creating an outdoor approved range

[shotgun sam]

I hope someone on the Forum can help with a question I was asked last night.
How do you go about getting a licence for a 25 metre outdoor rifle range that would be suitable for using a 357 under leaver? What sort of height should the backstop be? The person in question has no problem with getting the ground as He owns a farm.

Thanks

Sam

[Blackstuff]

Depending on what was built and how many days of the year it was used they'd also need planning permission which is where the 'fun' would be begin

Of course if he's in the middle of nowhere and no one is nearby to complain .....

[Demonic69]

If his gun is cleared for shooting over his land then he doesn't need/want an official range as he can just "Zero" the gun when he wants, as can anyone else with permission over his land AFAIK.
There are no real definitions or limits on zeroing that I've been able to unearth.

[Andy632]

Have a looky at this, see if it answers any of your questions....

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... _DLRSC.pdf

[Thorney]

Ok, having worn this t shirt for some time, it's complicated but in simple terms

1. No planning permission is needed for a range but you will need planning for any earth bunds for the backstops and sides.

2. Min height for a backstop for .22 calibre (and others, it's a muzzle velocity thing as well) is 4.97m, sides 3.98m that's for a 100m range, will be a bit lower for a 25m but not much.

3. Land owner will need insurance cover for it to operate which needs either a classification of a HO approved range so the range will need approval from the nra or you can sort your own insurance cover via other means (but if you want to be a club then you need nra approval of the range design)

It's a lot more complicated than that, with angles of fire, deflection, material type, bund angle etc etc but that's the basics.

Drop me a message if you want to know more, you might say I've become a bit of an expert in the planning side over the last 2 years!

[Thorney]

If his gun is cleared for shooting over his land then he doesn't need/want an official range as he can just "Zero" the gun when he wants, as can anyone else with permission over his land AFAIK.
There are no real definitions or limits on zeroing that I've been able to unearth.

Correct, the proviso being that the shot cannot fall outside of the land he owns (or has permission to shoot over). The role of the police is the confusing side, they have no rights of control over design of a range or the land used for shooting save for an overriding one of safety. Best to ask the cops on their view on all things shooting imo but that doesn't mean they have control over what you do (other than the above)

[Blackstuff]

Ok, having worn this t shirt for some time, it's complicated but in simple terms

1. No planning permission is needed for a range but you will need planning for any earth bunds for the backstops and sides.

2. Min height for a backstop for .22 calibre (and others, it's a muzzle velocity thing as well) is 4.97m, sides 3.98m that's for a 100m range, will be a bit lower for a 25m but not much.

3. Land owner will need insurance cover for it to operate which needs either a classification of a HO approved range so the range will need approval from the nra or you can sort your own insurance cover via other means (but if you want to be a club then you need nra approval of the range design)

It's a lot more complicated than that, with angles of fire, deflection, material type, bund angle etc etc but that's the basics.

Drop me a message if you want to know more, you might say I've become a bit of an expert in the planning side over the last 2 years!

1. If you use the land as a range for more than 28 days per year you need planning permission as a range is Sui Generis and there is no Permitted Development change of use from farm land to a SG use class.

As others have said, don't sent it up as a formal range, just get the appropriate condition (the people other than the owner) and do it that way.

[BestDrugDoc]

OK - but how about setting up a miniature rifle range - there doesnt seem to be alot of regulation there.

Has anyone actually done this?

[Demonic69]

It's supposed to be easy to setup a .22rf gallery range, can't remember where I read about it though

[bradaz11]

just put it in a trailer and then drive it to events like war and peace or the british shooting show

oh, someone already has