Our range is just about done!!
bpost
Member Posts: 32,669 ✭✭✭✭
In secrecy a couple of friends and I have built a 15 position benchrest rimfire only range at my home. The pavilion is 60X 30 feet the slab is 60X 32 feet. The benches are on cement blocks, the tops cast out of concrete with lots of rebar for support and stability. We are in the process of building the target backer frames at 50 yards now and will also have 100 yard target frames ready next spring. People love shooting long range 22LR matches, it is growing by leaps and bounds.
The shooting will be ARA, ABRA, IR50/50 and fun matches. It is NOT open to the general public, only benchrest competitive shooters in either factory or Unlimited classes during scheduled matches. Club members will have access at any time for practice and tuning of their rifles..
Last Saturday we invited a few friends to see it for the first time after a four card ARA match. They were all blown away at what we built and the fact no word leaked out about it. One of the partners is getting a Faceplant page going, I will get you a link with photos and shooting schedule as soon as the page is up and running.
We invested a pretty large chunk of money and a huge amount of planing and sweat equity labor in this. I have invested the land and tons of time since I retired in this project. The reason for building it was the love of shooting sports with the hope to recoup our investment over the next few years. The truism is "build it and they will come". We are installing the electric now, a nice clean bathroom with toilet and urinal, hot and cold running water and good lighting is being planned for spring time construction.
If any of you are interested in shooting benchrest rimfire let me know. Glamping cabins are being built now, folks from several states away have expressed interest in shooting here. There will be a shower house, laundry and toilet facility at the Glamping grounds. The range's general location is Rutland Ohio, in Meigs County. There is easy access from all directions, just DO NOT speed in Rutland, it is a speed trap from hell, 35 means 35MPH and 25 means 25MPH.
Comments
I would love to see it. I travel out that way every year Bruce. I would love to stop and see the range on my next trip, if you would allow me. I shoot bench rest and pistol leagues here in SJ, all 22lr matches. I cannot imagine the amount of money you guys put into that range. I know our range was somewhere north of 70 grand, complete.
Did you guys incorporate some turning targets for speed fire???? We have them at 25 yards only. Our 50 yards are stationary. Oakie
No pictures??
"In secrecy a couple of friends and I have built a 15 position benchrest rimfire only range at my home."
There is your answer HPD !!!! It is a secret !!! 🙃
!!!! It is a secret !!!
NOT ANYMORE ...............................................
Sounds very nice.
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
sounds like you need a stock tank with floating leaves for anyone that would dare to shoot in water.
You are welcome any time, as are all forum members. We will not be shooting pistol on this range. Rimfire rifles ONLY. However, my other range has steel at 25, 50,100, 175 and 250 yards for centerfire rifles and pistols. It also has target frames for serious target work. If you look up Ohio St Rt. 124 in Rutland Ohio you are very close to me. As far as money, it hurt but the free labor for the concrete slab and all the help with the electrical and donated items has kept it under 25K including the dozer rental!
Not a secret if you blab it to the world. And who doesn't read the GB forums?
Sounds very nice, WTG
Pictures or it didn't happen. And where do you live? My little range doesn't offer much range lol
Ohio is a little bit to far...
"Independence Now, Independence Forever."
John Adams
I will post pics later after the electrical is finished and the target backer board is built. It is surprising how fast things can get done when people are determined and focused upon a goal. There are four of us involved in this project and we took the good, bad and the ugly learned from other ranges and tried to make the bad into a good and keep the good, we like good plus good equaling excellent. We all feel, and those that have seen it feel, the range is top notch in its construction, parking and layout. Going to a 60 X 32 slab gives plenty of width to work with keeping the red line at the benches wide enough for safety and still allowing plenty of room for tables, chairs and people to move.
Today the trench for the electrical will be done and the main power feed lines installed. That will give us time to work in the shade to get the electrical system right the first time with plenty of power and every switch marked for its purpose. We will have no lights or fans just plugged in to work, everything will be switched, marked and GFCI protected.
As far as blabbing to the world, the time was right to announce its existence so folks can get ready to shoot here.
Sounds like you have built a nice place and range have fun and enjoy the benefits of your efforts
Our very modest range is a old barn pad long story but after two storms I repaired it and two fires both lightning hits a few years apart last fire just damaged to much I just gave up trying to save the old barn I gave up and took down the old barn what was left
Any way I only have just over a hundred yards from our shooting position to our back stop a a huge pile of dirt covering stacks of tires and RR ties stacked in front of it all about 7 feet tall My youngest son was suppose to rebuild
As he took over the up keep years ago The back stop but it may be next year now