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95/95 -- Basement Pistol Range?
Gordian Blade
Member Posts: 1,202 ✭✭✭✭✭
Due to a cancelled meeting, I had some spare time today to go target shooting, a rare opportunity. But I didn't because it was too darned hot. That got me to thinking again about setting up a pistol range in my basement.
No, I'm not talking about a range for regular 9mm or even .22 pistols, but CO2 pistols and maybe rifles. I was thinking that (a) it would be fun, and (b) it would be good practice at holding my hands steady in an extended position even if it didn't really simulate the recoil of a 9mm very well. The range would go the length of the basement, about 15 yds, into a storage alcove. I would have to hang some heavy blankets from the rafters in the alcove to catch any stray shots. I think my kids might enjoy this -- the younger ones supervised of course. When I was a kid, I had something similar with a special target that trapped the bullets from my air rifle.
Does anybody have experience with this kind of thing, think it is a bad or good idea, etc.?
No, I'm not talking about a range for regular 9mm or even .22 pistols, but CO2 pistols and maybe rifles. I was thinking that (a) it would be fun, and (b) it would be good practice at holding my hands steady in an extended position even if it didn't really simulate the recoil of a 9mm very well. The range would go the length of the basement, about 15 yds, into a storage alcove. I would have to hang some heavy blankets from the rafters in the alcove to catch any stray shots. I think my kids might enjoy this -- the younger ones supervised of course. When I was a kid, I had something similar with a special target that trapped the bullets from my air rifle.
Does anybody have experience with this kind of thing, think it is a bad or good idea, etc.?
Comments
A few year ago I was involved with the National Guard Youth Air Rifle Program here. I am a civilian, but they were willing to accept all the help they could get.
The armory had an "indoor" range capable of stopping .223 from an M-16. When the program went south for whatever reasons, a local gun club picked it up for a couple of years, and I followed along with it. The club shot indoors at 10 meters. They used a wooden frame made of 2X4's about the size of a refrigerator. The boards on the top sides were scalloped to take wooden rake handles/dowels with carpet strips stapled to them. There were about 6 or 7 of these from front to back.
One of the members was a carpet installer and provided plenty of used carpeting that had been taken up when the new carpeting was installed.
(You might make the acquaintance of someone at a carpet store who could provide you with the same service.) Cardboard was attached to the front of the frame and targets were taped to the cardboard.
As the front layer was shot out, everything was moved forward one place and the "new" carpet strip was placed the back of the frame. I never saw anything get through all of the layers of carpeting, including some very expensive European hunting air rifles.
Best Regards
I've tried the Airsoft spring-loaded guns, and they shoot fairly straight at short distances, and have a heavy "feel." They're about on a par with the lowest power BB Daisy, only they look and feel a heck of a lot better. I saw a spring-load MP5 the other day for around $50 that was pretty authentic. AirSoft really does get the blueprints and their mimic guns are good copies. I assume the CO2s are a step up from the spring-cock, but even the spring-cockers have exchangeable mags that take at least ten of the 6mm plastic balls. All I can say is, if they shoot straight, it can be fun.
- Life NRA Member
"If cowardly & dishonorable men shoot unarmed men with army guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary...and not by general deprivation of constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
bikes came in (unassemled). It is about 4ft X 30" X 8" thick.
Near the top, on each end epoxy on a 6"X 8" peice of 1/4" plywood
with holes for a pipe or round, heavy wood rake handle. Over this
lay old carpet so it hangs. About two peices, making 4 thicknesses.
For safety you can put a peice of plwood in the back, inside.
Stops all of my CO2 pistol and rifle pellets. Move the targets to
slightly diffrent locations occasionally. Cheap, easy and quick.
When its shot out, if ever, just start over again.
All carpet goes inside the box so put the open side on top.