A backyard shooting range is a great way to get your love of guns out. It's also an ideal way to teach your friends how to shoot or even blow off some steam and clear your mind.
A backyard shooting range backstop is a necessity for any gun enthusiast. It's essential to have a safe place to shoot. A great way to make sure you have a safe place to shoot is by building your backyard shooting range backstop.
A shooting range not only gives you a place to practice without worrying about stray bullets, but it also a place to store your firearms when they aren't in use safely.
A backyard shooting range backstop is easy to build and will last for years if properly constructed, so read on for step-by-step instructions on how to build a backyard shooting range backstop.
How to Build a Backyard Shooting Range Backstop: Step-By-Step Guide
Building a backyard shooting range backstop is not that tricky. A little bit of planning and some time spent at the home improvement store will go a long way toward ensuring the safety of those who use your range. Here's how to build your DIY shooting backstop:
Step 1: Find or Build a Suitable Location for Your DIY Shooting Range
You will need an area large enough to safely accommodate all of your steel targets, shooters, and spectators. The ground should be level and free of debris such as rocks, roots, or sticks that might cause injury when hit by bullets or shotgun pellets. Trees, bushes, fences, and other obstacles must be avoided because errant shots or ricochets may damage them.
Step 2: Determine the Size of Your Shooting Range Area for The Backstop
The backstop should be at least 10 feet wide and 6 feet tall. If you are shooting handguns, the backstop can be smaller but if using heavy equipment, consider a bigger one. But if you are shooting rifles or shotguns, the backstop will need to be more significant to stop the high-velocity bullets or pellets safely.
Step 3: Choose the Materials for Your DIY Shooting Backstop (What Materials Can Be Used to Build a Backyard Shooting Range Backstop?)
The third step is to choose the materials for your bullet backstop. Safety is the most crucial consideration, so the backstop should be made of materials that will not ricochet bullets or pellets.
Some good choices for backstop material include sandbags, cinder blocks, plywood, and hay bales. These materials are sturdy and will not deflect bullets or pellets. You will also need a can of spray paint to mark various important spots and railroad ties, poles and plywood if need be.
Another consideration is noise reduction. If you live in a residential area, you may want to use materials that will help to reduce the noise of the gunfire. Foam blocks, carpeting, or old mattresses placed against the backstop can help to muffle the sound of shots fired.
Step 4: Build the Framework for Your Own Shooting Range
The fourth step is to build the framework for your backstop, and one may use wood, metal, or PVC pipe. The important thing is to make sure the framework is sturdy and does not tip over when hit by bullets or pellets.
Step 5: Attach the Backstop Material to The Framework
Once the framework is built, you can attach the backstop material. Sandbags can be placed directly on the ground and filled with sand or dirt. Cinder blocks can be stacked on top of each other to create a wall. Plywood can be screwed or nailed to the framework. Hay bales can be placed against the backstop and held in place with straps or rope.
Step 6: Place Your Targets in Front of The Backstop
The final step is placing your targets in front of the backstop with paper targets, metal targets, cans or bottles filled with sand or dirt. Be sure to position the targets at different heights and distances to challenge yourself and other shooters.
Set up target frame and ensure each gun range is set up at varying distances from the projectile striking and firing line. Use objects such as wooden stakes or PVC pipe filled with sandbags as backer boards for paper targets so that you can practice firing at different distances from 10 yards out to 100 yards away in increments of 10 yards up to 600 yards from the shooting bench (depending upon caliber).
These boards are made from plywood if you have access to a table saw but can be made from cardboard boxes. If not, make sure they are sturdy enough not to be blown over by the wind.
How Thick Should the Material Be for A Backyard Shooting Range Backstop?
It's essential to ensure that the material you use for your backstop is thick enough to stop the bullet. If you shoot with a high-caliber rifle or shoot at long distances, you need to make sure that the material is thick enough to control the shell.
The thickness of the material you use to build a shooting range backstop will depend on the caliber of the gun. A typical backyard shooting range backstop should be able to withstand at least .308 rifle rounds and high-power pistol rounds.
The thicker the material, the more it will cost you in terms of materials and labor. It's also going to take longer to build.
How Do You Protect the Surrounding Area from Stray Bullets?
A backstop will stop any bullets that miss your target and prevent them from flying into the surrounding area.
- A simple way to create a backstop is by using old tires filled with sand, dirt, or gravel. It can be placed behind your targets so that any stray bullets will hit them and stop there instead of traveling through the air and hitting something else. If you are more ambitious, you can also build a more elaborate structure such as a wooden fence or a brick wall.
- 1/2-inch plywood is considered standard strength for building shooting range backstops. It can handle most handgun rounds, but it may not be thick enough for some of the larger rifle rounds.
- If you're looking for something more durable, consider using 3/4-inch plywood instead. This type of wood is much more expensive — but it's also more potent and longer-lasting than 1/2-inch plywood.
- Thickness isn't everything when building a backyard shooting range backstop! You'll also want to make sure that your backstop can withstand any weather conditions that might affect it over time (such as rain, snow, or wind).
How to Build a Backyard Shooting Range Backstop With Tires
Beware that tires can cause ricochets because of the steel belt. The only good ones are the old fabric tires. Tires filled with dirt should be fine. Preferably automotive tires with bias ply. I use tires filled with dirt, making sure the tire is completely filled with dirt.
They should be stacked in a 'U' shape and about 6' high. Another row behind stops bullets going between tires in the first row.This set-up will stop .30-06 FMJ bullets.
What Are the Dimensions of a Backyard Shooting Range Backstop?
The backstop should be at least 10 feet wide and 6 feet tall. If you are shooting handguns, the backstop can be smaller. But if you are shooting rifles or shotguns, the backstop will need to be more significant to stop the high-velocity bullets or pellets safely - check out indoor shooting range dimensions, too.
What Kind of Foundation Is Needed for a Backyard Shooting Range Backstop?
The backstop should be placed on a level, firm surface. If you are shooting on grass, you may want to put a tarp or piece of plywood under the backstop to keep it from sinking into the ground.
Additionally, the backstop should be at least 6 feet tall for height. If you are shooting handguns, the backstop can be smaller. But if you are shooting rifles or shotguns, the backstop will need to be taller to stop the high-velocity bullets or pellets safely.
Benefits Of Having a Backyard Shooting Range Backstop
A backstop is as essential as an eye protection device. The main advantage of having a backyard target line backstop is that it provides shooting range safety and prevent injuries. Listed below are a few of them:
- It can stop bullets or pellets from leaving your property.
- It can avoid ricochet, which can be dangerous.
- It can reduce noise pollution.
- It can protect nearby buildings or homes from damage.
- It saves plants and animals from being hit by bullets or pellets.
Cons
The main con of having a backyard shooting range backstop is that it can be expensive to build. Listed below are more of them:
- The backstop will need to be made of materials to stop bullets or pellets. It can be expensive.
- The backstop will need to be tall enough to stop high-velocity bullets or shells, which can also be expensive.
- If the backstop is not built correctly, it can be dangerous.
FAQs
How Much Does It Cost to Build a Backyard Shooting Range Backstop?
The cost of building a backyard shooting range backstop will vary depending on the materials used and the size of the backstop. Generally, the backstop will need to be made of materials that can stop bullets or pellets, which can be expensive. The backstop will also need to be tall enough to stop high-velocity bullets or shells, which can also be costly.
What Is the Best Way to Build a Backyard Shooting Range Backstop?
There is no definitive answer, but generally, the backstop should be made of materials that can stop bullets or pellets, and it should be tall enough to stop high-velocity bullets or shells. Additionally, the backstop should be placed on a level, firm surface.
Build Your Own Shooting Range Today!
You don't need expensive materials or any special tools or skills to build a backstop in your yard. You can build using simple materials like plywood and a few other things. If you're new to making your shooting range, you can ensure that the above guide will help you.