Indoor rifle range design?

goodgrouper

goodgrouper

tryingtobeabettergrouper
I want to make sure that the design I have in mind is a good one for an underground rifle range and as the concrete is being poored as I type this, I'm wondering if anyone has any last minute recommendations? I know I'm asking just a select few but I'm sure that there must have been something you wish you would have incorporated into your design after it was all built? I have adequate room and it will be an indoors reloading/bench/chronograph setup but I still haven't figured out how to suck the smoke out or if I need sound dampening foam on the walls to prevent hearing loss and things like that.

I would sure appreciate any help you can lend from someone who has been there and built that.
Thanks.
 
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I've been involved in the design of three 100yd rifle ranges (only one of which was ever built) and 5 underground pistol rooms. I don't own one, several here on the board do. Sucking the smoke out is not as intuitive as it would seem. The first thing you need to figure out is WHERE to get the air from without freezing your backside or creating swirling currents.

The "dampening foam" is most often replaced by the use of a blast room or expansion room. This room is right off the muzzle. As a rule this room is also integrated into the airflow so that the shooting area is separately conditioned.


But hey, if you're already pouring then you're LOOONG beyond design phase so's I'm really not being relevant. :)


al
 
BTW Good,

What are you using to catch the bullets? This has always been a hotbed of contention. Last I knew Leupold used a trap on theirs, Barnes has some sort of wet snail and Sierra was using sand. I've heard some real stories about the various louvered plate setups.....I'm at least 5yrs out of date though......


al
 
Indoor rifle range design

what you are building is no easy task . there's a lot to consider.
What are you using as a back stop? are you in a city limit?
Is it for the public, or just a place for your self? air handing can be done in several ways. the shooting and range it self don't necessarily have to be in one room. I believe spear has such a set up also i think sierra.
I have seen photos of them. I think the main thing is the back stop.
here are a few choices. rail road ties with a mound of soil .
An open end below ground with just dirt to catch the bullets.
I would not use armour plates at an angle due to back splash''''
The actual loading and shooting room could be a partition with air handling equipment. heat can be radiant electric set on a timer. lights fluorescent.
you could have a door to the actual range to get to the targets and set up
your sky screens. Plexiglas's for windows and bench's with large ports to shoot from. like shooting out of a window. you would only heat and cool
the loading and shooting area this way.
Just a few ideas to kick around'''
 
alinwa said:
I've been involved in the design of three 100yd rifle ranges (only one of which was ever built) and 5 underground pistol rooms. I don't own one, several here on the board do. Sucking the smoke out is not as intuitive as it would seem. The first thing you need to figure out is WHERE to get the air from without freezing your backside or creating swirling currents.

The "dampening foam" is most often replaced by the use of a blast room or expansion room. This room is right off the muzzle. As a rule this room is also integrated into the airflow so that the shooting area is separately conditioned.


But hey, if you're already pouring then you're LOOONG beyond design phase so's I'm really not being relevant. :)


al
Click to expand...


No no, you are being very relevant. The only thing being poured so far is the outer walls and the tube mating so there is still plenty of interior things left to change or reconsider. The points you brought up are very good. Thank you.
 
Gerry said:
what you are building is no easy task . there's a lot to consider.
What are you using as a back stop? are you in a city limit?
Is it for the public, or just a place for your self? air handing can be done in several ways. the shooting and range it self don't necessarily have to be in one room. I believe spear has such a set up also i think sierra.
I have seen photos of them. I think the main thing is the back stop.
here are a few choices. rail road ties with a mound of soil .
An open end below ground with just dirt to catch the bullets.
I would not use armour plates at an angle due to back splash''''
The actual loading and shooting room could be a partition with air handling equipment. heat can be radiant electric set on a timer. lights fluorescent.
you could have a door to the actual range to get to the targets and set up
your sky screens. Plexiglas's for windows and bench's with large ports to shoot from. like shooting out of a window. you would only heat and cool
the loading and shooting area this way.
Just a few ideas to kick around'''
Click to expand...



Ok, the backstop will most likely be railroad ties and sand but that is not unflexible.

Yes, it is in city limits.

It is not going to be a public range.

Target retrieval will be done by wheel and pulley and incandescant lighting must be used so the chronograph will work.

Plans for now include the bench at one end in the corner of a 30'x15' room, chrono on a moveable platform just in front of the bench, then the tube will come up to the wall on the far side of the bench. The adjacent walls will have reloading benches and storage shelves on them with a sound dampner if needed.

A port hole in the far side of the tunnel will give access to the bullet stop for maintenance and I was also thinking it could be used to draw air down the tube away from the shooting room? I don't know if fans will be necessary or not or possibly some other form of venting?

The chrono will most likely have to stay in the room unless I can rig some way to get to it inside the tunnel and that would allow me to move the bench up to the start of the tunnel and reduce the smoke in the room dramatically?
 
indoor rifle range design

Ok so i guess your plan is completely under ground.
You will definitely need some venting to draw fresh air.
The ties and sand should do fine just remember to make the back stop thick enough. Several air vents on the range part should handle air flow.[like a bunker} You can spray on foam insulation to the concrete walls .
The ceiling can also be sprayed with foam. I
sounds pretty good at this point, The loading room and space for the bench can have separate hvac or radiant heat. good lighting is important.
make sure you have adequate electrical service.
as i suggested have a door installed to go forward to the range for Pm.
things accidentally get shot up. the pully system is fine
 
indoor rifle range

Lead? I hope not' that's a horse of a different color.
he did say rifle , i guess he could shoot lead though.
that requires a lot more air movement. lead build up in the range is a real concern. We had a few people that had excessive lead in their blood from bad venting. sooo we had to revamp the whole indoor range.
I disagree with the ties, they are fine as long as you put enough dirt in front of them. the mess usually stays inside if properly done. the ties are for a back up to prevent any escapes. The length of the ties stacked cross ways like building blocks should do. that's about 4 ft thick Minimum.
it's been a while since the last one, A few people here are thinking of a new one also.
 
Helped A friend build one many years ago.We used concrete 4' drain pipe,varriable speed attic fan ventilation behind the target,homemade electric pully and don't forget the sump pumps. We learned the hard way.

Chuck.
 
Gerry said:
Lead? I hope not' that's a horse of a different color.
he did say rifle , i guess he could shoot lead though.
that requires a lot more air movement. lead build up in the range is a real concern. We had a few people that had excessive lead in their blood from bad venting. sooo we had to revamp the whole indoor range.
I disagree with the ties, they are fine as long as you put enough dirt in front of them. the mess usually stays inside if properly done. the ties are for a back up to prevent any escapes. The length of the ties stacked cross ways like building blocks should do. that's about 4 ft thick Minimum.
it's been a while since the last one, A few people here are thinking of a new one also.
Click to expand...


We will not be shooting anything but jacketed bullets but lead will pile up in the sand. SHould I design a door out the end of the tunnel to change the sand once in awhile or possibly ventilate the bullet stop too?
 
chuck furniss said:
Helped A friend build one many years ago.We used concrete 4' drain pipe,varriable speed attic fan ventilation behind the target,homemade electric pully and don't forget the sump pumps. We learned the hard way.

Chuck.
Click to expand...

Sump pumps in the end of the tunnel by the bullet stop or elsewhere?

And the fan behind the target was to blow out impact dust?
 
goodgrouper said:
Sump pumps in the end of the tunnel by the bullet stop or elsewhere?

And the fan behind the target was to blow out impact dust?
Click to expand...

We installed sumps at the low spots,{3} if we had graded toward the pit and used a gravel bed we would have needed only one.
The fan kept the entire tunnel free of smoke,dust,ect.
Chuck.
 
indoor rifle range design

it wouldn't hurt to put a trap door above the back stop. You may want to add more soil or new ties after a long time. Lead dust can be vented with a ceiling fan like the style they use in bath rooms only larger. or a comercial kitchen fan with a pipe and vent cap to change the air. I can get specs on how much air flow you may want or need . I Can't design one and send prints over the web. but you have the right idea. That tunnel should be fine for a long time. Now one thing make sure that you do one of two things.
1 get permission and inspection by your town.
2 Keep your mouth shut and only use it for your self or other people you trust to keep it quiet. The last thing you need is some one
complaining Here's a few noise, safety, codes , etc etc people these days complaiin about everything. If any one asks what your building tell them a bomb shelter. those type of people will believe any thing' [ just kidding} :D
I hope my small imput helps
 
The city has given permission to build inside the city limits as it will be totally underground and sound proofed. The contractors have already gone over the necessary things to insure it's legality.

And the closest neighbor is about 100 yards away and with this range being 15 feet below the ground, I don't anticipate any complaints.

Thanks for your help.
 
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