Berm size, 300-400 yrds

[Younggun]

Debating on adding a longer rifle range at the house. Just guessing off hand from end to end I might be able to get 400 yrds out of it. Problem is it seems I would need a pretty good size backstop.

Bout how wide/tall would I need to go. I could start moving dirt and decide when it looked good but I wanna get an idea to be sure I would have enough dirt to finish.

 

[stx kid]

describe your land. it it hily.. wooded etc

 

[codygjohnson]

10' tall minimum, probably 12' wide. At even 500 yards, if you are holding over, you should never be able to see sky with a 10' berm. Likewise, it would take more than a 40mph wind to push practically any bullet anywhere near 6' off target.

 

[Younggun]

describe your land. it it hily.. wooded etc

Pretty much flat with mesquite trees. I don't get any natural help.

 

[FlashBang]

What are you planning on shooting and how good are you? Some shooters may only need a 4'x4 according to their claims... Others I have seen may need the Swiss Alps.

 

[ChunkyMonkey]

I'm guessing for his 50cal

 

[TexasRedneck]

IMO, just no way to be "too safe". Besides accounting for erosion over time....

 

[Younggun]

I'm guessing for his 50cal

Actually I was plannin to use it for a my AR, .243, and 25-06. I know I don't have enough dirt for another sustainable .50 cal range.

 

[Younggun]

What are you planning on shooting and how good are you? Some shooters may only need a 4'x4 according to their claims... Others I have seen may need the Swiss Alps.

I generally shoot aound 1-1.5 MOA with factory ammo in my .243, have gone as bad as 4 or so with some reloads it didn't like. With my AR I have had groups as large as 10 MOA and as small as 1-2 moa....Think I was having optic problems on the first one...

 

[shortround]

Before you can determine the size of your backstop, you must consider the maximum range-to-impact of the various weapons you wish to shoot.

If the RTI extends onto properties not owned by you, then you have to mitigate the risk of a shot leaving your property.

The best way to do that is to build a backstop high enough to eliminate any view of the sky above your target.

Then, if you allow others to shoot on the property, you will have to find a way that they don't take an unsafe shot above the backstop.

 

[Younggun]

I have decided against the idea for now. Hope to revisit the idea some day but not until I can be sure I can minimize any risk involved. Thanks for everyones advise.

 

[Army 1911]

I think the NRA has some range design specs and that would be a good place to start.