Shooting back stop?

[Jstpssng]

Having had lead fly over my head a few times from inadequate backstops, I appreciate the OP's concern and some of the ensuing pictures. (OK, one was intentional and should have been reported.)

 

[Tinhack]

Check your state's laws on shooting. Even in the country, there may be restrictions on how close other buildings (houses) can be when discharging guns. Here in Texas, it's 1000 feet!

I thought I had better pictures but this is it. I use this mostly for close range handguns but I have used it for sighting in my rifles too. The round things are 8" paper plates. The backstop is logs and dirt. There's over one mile clear range behind it.

 

[1 Old Man]

Check your state's laws on shooting. Even in the country, there may be restrictions on how close other buildings (houses) can be when discharging guns. Here in Texas, it's 1000 feet!

I thought I had better pictures but this is it. I use this mostly for close range handguns but I have used it for sighting in my rifles too. The round things are 8" paper plates. The backstop is logs and dirt. There's over one mile clear range behind it.

View attachment 4127193

This.....but many Texas counties also have a minimum 10 acre rule
(backstop or not) regarding gun use. Your new area may be similar. Can't
hurt to check it out.

 

[grsthegreat]

I have about 1,200 feet of trees behind mine

 

[Sigarms]

This.....but many Texas counties also have a minimum 10 acre rule
(backstop or not) regarding gun use. Your new area may be similar. Can't
hurt to check it out.

I actually need to run into town to the sheriffs office to renew my CC permit and I'll ask.

First check mark though is we actually live outside of town limits. That's a biggie in our county.

Absolute worse case, I have a friend I shoot with on his company property that really isn't that far from our new place. I already told him I may be coming up to his place to shoot a lot more if I can't at the home we're buying.

My wife wanted this house and I wasn't going to put my foot down and say that if I can't shoot in my backyard it's a no go on my end LOL. Loved being able to shoot where we are now at, but both the house and land is just getting too much for the both of us.

 

[Doorman63]

Approx 200yd rifle range.

Berm is 12’ wide x 8’ tall x 5’ thick.

I keep my plates on stands knee high.

Most shooting is done prone.

Our pistol range is against a pond bank that has a 8’ rise on the backside. Can’t find any pics of it!




The berm is way in the back by the tree line

 

[paulsharvey]

So, it depends on the type of shooting you do. IMO, a 5 ft or 6 ft Berm, 8 or so feet wide is plenty for aimed rifle fire. At the same time, 15 ft tall berm, 80 ft wide isn't big enough for some of the run and gun games. If you can't keep your shots on a 4x8 sheet of plywood, maybe move closer...

Anyways, my current set up is about 7 ft tall; 18 ft wide; maybe sweeping forward 2 or 3 feet on ends; and is a mix of tree debris, roots, and dirt. Its probably not really sufficient for a couple dueling trees or similar, its set up for aimed rifle fire, either steel or paper targets.

 

[RayIN]

Ok so we want a dirt backstop/berm of at least 8' tall, sure. But how wide does it need to be? And for light caliber target practice (say, 9mm and .22 only), what would the minimum reasonable "empty land" distance behind the backstop be? I'm just starting to plan mine. Only have like 75 yards linear range and then a quarter mile empty woods behind it.

Do you own that woods? If not, how will you control people walking in that woods while you're shooting that direction?

 

[paulsharvey]

How wide, I've would say, 100 MOA wide roughly is a good, safe number. So, 100 yards=8+ ft wide; 200 yards= 16+ ft wide; 300 yards= 24 ft wide; roughly, assuming controlled, aimed fire. Height, I would say 50 MOA?

Edit; thats from target, so if your shooting at a target stand thats 3 ft tall; No, a 4 ft berm isn't good; Basically draw a 100 MOA circle around the target, and that should have a firm back stop

 

[Jstpssng]

Do you own that woods? If not, how will you control people walking in that woods while you're shooting that direction?

That's how I lost my shooting range. It's about 100 yards to my back property line, the abutters were never up in the 20+ years I've been here. Then my neighbor bought it amd put a road just past my corner... even with a good backstop shooting handguns I don't want to do it.
As mentioned before I've had lead fly by because people had their targets on their property line.