Forum Member Builds 1600-Yard “Backyard” Range
Serious shooters dream of having a backyard range where they can practice, test loads, and shoot for fun with friends. For most of us, having even a 50-yard backyard range is impossible. And those lucky shooters who do have their own range can typically go out to 100 yards, but that’s it. It takes plenty of open land to set up even a 200-yard range, and then you still need the side of a mountain for a backstop, or many acres of additional clear land behind the berm, for safety reasons.
Mother of All Backyard Ranges
AccurateShooter Forum member J.R. (aka Huntinco) has put us all to shame. He is building the “mother of all backyard ranges” at a secret location in northern Utah. How long is J.R.’s range going to be? 500 yards? Nope — think WAY longer. J.R. has laid out a facility that is a full 1600 yards from firing line to the final target bay. Plus there are pits every 100 yards out to 1600 yards.
J.R.’s range is not just a strip of vacant land with a few target stands. The range will boast a full-featured shooting facility when it’s completed. J.R. is constructing a finished, covered “all-weather” shooting house with seven indoor shooting stations (and more benches outside). He explains: “I poured a 12×90 pad. I’m enclosing 45 feet and just putting a roof over the other 45 feet. On the enclosed part there are six, 6′-wide shooting stalls, with one on the end that’s 12′ wide. Shooting windows are 5′ wide and 4′ high. One small problem is that, the way the property lays out, only the 12′-wide stall can shoot 100 yards. All the rest will start at 200 yards.”
Interior Finishing Suggestions Are Welcome
J.R. hasn’t finished the interior of his shooting facility yet, so he is soliciting ideas as to how the inside should be laid out: “I need your input because I have never been to a range. I just shoot here on my place. Please help me with [your input] on the inside layout.”
Those of you who have suggestions for J.R., please place a comment here. And no, we won’t reveal where this beautiful range is being built. But we do give J.R. a hearty pat on the back for making his “dream range” a reality. CLICK HERE to view more photos.
UPDATE — Here are photos of the Shooting house, interior and exterior. Nice job J.R.!
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Tags: 1000 Yards, 1600 yards, Benchrest, hunting, Utah
Please adopt me! I load precision ammo. Will clean guns, shop and range. Will coach those who need coaching. I am good with animals and children. References available.
Jim Hardy
Where I live its an hour drive to shoot 100 yards. There is a range about that far with 900 yards but you have to be a member (I am) and they only have open shooting mon and fri durring work hours. The rest of the time Its all matches.
I HATE you.
Great job! I live in the SLC area and there are a number of shooters here that would like to shoot long range. One comment on that framing is that it looks like it might preclude shooting from the Prone position, so Palma and F-Class shooting would be a no-go.
Please send an email to me on the forum, would like to hook up to shoot LR.
Amazing! I live in Scotland and am not aware of any range as good as this in the country. Enjoy, like maybe 10 gazillion others I envy you!
A suggestion: This may be your plan anyway, but the “stalls” should be open. The shooters need to be able to see one another and communicate. This is obvious to anyone who has been to a regular public range or club range, but you mentioned that you hadn’t ever been.
Also, I agree with the previous commenter about the prone shooting. If anything you should at least provide some flat space (even if it’s in the dirt) for prone shooting. It would open up the possibility of all types of other activities such as tactical shooting or silhouette shooting.
Either way, I’m jealous! Keep up the great work.
Matthew
My .02.
I’d recommend covering at least one of the surfaces of the buildings interior with a sound absorbing material.
The ranges that I’ve used with firing line enclosed by a buildings have been painful when braked rifles are used.
Considering the available distance at your range I think brakes will be common.
MAKE PLACE WHERE YOU CAN RELOAD ANY ONE THAT SHOOTS THAT KIND RANGE IS GOING TO WANT TO RELOAD JOHN
Put some gym mats down for prone & position shooting. Your knees, hips & elbows will thank you.
Excellent range. Put some ports in the lower wall for prone shooting inside when the weather is bad.
Looks like your benches are set-up only for right hand shooters. You may want to put in ambidextrous benches for us lefties. I would set-up the shoot house for prone shooting too.