Trad Gang

Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: wisconsinteacher on May 25, 2013, 08:32:00 PM

Title: Outdoor range ideas???
Post by: wisconsinteacher on May 25, 2013, 08:32:00 PM
I am looking for ideas for an outdoor range.  I would like something that is up on four 4x4 posts that has a small roof and has doors that can be opened when you want to shoot.  My goal is to have it so weather will not hurt the targets
Title: Re: Outdoor range ideas???
Post by: macbow on May 25, 2013, 08:57:00 PM
I've seen some clubs that had everything but the doors.
Lot of expense and,work.
I'm too lazy. I do have three very old and and very repaired 3d targets.  Mostly I have a brush hogged path with home made canvas and cloth bags filled with shopping bags. These are hung up at various distances and,from on the ground to,3 foot up in a bush.
Title: Re: Outdoor range ideas???
Post by: wisconsinteacher on May 25, 2013, 09:03:00 PM
I guess I should not have said range.  I should have said target.  I will only be building one target area.
Title: Re: Outdoor range ideas???
Post by: Goshawkin on May 25, 2013, 09:04:00 PM
I put two 4X4 posts in the ground and framed a box off of them for my Bulldog target. Put a corrugated plastic foof on it and made a frame to screw some conveyor belting on around it. Right now I just put a tarp over the target to keep the rain and sun off it(the uv is what ruins the targets,most are pretty waterproof)
I'm going to make a roll up cover for the front when I get a chance.
  (http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc156/goshawkin/photo_zpsff4985d1.jpg) (http://s216.photobucket.com/user/goshawkin/media/photo_zpsff4985d1.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Outdoor range ideas???
Post by: m midd on May 26, 2013, 04:03:00 AM
I will take a pic of mine tomorrow. I have a 2x10 frame 6' tall that compresses 3 square straw bales. It doesnt have a roof but one could be added very easily
Title: Re: Outdoor range ideas???
Post by: Downtime on May 26, 2013, 07:01:00 AM
I am from the Northwoods of Wisconsin and this is my 6 year old target backstop setup.  Using 4 X 4 post that can be either post-holed into the ground or placed on a 4 X 4 stand for easier moving.  I took 4 layers of carpeted and secured it to a top bar made out of 2 - 1 X 3 lumber in which using 4 - 3/8th circle bolts (two on bar and two on the header below the roof) and two S-hooks to hang the carpet up under the roof.  I then took sheets of reinforced plastic and fastened it to a bar under the roof onto the 4 X 4 post to protect the carpet from the sun and weather.  I then placed 4 bales of straw on top of a pallet in front of the backstop, in which I placed a 2" thick ridge foam insulation board on top of the straw.  I then covered these bales in a few layers of plastic allowing the plastic sheet to be much wider then the straw bales.  The wider plastic protects the sides from weather but allow the sides of the bales to open - which prevent the bales from rotten away.  In front of these bales I place a single bale of straw which is also covered in plastic.  On top of this bale I place my shooting bag on top of.  My shooting bag is then covered with a two layer sheet of plastic, that I flip over to allow access to the shooting back.  Again the plastic protects the shooting bag from the sun and weather.  In front of this I have 2" ridge foam insulation board that glued together about 6 layers high and painted, again to protect it from the sun and weather.  The only thing that I have ever replaced on this setup is my shooting bag.  My friends or I never lose or damage arrows with this setup.

For fun we can shoot over 80 yards away from the target.  So at these long distances it takes time to zero in onto the bag.  It is also much easier to teach new shooter how to shoot, without having to spend the time looking for lost arrows.  

In the winter, I use a snowblower to make a path to the practice range.

Hope this gives you some good ideas.  

(//%5Burl=http://s716.photobucket.com/user/wisconsinoutdoors/media/P9120252.jpg.html%5D%20%5Bimg%5Dhttp://i716.photobucket.com/albums/ww164/wisconsinoutdoors/P9120252.jpg)[/url] [/IMG]  (//%5Burl=http://s716.photobucket.com/user/wisconsinoutdoors/media/P9120253.jpg.html%5D%20%5Bimg%5Dhttp://i716.photobucket.com/albums/ww164/wisconsinoutdoors/P9120253.jpg)[/url] [/IMG]  (//%5Burl=http://s716.photobucket.com/user/wisconsinoutdoors/media/P9120255.jpg.html%5D%20%5Bimg%5Dhttp://i716.photobucket.com/albums/ww164/wisconsinoutdoors/P9120255.jpg)[/url] [/IMG]  (//%5Burl=http://s716.photobucket.com/user/wisconsinoutdoors/media/P9120254.jpg.html%5D%20%5Bimg%5Dhttp://i716.photobucket.com/albums/ww164/wisconsinoutdoors/P9120254.jpg)[/url] [/IMG]
Title: Re: Outdoor range ideas???
Post by: Downtime on May 26, 2013, 07:12:00 AM
To provide you with a little more information on the above project.  All the material is recycled or extra materials from home or remodeling projects.  My only cost in the project is for the straw bales and circle bolts.

Since my post are not post-holed buried into the ground.  I needed to pound into the ground light weight fence post and then lag then to the 4 X 4 to prevent strong winds from blowing the backstop over.
Title: Re: Outdoor range ideas???
Post by: Cherokee Scout on May 26, 2013, 07:36:00 AM
  (http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff176/srtaphotos/range4.jpg) (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/srtaphotos/media/range4.jpg.html)
I do not have doors on this one but they could be added. I find the roof protects it well. I used Cellotex. I cut the 4x8 sheets into 16" x4' strips and stack them up. Cost was under $100 for Cellotex (Home depot or Lowes), last for years because you can rotate position and reverse sides of Cellotex.
Title: Re: Outdoor range ideas???
Post by: Pete McMiller on May 26, 2013, 08:26:00 AM
Is this what you are looking for?
  (http://i839.photobucket.com/albums/zz313/Petemcm/backstop_zps8fa141ec.jpg) (http://s839.photobucket.com/user/Petemcm/media/backstop_zps8fa141ec.jpg.html)

Not sure of all the dimensions but the roof is a 4x8 sheet of OSB.  Rubber stall mat from Tractor Supply is hanging on the back with some conveyor belting on the bottom (stall mat wasn't long enough.  I have a Steel cable across the front to hang targets from.  Shingles on the roof.