Rimfire Backstop - suggestions

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unclearthur

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Does anybody have any suggestions on how to build a backstop for .22LR target practice? Rural location, shooting distance up to 100 yards, pistol and rifle. Assume flat landscape.
How high? wide? thick? materials? Just want something safe durable not pretty. Has to stand up to Cdn winter. Cheap is good!

Thanks for your suggestions.
 
Your (respective) CFO has all the data you will need. Call and tell them what you'd like to accomplish and they will help.
 
I'll get into trouble for this (maybe), but if you can find a tree-trunk that's been harvested recently, and have permission to snatch it - do so! I got one this way about a year back, and it's one heckuva good backstop...esp. for rimfires!

;)
 
Wendell said:
Your (respective) CFO has all the data you will need. Call and tell them what you'd like to accomplish and they will help.
Click to expand...

Well....I'm not really looking for any scrutiny by the CFOs office, just a personal range, nothing commercial or public.
 
unclearthur said:
Does anybody have any suggestions on how to build a backstop for .22LR target practice? Rural location, shooting distance up to 100 yards, pistol and rifle.
Click to expand...

unclearthur said:
Well....I'm not really looking for any scrutiny by the CFOs office, just a personal range, nothing commercial or public.
Click to expand...

How will you legally discharge a pistol without CFO approval of the range ?
 
If it is on your property, no close neighbors to complain and there is no local bylaws that prevent it ,you can do just about anything with non-restricted rifles . For rifles the range doesn't really need to be approved ,it is just like hunting on your own land. Different thing with restricted (handguns), the range has to be approved by the CFO, has to meet the TEMPLATE they have for the calibers and distances behind the backstop .
 
OK I understand that, forget about handguns, I'm just trying to come up with ideas for a good backstop for 22LR. Not worried about regulations, just something practical. Something cheap to make, durable, safe ......any ideas, and how large would you recommend?

(I have read some publication from I think the firearms centre, but it is mainly geared towards commercial ranges, centrefire, etc.)
 
If you are shooting into a bank, remove the rocks or dump a bunch of sand in front of your bank, with a couple of logs(about 2 ft) at the foot , to keep it all from sloughing down.
 
Is there a gravel pit or natural earth backstop?

Otherwise, I'd be looking for a safe area that is clear of people, traffic, etc and in full view. Doesn't seem quite as safe to be shooting out at the horizon with a target elevated above the ground as it would be to shoot at a gopher on the ground. If you made an impenetrable backstop, what if you are showing a beginner how to shoot, and they miss the backstop? Good reason to start out a young one with an air rifle for instance to get sighting and safe handling down pat.
 
Agree on all that. There is nobody around (except tresspassers) and a gentle hillside in the background which will catch most really wild shots safely.....but it is a bit rocky and I'd like to have a backstop closer up behind the targets to catch the lion's share of normal shots.
 
When I lived at the farm, before these "regulations". I got a bunch of railroad ties and stood them on end buried 4 feet into the ground, staggered so no cracks were uncovered and 3 ties thick. and a ramp of dirt behind. Shot for years and never seemed to have thru penetration ..I fired .22 and rifles.
 
If your in a Rural area talk to a farmer in the area and see if you can get a bunch of small square straw bales from him and set up a couple rows of straw bales and tack your target on the front of it. I couldn't tell you if the 22LR bullets will penetrate small square bales or not... Used them for hanging targets off of There was nothing behind where I was shooting so I didn't much care if they penetrated or not. I can't see them comming out the other side with too much energy though.
 
From what I have found from the CFO Range Guidelines, these are the minimum backstop heights:
up to 25m...3m high
up to 50m...4m
up to 75m...5m
100m+........6m

Also, the backstop angle should be no more than 30 degrees off vertical.
Hope this helpful; Ken
 
Call your local sand and gravel company and order a truck load of sand. Sand makes a perfect media to shoot into. You might have to shovel the pile back up once in awile but so what? It is cheap and easy and you don't 'need' a tractor. I have a number of sand hills around where I live and that is my plan for this summer.
 
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