Using a BX to build shooting range berm.

[Gary Fowler]

With sandy soil, you will be lucky to get the berm to settle on a 45 degree angle so your bottom berm width for 15 feet tall will be about 30 feet wide and you want to be able to drive on top so add another 8 feet in width so more like 40 feet wide by 15 tall. $6000 sounds like a bargain. I wouldn't even attempt that with my 70 HP tractor and no way would I try it with a BX. Heck I can fit a BX in the bucket of my 70 HP and it would take weeks to build that kind of structure.

 

[BX23S-1]

Agreed, BX would take awhile, but it WILL do it, as long as you take your time, and there`s not a bunch of rocks that your digging in. I built a huge shooting burm years ago with B7100 subcompact, took awhile but can be done, and i didnt spend $6K doing it. And 15ft high sounds kinda high to me. Mine was 10ft at its highest height.

 

[PJSprog]

If there is no concern re: overpenetration or beyond range hits, a thinner earthen backing can be made to work if you have the ability to acquire last season round bales. Stack a couple high as wide as you need. Once they break down too much...burn them, collect the lead (if you care) and replace the bales.

This is similar to what we are doing. You can also minimize the amount of dirt needed by erecting a railroad tie wall and building the berm up against that.

 

[redmaher]

For $6000 I would try my self or buy more equipment and resale when done.

 

[BX23S-1]

Is there a requirement to go 15' tall? I would thing 10-12' would be sufficient and would save a lot of work.

EDIT...looks like 15' is the recommended min.
Ranges | National Shooting Sports Foundation

I think those guidelines are more for public ranges where people bring in some pretty powerful rifles. I built mine at around 10ft high. But i only shoot pistols, and nobody but me shoots here at my own range. I never shoot more than 10yds with my handguns, and i`ve never had an issue. I also have a 1/2inch thick steal bullet trap plate installed down range to capture the bullets mainly because i cast my own bullets to shoot/reload.

 

[KennyV]

You could build it with a BX... But by the time you finish you will be to old to really enjoy shooting... (eye sight will start being a problem as you pass 65 years old)
Hire it done and use those young eyes to hone your shooting skills. KennyV

 

[Ford850]

With sandy soil, you will be lucky to get the berm to settle on a 45 degree angle so your bottom berm width for 15 feet tall will be about 30 feet wide and you want to be able to drive on top so add another 8 feet in width so more like 40 feet wide by 15 tall. $6000 sounds like a bargain. I wouldn't even attempt that with my 70 HP tractor and no way would I try it with a BX. Heck I can fit a BX in the bucket of my 70 HP and it would take weeks to build that kind of structure.

30 yards wide, 40' base, 10' flat drivable top, 15' tall. That would be 33,750cf of soil (not counting tapered ends). If a BX can carry 1/4 yard that would be 5,000 bucket loads.

 

[manosteel00]

I just laughed reading your comment. That is a ridiculous amount of work and I do think I will have the excavator handle it.

I may downsize the width and height of the range but I like doing things right. I also want to be able to shoot from different angles close up on steel and that's why I'm interested in a wider berm.

 

[Ford850]

I just laughed reading your comment. That is a ridiculous amount of work and I do think I will have the excavator handle it.

I may downsize the width and height of the range but I like doing things right. I also want to be able to shoot from different angles close up on steel and that's why I'm interested in a wider berm.

It all comes down to how you value your time. I love working with my tractors, but by the end of a project that large it would feel like work. I'd be more inclined to hire it done, the way you want it, and still be able to play around tweaking things with the BX after the contractor was done.

 

[TMGT]

I my neighbor had a large range built with 10-12ft height and 150ftx150ft length and about a 50ft berm on the 3rd side, it was a huge project and even with heavy equipment took some time to finish. I wouldn't even attempt it with my skid steer much less a BX.
6k sounds like a decent deal and not a big job for a dozer.
I've started valuing my time more and more these days and realizing when it's time to call in help on jobs that are too big for my equipment.