods.
Will be adding another berm next to it at some point.

[Vaquero]

I have a large dirt pile in mine, it's 49, 50 yds from the back porch.

Even though there are literally miles of woods behind there I still like the dirt pile.

RP

[fortyshooter]

Here is another target area on my range that was a large pile of timber from clearing the area and is grown up with weeds.
I like to use that area for shotgun targets or close in steel targets. That old sand box I mentioned before is behind the target board with the two paper targets. And don't shoot the white bucket to the right....hand pump for well under it!

[North Country Gal]

Our wood backstop works for us because we're shooting air guns. For anything more, even a 22, I would sure go with a dirt berm. Don't know about your area, but in ours it is legal to shoot rifles and pistols as long as you can do it, safely. If someone complains, you can get checked by the local LEO to make sure you have a safe to shoot setup.

[Sir Henry]

I would go dirt berm even for rimfire. I only shoot air gun in the backyard. It’s legal to shoot here also if done safely. That is what hangs me up. Where I want to shoot in right against the neighbor. No room for a berm. I rear rimfire from two different directions so people do shoot here.