Indoor Range

[Franco]

Putting the finishing touches on my indoor range. We took an 18' X 45' section adjacent to my shop and converted it to an indoor range. The back wall is 2 layers of 3/4" ply over 2"X4" studs, with 2 layers of 2" thick oak planks. The sides around the trap are single layer ply over 2"X4" studs with 1 layer of 1" oak planks.

The trap is 8'X8'X8' - 1/4" AR500 armor plate with the back half doubled to 1/2" thick.

The front facade is drilled to hold spinning, turning, targets for 22's; there's a rack at the narrow end of the trap which holds hanging/swinging targets for larger calibers. We have several versions, trying to find the right combo - 1/4" plate, 1/2" plate, 1/2" plate with 2" oak face.

So far, we have shot 22, 380, 38, 9, 45, and 416 - all successfully stopped.

The room is vented, and there is a 36" fan.

There's a 20' overhang on the building, so there's over 60' covered; we have 25, 50,and 100 yd marks on the driveway, and it's 200yds to the balcony of my trophy room.

Hoping to get the room painted out and finished for Christmas.

 

[glblanchard]

Vey nice!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Sabre]

Not what I expected when I clicked the title. Hahahaha. Interesting idea. Do you have photos of what it looks like from the longer ranges?

 

[Franco]

Not what I expected when I clicked the title. Hahahaha. Interesting idea. Do you have photos of what it looks like from the longer ranges?

No - but I'll take some.

 

[Sabre]

No - but I'll take some.

Awesome, I'm really curious about the setup.

 

[skydiver386]

Yep, I was expecting the typical 30 ft BB gun range in the basement.

Very nice setup. The longer distances are a big plus.

 

[Franco]

Not what I expected when I clicked the title. Hahahaha. Interesting idea. Do you have photos of what it looks like from the longer ranges?

Here's 45'/15yds - we will paint yardage lines on the floor. The walls will be painted the same green as my trophy room, the storage shelves will be screened, I have metal storage cabinets for left side.

For now the ceiling is what you see, but the plan is to cover it with old pressed tin. There are two flood lights on the ceiling, we will add more on the sides. I have a laser pistol setup to mount on the back wall.

Here's the 100yd mark - tough to see with the morning sun; more lights will help.

We are building a set of doors. The adjacent shop is heated and airconditioned with enough capacity to add a duct to the range.

Here's a couple photos of the trap. The angles direct the rounds to the back where they drop into a bucket, accessible via a side door. The armor plates overlap at the back to give almost 1" of stoppage.

 

[HookMeUpII]

Definitely didn't expect this. I expected it to be a discussion of pros and cons of indoor ranges.

That sir, is VERY cool. Wow.

 

[BonUm16]

Very nice, Franco. I seldom find myself envious of others but I can feel a bit of jealousy creeping in.

Not to second guess you but have you considered what adding all that metal (ceiling and cabinets) is going to do to the noise level?

 

[HookMeUpII]

I didn't quite get what you did to get to 100 yds until you posted the pics. That's a clever idea with the roll up door. I'll take that every day of the week.

 

[Franco]

Very nice, Franco. I seldom find myself envious of others but I can feel a bit of jealousy creeping in.

Not to second guess you but have you considered what adding all that metal (ceiling and cabinets) is going to do to the noise level?

What?

Definitely didn't expect this. I expected it to be a discussion of pros and cons of indoor ranges.

That sir, is VERY cool. Wow.

Put me down as - "Pro"

 

[Red Leg]

Think through the tin ceiling plan. I would strongly suggest a noise abatement material instead - walls as well for that matter. Make sure you have a really powerful air cleaning/clearing construct.

 

[Franco]

Think through the tin ceiling plan. I would strongly suggest a noise abatement material instead - walls as well for that matter. Make sure you have a really powerful air cleaning/clearing construct.

Very nice, Franco. I seldom find myself envious of others but I can feel a bit of jealousy creeping in.

Not to second guess you but have you considered what adding all that metal (ceiling and cabinets) is going to do to the noise level?

In the interest of preserving what little hearing I have left, I don't doubt what you guys are saying. All the rifle shooting has been from the 50 and 100 yd marks on the driveway - standard ear plugs or muffs. But I can see where it could get really loud inside with pistols.

The guys helping me build this built the local indoor range in town; I've only shot there once, but it has a baffled ceiling as well as baffles on the walls. With multiple shooters it still can get loud.

My ceiling now is 2x8 joists with 3" closed cell foam, I can either leave it as is or try to find some acoustic tiles. I'll do some research on sound deadening materials.

I do need to add a few storage cabinets; we've discussed covering the existing cabinet on the right side with a heavy curtain. Something like that might work for the opposite side?

We did build a separate building for "she who shall remain nameless" to house all her bee equipment, honey harvesting paraphernalia, Christmas decorations, spare washer and dryer, shower, sink, etc, as well as an auxiliary shed for her wagon, garden tools, and whatever else she has accumulated over the past 27 years of our marriage - so hopefully I can get by with 1 or 2 cabinets.

There are vents all along the top of the back and side wall, and a 36" fan located at the back wall above the trap. Since there's a strong possibility of cigar smoking, we are looking at scubbers for both the range and my shop.

Wishing all of you a Merry Christmas.

 

[coreydb]

What an awesome set up! Ventilation adequate to get rid of the lead in the air? Be careful

 

[Franco]

What an awesome set up! Ventilation adequate to get rid of the lead in the air? Be careful

Thank you. With regard to the lead question, the honest answer is - I don't know.

There are vents along the top of both the side and back walls. The door provides a 10' X 12' opening, and the fan at the back is 36".

Rifle shooting is predominately from outside the door, but I did fire my Thompson at closer range this afternoon.

The range is private, intended for my personal use; should I have guests, there will still only be 1 shooter.

Knowing the capacity of the fan, I could calculate the volume air exchanged, but what I don't know is how much lead is expelled into the air by any particular round. Is there a table or guide which would offer that information?

 

[coreydb]

Thank you. With regard to the lead question, the honest answer is - I don't know.

There are vents along the top of both the side and back walls. The door provides a 10' X 12' opening, and the fan at the back is 36".

Rifle shooting is predominately from outside the door, but I did fire my Thompson at closer range this afternoon.

The range is private, intended for my personal use; should I have guests, there will still only be 1 shooter.

Knowing the capacity of the fan, I could calculate the volume air exchanged, but what I don't know is how much lead is expelled into the air by any particular round. Is there a table or guide which would offer that information?

Outside, no issue, but if was completely enclosed, you'd need some type of airborne lead mitigation air system. The National Hqs of the NRA in Fairfax VA has that info, but they're focused on commercial ranges.

 

[steve white]

It surely included archery capability as well?
If you have noise issues from neighborhood encroachment, I have heard of folks building a baffle to shoot through with stupendous success. Angled panels on both sides of narrow opening insulated with fiberglass insulation, muzzle inside the baffle when shot is fired.

 

[Wildwillalaska]

What an awesome set up! Ventilation adequate to get rid of the lead in the air? Be careful

Looks to be hyper-ventilated when shooting from the trophy room deck. Lol.

Well done sir, and that green grass, damn it looks different than my view, still gorgeous here, but folks are running snow machines and 4-wheelers across the lake presently.

This beats the he’ll out of my plans for shooting a few test rounds tomorrow morning. Leave house at 7am, get to the club and make a fire in one of the shooting houses, escape back to the truck and wait a bit since it’s been 5-12 below each morning this week. Keep doubles and ammo warm in the truck while set up a target, and likely leave vehicle running so I can use headlights to help illuminate target at 55 yards…since sun won’t slip above horizon until after 10am.

Shooting from the driveway in the morning sun with green grass around sounds extremely nice right now.

 

[Franco]

It surely included archery capability as well?
If you have noise issues from neighborhood encroachment, I have heard of folks building a baffle to shoot through with stupendous success. Angled panels on both sides of narrow opening insulated with fiberglass insulation, muzzle inside the baffle when shot is fired.

It could include archery, it's just not something I'm into. There's plenty room outside for an archery range as well. I've got a tree stump on it's side for knives and axes.

I have a SERT laser target with 3 pistols which I'll relocate from my shop to the range once it's complete.

We are the 4th property in a line of 6, 12 to 15 acre parcels aligned north/south, and they are the smallest in the area. The property to the east is several hundred acres of combined heavily wooded rolling hills, and pasture. The properties to the west are across a single lane country road, and average 50 acres. The outlying parcels are larger and are mostly timber and hunting leases.

The only neighbor without a fixed range is on the south side - he just puts a small target on a stick in the middle of his field when he feels like shooting.

There are no issues with the neighbors, out here gun fire is considered the sound of freedom.

We leave the keys in our tractors in case a neighbor needs to borrow one, and we know which neighbor has what implements.

Yesterday, (Christmas), sounded like a small army was invading. Some of the neighbor kids got guns for Christmas, and what started out as basic shooting lessons turned into full-blown, if you got one - shoot it, 22's, 380's, 9's, 45's, and an assortment of rifles.

Turned out some of the dads got guns for Christmas too.

I was at my range with my 22 Voodoo and heard the semi-auto fire, so - like any good, red-blooded, East Texas, American citizen - I went to the safe and got one of my Thompsons.

 

[VertigoBE]

It could include archery, it's just not something I'm into. There's plenty room outside for an archery range as well. I've got a tree stump on it's side for knives and axes.

I have a SERT laser target with 3 pistols which I'll relocate from my shop to the range once it's complete.

We are the 4th property in a line of 6, 12 to 15 acre parcels aligned north/south, and they are the smallest in the area. The property to the east is several hundred acres of combined heavily wooded rolling hills, and pasture. The properties to the west are across a single lane country road, and average 50 acres. The outlying parcels are larger and are mostly timber and hunting leases.

The only neighbor without a fixed range is on the south side - he just puts a small target on a stick in the middle of his field when he feels like shooting.

There are no issues with the neighbors, out here gun fire is considered the sound of freedom.

We leave the keys in our tractors in case a neighbor needs to borrow one, and we know which neighbor has what implements.

Yesterday, (Christmas), sounded like a small army was invading. Some of the neighbor kids got guns for Christmas, and what started out as basic shooting lessons turned into full-blown, if you got one - shoot it, 22's, 380's, 9's, 45's, and an assortment of rifles.

Turned out some of the dads got guns for Christmas too.

I was at my range with my 22 Voodoo and heard the semi-auto fire, so - like any good, red-blooded, East Texas, American citizen - I went to the safe and got one of my Thompsons.

Colour me very envious!

Well done on your own private range!