Target backstop?

T

TrxR

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What are you guys using for target backers and backstops ? I am setting up something on my property for shooting out to 100meters mainly for bench rest rimfire but would like to use it around hunting season to sight in my .303

What do you guys suggest?

Thanks
 
pick up a shovel and build yourself a big old dirt pile.

you can go see your local mechanic and rid him of
a few of the old scrap tires pilled up behind his shop
and put them in the middle of your dirt pile.

it will add an extra layer of stopping power and make
you shovel less dirt for the same size of dirt pile.
 
Some old railroad ties to make a wall 8 ft high. Backed by a dirt pile, This will suffice for the smaller caliber rimfires. If the targets are kept low on the backstop, it will also do for the .303.
 
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How high of a backstop should I build? Also how high are the targets usually placed? I was thinking one backstop after the 100meter target should work for the 50 meter as well . I also have neighbor with a mini excavator :)
 
Build one bench (station) for 100 yards and another bench (station) closer at 50 yards. I would certainly go up to 8 feet high, Nominal targets are usually within 3 feet of the ground. Some like lower, some like higher but I use 3 feet as most big game vitals are within 3 feet of the ground.
 
Couldn't use my kids cause I sold them to the gypsies - but my in-laws are great backstops -

They are porkers -

:ar15:
swingerlh.gif
 
Just a thought...if the property will allow, would it be possible to build it in a semicircle so that if there should be a ricochet, the walls may contain it. The railroad ties are about 10-12 feet so setting them 3 feet into the ground would give a 7 foot+ reveal, when backed by a 4 or 5 foot high x 3 or 4 foot thick dirtpile behind them would stop about anything you throw at it.
 
I've seen good target frames made with 1x3 stakes, stapled to plywood or Corplast (ie election sign). The sides of railroad ties or logs are very hard and you might have riccochets. Dirt will absorb every bullet fired into it.
 
My friend whos place we shoot 22s at uses just railway ties. He cut them to 4' and stacked them 4' high. We have fired 1000s of rounds into them with nothing comming out the back. There have been a few ties that we replaced when they start to look shot up. We use swing plate type steel targets so most of the rounds never meet the wood. As a extra saftey meassure there is at least 7-800 yards of thick woods behind the target.
 
Here's my dirt pile. This berm took roughly 7-8 hours of shoveling. It's about 5' high, 23' long, and 4-5' deep. I'm probably going to add another foot on top for good measure. Beyond the berm and hill crest are more trees.

Targets are 8x11 sheets of paper stapled onto frames made of tobacco sticks. I have thousands of sticks, so it's no big deal if they get shot up. They're usually mounted lower as well. I forgot to bring a shovel out this time.

http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/9992/targetstands.jpg
http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/1396/range1.jpg
http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/558/range2.jpg

Last picture was taken from 50 yards. It's works well as a simple rimfire range. The rest of the time, the area is used as a dirt bike track.
 
Bullet Catcher... two 24" squares of 3/4" plywood as front and rear faces, nailed to a 24" "U" frame of 2x8" for the bottom and sides. Lined with old rubber (conveyor belts), and filled with packed-down dirt. I've seen a few in use this past year - will work great for .22LR, and 9mm pistol. Attach the target to the front. Maybe replace the dirt with fine gravel and it may handle larger calibres, I haven't tried.
 
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