Hi all, just discovered this board and would like to contribute anything helpful, as well as seek some answers. My first question is about my goal of creating my own private shooting range. Why do that you might ask, to safely train with friends/family and like-minded associates. But when I harken back to the 70’s when I was once in the military, and my firearms training was so strict and regimented, I couldn’t help but to learn in earnest, all about what REAL firearms/range safety was and a humble appreciation for having experienced that!. FAST FORWARD, in the early 1990’s I began buying personal firearms similar to those of my martial experience, e.g. AR-15, and .45 ACP pistols of various makes. At that time I used to go to a local INDOOR range for pistol practice and if you got there early enough, it was great. But once the morning wore on and more and more shooters crowed the booth-like firing line, it made me too uncomfortable watching my fellow shooters, to the left and right of me, doing all kinds of unsafe things which actually, violated range rules. Seemingly, that made little difference to the range master(s) who, were safely isolated away from the firing line in their bulletproof glassed booth. Long-story short, most indoor ranges I have been to since, are similar to that in the make-me-nervous factor. In fact, many have closed in our town and those few outdoor ranges still open, limit what kind of actions you are allowed to do on the firing line such as draw from holster, and rapid fire, etc., SO— that leaves the wide open BLM lands surrounding our area for most folks to go shooting, which as expected, makes them not too different from my past unpleasantly unsafe experiences. HENCE, I wish to buy a property, 10 acres or more, out of town and far enough out of range of local civilization, where I can build my own range for rifle and pistol shooting practice. I have read up on this online, but there’s not many who’ve actually done this (or don’t want to admit it) to advise others, except about learning all you can about local City/County/State firearms laws and ordinances. Has anyone here considered building a private range for family/friends, etc., and/or been there done that, and quite the project completely? One thing I do know is the negative relationship of local water tables and lead. Other than that, I’m all ears.
Welcome David! Thank you for your service!
I’m sure you will get some useful feedback to your question here.
I’ll bet we’ve ALL thought about owning our own range.
I’ve put together several private ranges on various properties over the years. As long as there is no local ordinance against discharging a firearm in your town, village, city, county etc. you are good to go and safety becomes your personal tolerance level and following the 10 safety rules.
I’ve been lucky where I’ve had natural backstops in every case but I’ve had friends that have made berms on properties that are too flat to provide a natural alternative like shooting with a ridge or a mountain as a natural backstop. Moving earth at times will require permits and some planning to avoid problems like drainage and such, just something to look into.
I like ranges that I can shoot in at least 180°. So semi-circle or box type berms are great. A lot of it is subject to your land and terrain. The more natural features you use the more cost effective the project is.
Last, as a private range the chances of lead in the ground being enough to be a problem is pretty remote. And one truly last point, private means private. If you ever charge a dime for anyone to shoot in your range the can of worms you’ll open is massive and highly undesirable.
Thanks for your input! Yes of course my range will be 100% free! Have mostly searched for properties with a mountain on at least one perimeter. But I still have plans for backstops that are fairly simple; I was an equipment operator of various types for 30PLUS yrs and I plan on renting dozers, backhoes, etc, to customize the property and even to build a thing called a shaker, to clean up lead in the soil. That type of equipment is used mostly in paving where they to need to sift out rock and debris from soil for the purpose of compaction. Curious, of the ranges you’ve put together, have you consulted with the local law enforcement about your plans, or might that be inviting scrutiny that may come from higher powers aka, local political hacks? Again, I plan on a property as far away from civilization as is reasonable.
Ditto~! Been thinking of it for decades actually!!
Thanks for your input.
I will never ask anyone for permission if it’s not a legal requirement. I don’t invite scrutiny or self assigned rights of “approval” by any government official or LEO. Once done it’s hell to undo. My land and I’m right until proven otherwise and the burden is on them.
BTW my understanding is that you can’t “sift” lead because a screen doesn’t know the difference between a bullet and a pebble. The recovery method has to be gravity based. Lead will fall to the bottom of material, more like gold panning. But this is theoretical knowledge acquired from listening, not actual doing it.
What if your backing was sand?
That has been a dream of mine for years.
If you allow anyone other than yourself on the range, you can be liable for any injury. Might want to talk with an attorney about a contract for any other user and an insurance rep about a coverage policy. We have a small private range and only direct family is allowed to use it for liability reasons. Then again we are in the lawsuit for sneezing capital of the world called commiefornia.
We live out of the city limits, but relatively close; our houses are on 1 acre plots, my side of the street is a closed golf course that is privately owned; i’ve stacked 10ft logs to make a backstop for my personal 50 yard range; I just give the non-emergent Sheriff phone a call and inform them along with our neighborhood social network when I’m shooting; it has worked out well
HAA-HA~!! BINGO~!!! Where I live EVERYWHERE is sand~!!!
@David1793, greetings & welcome to the community, my friend. We’re thankful that you’ve chosen to join us.
I would also like to express my gratitude for your service, you’re a hero and you are appreciated.
Take care & be well
You’re too kind! But I thank you, sincerely~!
We have the BLM, high desert, lots of places to call ‘your’ shooting range😎
Welcome to the community!! Hope you’ll make your private range happen!
I drive by a private shooting range along a state highway in the people’s republic of Maryland almost everyday. It must be possible. 
All the best to you.
Like I said… sand is everywhere… on OUR BLM land too~! I’m in northern AZ and while there are some folks who use BLM areas for shooting, I for one would like a private property bordering BLM land where I can set up camp for a few days (weeks?) and weather permitting, enjoy a long and fruitful shooting time as opposed to picking up everything and cleaning up on BLM’s land every time I go.
All of our targets are AR500 steel and there is a lot of them so hauling them out when we go does take its toll.
Having an acre would be nice (but it is way to expensive, 35k an acre, now)to own so I would leave everything out on it.
We always police our brass wherever we go and give it to our reloading friends since I no longer reload.
Have a tall berm, the taller, the better!
You know the gun safety rule, know what is beyond your target? Well, yeah, what is beyond your berm? Have the ground on your range level. Make sure there are no rocks in your berm that can cause recache. Have good side berm too. Have that at a good height too!