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Shipping container firing range

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  • kerryp

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    Apr 12, 2009
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    I have been wanting a place to shoot and have 5 acres of my own and my parents have an adjacent 5 acres. There is probably enough room on the 10 acres to build and outdoor range, but there are houses all around, so I am a bit leary to do so...

    I got to thinking that it might not be too difficult to construct a short range from a 40 foot shipping container, just curious if anyone has done anything like this? It would probably be loud as hell, I prefer an outdoor range, but frankly I'm just bored and the thought popped into my head,,,,haven't really thought it through yet....
    Texas SOT
     

    idleprocess

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    Feb 29, 2008
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    I have been wanting a place to shoot and have 5 acres of my own and my parents have an adjacent 5 acres. There is probably enough room on the 10 acres to build and outdoor range, but there are houses all around, so I am a bit leary to do so...

    I got to thinking that it might not be too difficult to construct a short range from a 40 foot shipping container, just curious if anyone has done anything like this? It would probably be loud as hell, I prefer an outdoor range, but frankly I'm just bored and the thought popped into my head,,,,haven't really thought it through yet....

    You will need a backstop within the container. You will probably need to address the potential for ricochets if the backstop is missed. A shipping container might not be sturdy enough to stop some rifle rounds at non-oblique angles - especially with the"corrugation" they tend to use (a ricochet 10 degrees off the wall might hit a mere 20 degrees off vertical if it strikes a "flat").

    It's guaranteed to be deafening and insanely dirty due to the lack of ventilation.
     

    Jeff B

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    May 28, 2008
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    Flower Mound, TX
    I use a place that is made from two containers placed end to end, with lighting and ventilation and a sand berm inside. All handgun, no rifles except for .22. It's a convenient set up and allows me to shoot alot more than if I had to go to one of hte conventional ranges around here.

    Jeff B.
     

    kerryp

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    You will need a backstop within the container. You will probably need to address the potential for ricochets if the backstop is missed. A shipping container might not be sturdy enough to stop some rifle rounds at non-oblique angles - especially with the"corrugation" they tend to use (a ricochet 10 degrees off the wall might hit a mere 20 degrees off vertical if it strikes a "flat").

    It's guaranteed to be deafening and insanely dirty due to the lack of ventilation.

    I know I would need to place some kind of backstop and the potential for ricochets is a concern I had thought about. I was thinking sand bags and hay bails for the back drop and I haven't figured out a way to lessen ricochets from wall hits, but it would be nice to figure out some kind of a curtain system with heavy fabric or something that hung from the ceiling away from the wall to help contain, but I couldn't afford the type of material it would take.

    It would not be used for rifles, only handguns or .22 and I would run electricity to it so I could provide lighting and ventiliation and maybe eventually a target retrieval system.....As far as the noise, I would be able to stand outside to shoot, so that would help with the noise....
     

    45tex

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    Feb 1, 2009
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    I read a thread some years ago where a guy (not Texas) was going to bury a length of concrete culvert pipe next to his houses basement and shoot into the pipe from the basement. He solved the noise and backstop issue but was shut down by the cost of a ventilation system. He had the pipe and a back-hoe.
    Assuming noise is not an issue, it should work. You will need a very old container as the ones from the last decade or so are very thin. The new ones have plastic walls. Even then they were never made to stop bullets.
    I think I'd just build a timber frame and surround it on 3 sides with dirt to stop the bullets. Then use the container to store targets and whatever you like to have when you shoot. With really good ear protection you could shoot from the container on rainy days
     

    Bullseye Shooter

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    Apr 28, 2008
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    Texas Panhandle
    You might want to check with the county you live in. IIRC you need to get their permission to shoot on land that is less than 10 acres. Maybe it only applies to hunting, but you might want to check.
     

    JKTex

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    Mar 11, 2008
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    DFW, North Texas
    I use a place that is made from two containers placed end to end, with lighting and ventilation and a sand berm inside. All handgun, no rifles except for .22. It's a convenient set up and allows me to shoot alot more than if I had to go to one of hte conventional ranges around here.

    Jeff B.

    Denton County Sports Association?
     

    Jeff B

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    May 28, 2008
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    Flower Mound, TX
    I did my CHL qualification @ Quail Creek, but haven't been back, their rep is not good, plus its another 10 - 15 minutes.

    You should stop in when you see Lonnies F150 pulled up near the building. Its a very convenient place with no hassles.

    Jeff B.
     
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