Making safe place to shoot on my property, maybe

[glhs837]

So, have been pondering this since I bought this place over a year ago. Not talking about bringing in M61A1s, most likely top out at rare .45 or 9mm pistols on occasion, mostly .22LR pistol or rifle, maybe 25-30 yards. Neighbors okay with it.

Figure a gentle downhill slope towards the bottom of a 40 foot tall wooded hill. There is a nicely vertical backstop area about 15 feet across and 8 feet tall. From firing position towards target area/backstop it will cross a small seasonal stream.

Only houses are about 110-120 yards almost directly to the left and right. Shooters would be myself and the kids, 15 and 17, always supervised. Thoughts, ideas? Would like to capture the lead, do not want to haul hundreds of pounds of sand 400 feet back into the woods. Maybe 200lbs:)

[TPD]

Originally Posted by glhs837

So, have been pondering this since I bought this place over a year ago. Not talking about bringing in M61A1s, most likely top out at rare .45 or 9mm pistols on occasion, mostly .22LR pistol or rifle, maybe 25-30 yards. Neighbors okay with it.

Figure a gentle downhill slope towards the bottom of a 40 foot tall wooded hill. There is a nicely vertical backstop area about 15 feet across and 8 feet tall. From firing position towards target area/backstop it will cross a small seasonal stream.

Only houses are about 110-120 yards almost directly to the left and right. Shooters would be myself and the kids, 15 and 17, always supervised. Thoughts, ideas? Would like to capture the lead, do not want to haul hundreds of pounds of sand 400 feet back into the woods. Maybe 200lbs:)

Sounds like your backyard is similar to mine, sans the houses. I only toted a couple bales of straw t the bottom of the hill to use as the backstop, only I am staying on this side of the stream. I am not trying to recapture the spent lead.

On another note, I own 25 wooded acres at another location that I have recently been seriously considering setting up a shooting range for profit. Having never been to a shooting range, I've got a lot of research to do to see if it will be feasible. Between my father and I, we own 50 contiguous wooded acres so I think we definitely have the space for it.

[Dukesdad]

Tell the kids to start hauling...

Sounds like a reasonable set up to me. Have fun.

[somdwatch]

Originally Posted by TPD

Sounds like your backyard is similar to mine, sans the houses. I only toted a couple bales of straw t the bottom of the hill to use as the backstop, only I am staying on this side of the stream. I am not trying to recapture the spent lead.

On another note, I own 25 wooded acres at another location that I have recently been seriously considering setting up a shooting range for profit. Having never been to a shooting range, I've got a lot of research to do to see if it will be feasible. Between my father and I, we own 50 contiguous wooded acres so I think we definitely have the space for it.

TPD, I started a some research just recently, for me I would have had to purchase property. So a no-go. But I went up to the NRA's web site and they have two conferences a year on range engineering. It seemed smart to me to involve them, as you may be able to bring in competition shooters to bring in some profits. I know the place on Great Mills Rd. has over a 200 person waiting list to join. I know me and the wife are looking for a local place to practice.

[MMDad]

I thought that Maryland had a law prohibiting discharge of a firearm within so many yards of a residence, but I cannot find it anywhere. Anyone heard of it?

[MMDad]

Originally Posted by TPD

Sounds like your backyard is similar to mine, sans the houses. I only toted a couple bales of straw t the bottom of the hill to use as the backstop, only I am staying on this side of the stream. I am not trying to recapture the spent lead.

On another note, I own 25 wooded acres at another location that I have recently been seriously considering setting up a shooting range for profit. Having never been to a shooting range, I've got a lot of research to do to see if it will be feasible. Between my father and I, we own 50 contiguous wooded acres so I think we definitely have the space for it.

If you do it count me as a customer. There are too few places to shoot, and I'd like to get my wife and kids to be proficient.

[Bonehead]

Originally Posted by mmdad

i thought that maryland had a law prohibiting discharge of a firearm within so many yards of a residence, but i cannot find it anywhere. Anyone heard of it?

1500 '.

[MMDad]

Originally Posted by Bonehead

1500 '.

Where did you get that number?

[glhs837]

Been looking into that a lot, and while there is aprohibition from hunting within 150 yards of a residence, there appears to be nothing about shooting that is not hunting related.

[MMDad]

Originally Posted by glhs837

Been looking into that a lot, and while there is aprohibition from hunting within 150 yards of a residence, there appears to be nothing about shooting that is not hunting related.

So it's a DNR rule? I know the MD code allows DNR to make hunting related firearms rules, but those rules do not apply to non-hunting uses. Sounds like you are probably good.