Safe or not?
- Thread starter Wildfan99
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DustyRusty
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- Jan 14, 2020
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- 292
The picture tells little. Do all the shots impact a backstop? If the targets are set up so all shots hit the back stop its good. But that is a difficult set up.
Having the target immediately in front of a backstop is indeed safer.
Do the range rules cover this?
Having the target immediately in front of a backstop is indeed safer.
Do the range rules cover this?
OP
OP
Wildfan99
Member
There is not a backstop behind each target.
The berm is at the 100yd mark from the shelter and would do little to stop a ricochet.
I contacted one of the board members and they didn't see an issue stating that they were "just shooting .22's"
I'm not familiar with their rules, but the neighborhood has noticed more and more safety concerns over the past couple years.
The berm is at the 100yd mark from the shelter and would do little to stop a ricochet.
I contacted one of the board members and they didn't see an issue stating that they were "just shooting .22's"
I'm not familiar with their rules, but the neighborhood has noticed more and more safety concerns over the past couple years.
DustyRusty
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- Joined
- Jan 14, 2020
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- 292
Any range safety officer would tell you, All shots are to hit the backstop, period. Impacts with the ground or anything other than the backstop is a Richotte hazard.
Being familiar with the rules or lack of rules would be a plus if complaining further.
.22 caliber bullets are deadly.
Being familiar with the rules or lack of rules would be a plus if complaining further.
.22 caliber bullets are deadly.
BreechFace
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- Mar 2, 2020
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- 3,512
Backdrops should be at each target distance. You are right to question the safety of that range, at least from the limited picture shown.
There is good information put out by the NRA that details correct angles of departure, coefficient of dispersion and the like which determines height, width and depth of backstops for given ranges, calibers, etc.
Very lengthy but thorough handbook on range design. https://nra.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/NRA-RANGE-DESIGN-AND-SAFETY-HANDBOOK-DEC-2022-22-12-22-1.pdf
There is good information put out by the NRA that details correct angles of departure, coefficient of dispersion and the like which determines height, width and depth of backstops for given ranges, calibers, etc.
Very lengthy but thorough handbook on range design. https://nra.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/NRA-RANGE-DESIGN-AND-SAFETY-HANDBOOK-DEC-2022-22-12-22-1.pdf
Last edited:
Chuck R.
Member
Depends on the layout and the rules.
Back before I built my range I belongs to a private club with a very, very nice range. This was the former Hodgdon test facility in Desoto KS.
They had major berms for backstops at the end of each firing range. On the 100-300 "high power" range they had concrete strips resembling crosswalks with PVC pipe stand holders at 100-200yds. You could put a target up at 100-200 or 300 yds on that range at your discretion. The 100yd range was similar, one large berm at the end, but tgt holders at 50 & 100.
Their rule was that the projectile had to pass the tgt frame, thereby ensuring that the rds impacted the main berm/backstop.
Back before I built my range I belongs to a private club with a very, very nice range. This was the former Hodgdon test facility in Desoto KS.
They had major berms for backstops at the end of each firing range. On the 100-300 "high power" range they had concrete strips resembling crosswalks with PVC pipe stand holders at 100-200yds. You could put a target up at 100-200 or 300 yds on that range at your discretion. The 100yd range was similar, one large berm at the end, but tgt holders at 50 & 100.
Their rule was that the projectile had to pass the tgt frame, thereby ensuring that the rds impacted the main berm/backstop.
We do not allow that at our range, and all targets must be at the back stop. A bullet leaving the range is extremely dangerous and can get it shut down in short order. Imo, more bullets hit low and skip over the berm, than shooters shooting over the berm. The main problem is when people place the targets on the ground, or when the firearm is not sighted in correctly. Not sighted in correctly is large problem with public sight in days before hunting season.
CapnMac
Member
There is a legitimate notion that "enough backstop" will allow for butts to be at varying distances in front of the berm.
What is "enough" is going to start an argument or two. A 60 foot wide 30 foot tall berm with 30 x 15 side berms is probably "enough" for a 100 or 200 yard, with butts are 25 & 50 yard increments.
Not every place is going to have an easy time sorting a three-story berm, though.
What is "enough" is going to start an argument or two. A 60 foot wide 30 foot tall berm with 30 x 15 side berms is probably "enough" for a 100 or 200 yard, with butts are 25 & 50 yard increments.
Not every place is going to have an easy time sorting a three-story berm, though.
Our range has backstops for every distance. Our long range course has different shooting positions for each distance from 400 yds. to 1000 yds. so targets stay at the berm always. Only issue is whoever gets there first chooses which position he wants to shoot, and others who come later have to shoot the same, or wait. We also have a rule for that range that you can't hold your shooting position for more than 90 minutes, and if another wants to shoot further you give up your position after 90 minutes.
Our 100, 200, and 250 yd. ranges are all separate, so everyone shoots the same distance. Our action range has 50-200 yd. with berms every 50 yds. so you can choose your distance to targets.
Our 100, 200, and 250 yd. ranges are all separate, so everyone shoots the same distance. Our action range has 50-200 yd. with berms every 50 yds. so you can choose your distance to targets.
I've seen ranges set up like this. They are trying to save space and money by having only one backstop and have only one firing position. It can be safe if it is carefully designed, but it's tricky to make everything work. I've been at one that had a single firing line and a single backstop/berm at 300yds with targets at 100, 200, & 300. If you shot prone at a target at the 100yard line, there was a good chance your bullets would go over the berm. Shooting from other positions at the closer targets introduced the possibility of having bullets hit the ground before they reached the berm.
Both of those things are, very obviously, very bad.
To make it work, you need a very tall berm. You may also need bullet baffles set up near the firing line to limit the trajectory and help insure that all bullets strike the berm.
Both of those things are, very obviously, very bad.
To make it work, you need a very tall berm. You may also need bullet baffles set up near the firing line to limit the trajectory and help insure that all bullets strike the berm.
