Building My Range

[Sir Henry]

I bought more spinners and gongs in the last few days. These are all for pellets and I have them sitting on the deck. I can’t shoot them where they are and will need to put them further out. The deck will be the firing platform.

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This little package is all metal and weights just over 50 pounds. It’s a 12x12 bullet trap for rimfire and centerfire pistol. I have two rimfire spinners outside but it’s snowing and I’m still in my pj’s so no picture.

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I’m not sure where I’ll put the centerfire range or ranges. I’ll have to wait for the snow to melt. I have barely ventured out of the plowed driveway. There is still a couple feet of snow on the ground and more in places it’s drifted. It’s currently snowing.

I went to a metal fabricator to see about metal posts and they said they were busy building farm equipment like gates and corrals. I bought a swinging mail box post. It needs to swing out of the way for the snow plows.

I love this place and can’t wait for spring.

[Sir Henry]

I ventured out into the snow again. My snowshoes won’t be here for another week and I’m getting cabin fever so I post holed my way around. This is the best place to put a centerfire 25 yard range. The hill would make the perfect backstop.

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Unfortunately the shooting line would be right over the septic drain field.

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An elevated shooting platform would be ideal as it would make the line level with the targets. It would only need to be half this height.

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The view of the house from the proposed shooting line.

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The view of the house from where the pellet targets would be.

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Walking back to the house.

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Another place for the targets and line would be coming into the property. The targets would be on the left and the line on the right side of the driveway.

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Placing an elevated shooting line would work however it would really not look right. Again it only needs to be half this high.

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[daytime dave]

Lots of possibilities. I'm with you, I can't wait until spring.

I'm planning to start with a pellet range first.

Good luck there.

[Sir Henry]

Lots of possibilities. I'm with you, I can't wait until spring.

I'm planning to start with a pellet range first.

Good luck there.

I’m with you Dave on building the pellet range first.

[fortyshooter]

Looks like you still have a good amount of planning time left with all that snow around. Can't wait to see how it all works out!

[Sir Henry]

I put the pistol centerfire bullet stop together this evening so I can shoot tomorrow.

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The instructions were vague and it took me a couple of tries.

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I had good supervision although chasing screws seemed like more work.

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The completed trap.

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I decided to add cardboard to the front of the rubber. It will make stapling the targets easier. Even though it’s a centerfire pistol stop I’m going to use it for rimfire. At least for tomorrow.

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[GeoBoy]

Gene, that side garage door looks like a nice place to store your teardrop. Look as if your going to need a nice JD tractor with a bucket loader to handle that future snow.

[Sir Henry]

Gene, that side garage door looks like a nice place to store your teardrop. Look as if your going to need a nice JD tractor with a bucket loader to handle that future snow.

I’ve had the driveway plowed twice. It was $20 the first time and $40 the second. The UPS truck couldn’t made deliveries for a week. I parked my Sprinter van at the bottom of the hill and UPS delivered to the van and then I drove up the hill.

Maybe next year I’ll have a small tractor or at least a snow blower. Tonight is expected to be the last time it drops below zero this season. In a week it might hot 40 in the day. I’m really unprepared for the cold and snow but seem to be managing.

[North Country Gal]

Go for the tractor with a blade/scoop or even an old pickup with a blade if you can afford it for the sake of maintenance. We use snow blowers all the time for some snow removal on our 100 ft long driveway and we're constantly repairing them. We use two of them, just to make sure we have one running when it snows.

Couple years, ago, hubby got a plow for his ATV. Not only faster, but much more reliable. Down time, compared to snow blowers, is zilch.

[Hatchdog]

Two words. Cab & Heater

Regardless of vehicle.

Especially for Wisconsin.

[daytime dave]

Gene, that side garage door looks like a nice place to store your teardrop. Look as if your going to need a nice JD tractor with a bucket loader to handle that future snow.

I’ve had the driveway plowed twice. It was $20 the first time and $40 the second. The UPS truck couldn’t made deliveries for a week. I parked my Sprinter van at the bottom of the hill and UPS delivered to the van and then I drove up the hill.

Maybe next year I’ll have a small tractor or at least a snow blower. Tonight is expected to be the last time it drops below zero this season. In a week it might hot 40 in the day. I’m really unprepared for the cold and snow but seem to be managing.

Gene,

I am finding that I have one of the best UPS delivery drivers I've ever encountered. My driveway is usually 4 wheel drive ready. Uphill with a curve. Neither harsh, but they are there. The UPS fellow walks up the driveway and puts the package at the door. During Christmas, some of the extras at UPS and Amazon just pulled into the end and threw the package anywhere. Sometimes the Amazon driver drives up, delivers and turns around and drives out. They use a variety of vans around here.

[daytime dave]

Go for the tractor with a blade/scoop or even an old pickup with a blade if you can afford it for the sake of maintenance. We use snow blowers all the time for some snow removal on our 100 ft long driveway and we're constantly repairing them. We use two of them, just to make sure we have one running when it snows.

Couple years, ago, hubby got a plow for his ATV. Not only faster, but much more reliable. Down time, compared to snow blowers, is zilch.

NCG, good thinking with two blowers. Always have a backup. I prefer to use a snow blower and have one on my garden tractor. My JD with a bucket didn't make it near the driveway due to my leg injury or it would have been ready to back up and stack up snow. I have a spare plow with an electric winch lift that I was going to put on a tractor this year. I think I'll just sell it.

[Sir Henry]

Go for the tractor with a blade/scoop or even an old pickup with a blade if you can afford it for the sake of maintenance. We use snow blowers all the time for some snow removal on our 100 ft long driveway and we're constantly repairing them. We use two of them, just to make sure we have one running when it snows.

Couple years, ago, hubby got a plow for his ATV. Not only faster, but much more reliable. Down time, compared to snow blowers, is zilch.

I was looking at tractors today. Currently the selection isn’t very good. I’m guessing in another month I’ll have more options. I’m thinking the smallest tractor I can get that can mow the grass, scoop dirt, and plow snow. If the snow gets too deep for a little tractor I’ll just hire it out.

A lot will depend on whether I get the 15 acres next to me.

[Sir Henry]

Gene, that side garage door looks like a nice place to store your teardrop. Look as if your going to need a nice JD tractor with a bucket loader to handle that future snow.

I’ve had the driveway plowed twice. It was $20 the first time and $40 the second. The UPS truck couldn’t made deliveries for a week. I parked my Sprinter van at the bottom of the hill and UPS delivered to the van and then I drove up the hill.

Maybe next year I’ll have a small tractor or at least a snow blower. Tonight is expected to be the last time it drops below zero this season. In a week it might hot 40 in the day. I’m really unprepared for the cold and snow but seem to be managing.

Gene,

I am finding that I have one of the best UPS delivery drivers I've ever encountered. My driveway is usually 4 wheel drive ready. Uphill with a curve. Neither harsh, but they are there. The UPS fellow walks up the driveway and puts the package at the door. During Christmas, some of the extras at UPS and Amazon just pulled into the end and threw the package anywhere. Sometimes the Amazon driver drives up, delivers and turns around and drives out. They use a variety of vans around here.

Dave

I was thinking the UPS driver just didn’t know how to drive. Then I saw what he was driving. It’s a rented 3/4 ton dry van with single wheels and bare tires. It’s easy for me to park my dually van at the bottom of the hill once a week so he can load it up. FedEx made a delivery yesterday and he had a nice van and tires.

I suspect in two more weeks the driveway will be bare.

[Oldbrass]

In Fonduloc My old brother in law JimBob had about a 3X3 tote with a hinged lid at the end of his drive the parcels were put in, it kept packages nice and dry, much better than laying in the snow..

[Rifletom]

Gene, what is the elevated structure> That yours?

[Sir Henry]

Gene, what is the elevated structure> That yours?

No that was examples of what I would like to build. Maybe finish it to match the house.

[BigAl52]

Funny the the guy charged you double the second time to plow the driveway

[North Country Gal]

One issue with using a plow on a small lawn tractor or even with our ATV is that the snow piles up on the sides of our driveway all winter long because our ATV doesn't have enough power to throw the snow out to the side very far. Unless we follow up and remove the snow on the edges of the driveway with our snow blower, the path through the snow would keep getting narrower all winter long.

A plow being pushed by something with enough power to throw the snow farther to the side would be a big plus.

Of course, this is snow country up here where the snow very rarely melts over our long winters, so it just keeps building up.

[Sir Henry]

Funny the the guy charged you double the second time to plow the driveway

First time is barely needed it. Second time it was after a major storm.