How much does a load of fill dirt cost typically?

[FTG-05]

No, not worth it. I only used it for zeroing my Ruger American in 7mm-08 for hunting deer in 2016. Maybe 20-30 rounds, at most.

 

[bdog]

This is my berm

 

[FTG-05]

That's the shape I want bdog!

Home many yards is that?

Thanks,

 

[Mike68]

How about using wood chips from a local tree company? In CT they are always looking for a place to dump pine chips from brush chipping. It becomes nice clean dirt over time and usually has no rocks.

Mike

 

[bdog]

If I had to guess I would say around 400-500. We have our own dump truck and were loading it with 15 yards as we were digging our pond and hauling it to the berm. It is 1/2 mile away but all on my property so we overloaded the truck and had it heaped. We didn’t build it all at once it took over a year and we just moved dirt as time allowed but I am guess there were at least 25-35 loads of dirt used for it.

Unless you build some type of retaining wall the pile has to be large in size to get tall without the dirt just sliding off. The entire berm with wings is about 80’ wide and the center section is about 45’ deep.

 

[FTG-05]

400-500!!! OUCH!

I'm gonna have to rethink this.....

 

[bdog]

400-500!!! OUCH!

I'm gonna have to rethink this.....

It also depends on what is behind your berm and who all will be shooting into it. If you are the only one shooting and are careful and something going over it wouldn't be disastrous maybe you don't need as much. Mine I can shoot up to 400 yards away into it so I wanted something big. Also there are houses directly behind it about 2 miles away.

 

[JerryK]

If your area is not too wet, you can also dig down at an angle to make the berm. [ a good FEL using project ] I shoot from a small hill with a built up berm at 10 and 25 yards [ pistol range mostly ], and a trench from there down a few feet for the 50 yard berm. The 10 yards a little on the right, the 25 a little on the left, and the 50 straight down the hill. That will also provide you with the dirt as you trench down at a slight angle. Although we get our share of rain and snow, the trench stays pretty dry here in the sand and gravel... You don't want a lot of rocks in the berm. You also want to shoot where the targets are near the base of the berm. A bullet will hit the ground and skip [ even a few inches down under the soil ] without loosing much velocity... and head on an upward trajectory who knows where.... I shoot into the trenched pit from a slightly different angle if I want to go 100 yards or more. Never shot a deer more than about 50-70 yards...

 

[3 Horse Ranch]

Good idea, thanks!


I won't be able to use a belly dump due to it's location near trees i.e. my Poplar grove.

And in thinking about it last night, I'm probably going to have to either rethink my location or rethink how I'm going to do this. Where I want to put the dirt/berm is on a side of hill and again, due to the trees, the truck would have to dump on a side hill. I don't think the trees will cause a problem, not the virgin (with gravel). But dumping on a side hill - not good, too many youtube videos of dump trucks falling over down hill.

Due to the cold weather and now rain, I haven't been out there to really assess where exactly I can put my pistol shooting range, I know where I want it, but it might not be realistic.

Re; Dumping on a side hill.
Your quite right, I just retired from 14 years in a dump truck and there would be no way that I would raise a box on anything but reasonbly level gound, especially with dirt. Dirt can be a little sticky especially when it is moist. In the yearIs I worked I never laid a truck or trailer on its side but three of my coworkers did and I've seen a few pup trailers on their side too.
If it's wet dumping down hill it can be problem driving an empty truck up grade without gravel. It always worked best backing up an upgrade as far as I could and then dumping. Pulling an empty truck and trailer downhill usually worked quite well, even when the site was greasy wet.
My employer charged by the hour if a truck got stuck, and charged for the tow also.

 

[JerryK]

Here is a picture of my 50 yard pistol range with berms at 10,25, and a trench berm at 50 yds. [ the berms are actually a yard or two past the 10,25,50, with the target shepards hooks about at the right distance... ] It is built kind of on a side hill shooting down some. I could have put it shooting into the hill, but that would be towards my house/barn and the gravel road. This is pointed out back into the hardwoods.... I have changed it some since 2014, and it needs work since a big beech fell near it about a month ago. With another dead beech I need to take down for safety reasons [ beeches are falling like flies up here from the beetles/fungus ]... I have a shooting table on the rise that has a treated wood structure on the right to hold a catch tarp for the brass out of my Glock 17. Have run thousands of rounds thru it shooting at the AR500 targets... Cheap entertainment...

PS: Just bought me an 18" AR500 gong on Amazon. Going to extend my in ground trench/berm out some this Spring so I can do the 80 yard gong thing like my hero Hickok45... don't think I will be trying any gong pistol shooting out at 230 yards like he does, though... Life is GOOD