Building a backstop

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  • Shootin45super

    Marksman
    Rating - 100%
    1   0   0
    Aug 27, 2019
    200
    44
    Bloomington
    Just bought some property to shoot on.
    The property is flat and surrounded by woods with no houses for a mile in any direction.
    I am thing about building a 4'x4'x4' box and filling it with rubber mulch.
    I only plan on using it for only handgun practice.
    Has anyone done something like this?
     

    lonehoosier

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    28   0   0
    May 3, 2011
    8,012
    63
    NWI
    Would you be fine if your neighbors would do the the same thing facing your property? I know I wouldn’t be. That is way to small of a back stop for me.
     

    Hkindiana

    Master
    Rating - 100%
    8   0   0
    Sep 19, 2010
    3,175
    149
    Southern Hills
    Hire someone with a bulldozer to build you a dirt berm. It's quick and easy, and dirt is a great backstop. Besides, the cost will probably be close to what you are proposing.
     

    Jaygentry

    Plinker
    Rating - 100%
    1   0   0
    Apr 23, 2018
    48
    6
    Noblesville
    This is not the best way. Do a railroad tie box and back fill it with atleast 8 foot deep of dirt, and go way higher than you think you need to.
     

    Mgderf

    Grandmaster
    Site Supporter
    Rating - 100%
    43   0   0
    May 30, 2009
    17,877
    113
    Lafayette
    My brother built a "small" shooting berm in his front yard.
    He started out with 2 railroad ties long, (about 12'-14' wide) and 6 or 7 high.

    He very quickly added to that feeling the original to be inadequate.
    I would never trust a 4'x4'x4' for shooting anything larger than a pellet gun, and I think the rubber mulch idea would be a big mistake.
    Nothing like dirt to stop a speeding bullet.
     

    Ndavid45

    Sharpshooter
    Rating - 83.3%
    10   2   0
    Apr 29, 2019
    452
    2
    Indianapolis
    When I lived in Kentucky we used railroad ties doubled up 3 wide and one on each side coming out at a 45, ten feet high and about 12 feet of dirt behind it.
     

    Hawkeye7br

    Expert
    Rating - 100%
    1   0   0
    Jul 9, 2015
    1,363
    67
    Terre Haute
    Riley Conservation Club has several such berms. We have an open house this Sun, 12-4pm. If you come over, I'll walk you thru all the construction do's & don'ts. Railroad tie frame filled with sand. Ask for Rich.
     

    patience0830

    .22 magician
    Site Supporter
    Rating - 96.6%
    28   1   0
    Nov 3, 2008
    17,590
    149
    Not far from the tree
    It costs about $1800 to rent an excavator with a 3' bucket for a week. Plus delivery and a certificate of insurance that you must provide. And you'll need to set up an account with McAllister rental so they can run a credit check. Pluss diesel fuel for the week.
     

    Shootin45super

    Marksman
    Rating - 100%
    1   0   0
    Aug 27, 2019
    200
    44
    Bloomington
    Gun ranges use rubber mulch!
    I will build a big dirt berm,but I am still going to build the mulch box to stop the bullets.
    I plan on reclaiming all the bullets to be cast again.
     
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