New shooting range design - input required

[Thorney]

Ok, well construction is due to start in a few weeks and we need to decide what sort of targets and range lengths we can offer, so in the spirit of customer feedback, what should we do? Any input gratefully received either here, email or phone call but in essence what are shooters preferences? The maximum we can go to in length is 100m.

Is 100m the most important?
25m?
50m?

Do people want higher end catering (restaurant type facilities) or basic refreshments on site?

What kid of targets? We plan on turning, moving, drop down and reactive but what are people's preferences? What distances? Multiple targets or single run at same distance?

We plan to offer competitions at the range so we need to offer the widest range of target shooting types possible from air rifle to practical, our only limitation is noise, we cannot be more than 55db at the boundary (4m high bunds will surround the range so we won't know what guns emit louder than that until it's built) but with sound suppression (on gun and or in shooting cabins) we should be able to cater for most.

So, your chance to design a shooting range, any input?

[John MH]

Turning Targets in Banks of at least four to cater for Target Shotgun, T&P and Multi Target but would also suit CSR UCM and RF.

[Chapuis]

Thorney who will the range be catering for i.e. is it a club range (run by the members for the members) or will it be a commercial venture.
If a true rifle & pistol club what are the main shooting interests of the members.
How many shooters will be able to shoot at any one time.
What will be the velocity and muzzle energy limits be.
What is the rough geographical area of the range.

[Thorney]

Good question. The answer is all three.

It will be a commercial range with an operating structure not that dissimilar to a sports centre. There will be a HO club where members will be able to join that will give them a cheaper pricing structure and be able to run their own days and competitions in the vein of any other shooting club. We will also offer corporate training and shooting days much the same sas Bisley or some other clubs and we will also offer a competition service ideally hosting competitions up to Olympic level.

[johngarnett]

Not in Cornwall by any chance????


Will 4m high bunds cope with 100yd fullbore range?

JohnG

[ovenpaa]

If it can be fitted in a dedicated bench Rest area with covered concrete benches for 100 yards would be good as I cannot think of a similar BR facility in your part of the country. I would expect it to attract a lot of attention. Also a semi dedicated lane for zeroing and development with optional chrono facility would go down well. Obviously space/no of lanes is going to be a consideration so maybe things could be combined.

[Charlotte the flyer]

Can you split the range into different lengths? ie some 25, some 50 some 100. (With all of the safety considerations taking into account etc)

You didn't ask about none shooting facilities but if you want to make the venue attractive to ladies, please consider some sort of toilet facility. Sounds basic but a trip behind the bushes is enough to put people off.

[safetyfirst]

One idea might be to build some walls the full length of the range that allows you to have people shooting at 25 at the same time others are shooting at 100.

Hell, if you can afford it, build some shooting canopies/sheds on wheels on one of the smaller sections so you can wheel a cover down to 25 and allow five people to shoot in comfort down there, wheeling it back to 100 to join the main building if everyone is at 100!

[Kungfugerbil]

There are many more 25yd ranges in existence than anything else so while I would offer the 25yds, make sure you don't neglect the 100 and 50.

A seperate section for practical (PSG, mini rifle) can be built with not too much space required but obviously a large berm needed as a backstop and facing away from the main firing points.

If you offered all of these, and cheap hot chocolate and hot dogs, I would make the trip down in a flash :)

An idea of your site plan and access would be helpful...

[Blackstuff]

Build it how your members want it! But relocated it to the North-east