ever consider personal underground shooting range?

**tmckay2** · 11-12-2013, 23:11

i am curious about this idea. there are probably a crap ton of county or city codes youd have to get some sort of approval to get around, but what if you had a decent sized yard and buried a steel 8 ft diameter tube or something? ventilation is a key problem, but i am sure experienced people could figure that out. i wonder realistically how cheap you could do it. anyone have any ideas? it would just be a pistol range/22 range.

**ChunkyMonkey** · 11-12-2013, 23:15

DADT!! said some folks in this forum who already have their own.

**Great-Kazoo** · 11-12-2013, 23:33

Originally Posted by tmckay2

i am curious about this idea. there are probably a crap ton of county or city codes youd have to get some sort of approval to get around, but what if you had a decent sized yard and buried a steel 8 ft diameter tube or something? ventilation is a key problem, but i am sure experienced people could figure that out. i wonder realistically how cheap you could do it. anyone have any ideas? it would just be a pistol range/22 range.

Some guy told me he spent $75.00 , not counting ventilation.

If you scored some 2' culvert pipe, rented a back hoe on the weekend and have access to a basement with backyard window, it might work. PVC works too.

http://denver.craigslist.org/mat/4144341856.html

**whitbaby** · 11-13-2013, 16:36

My home basement is about 3/4 finished. There is a crawl space under the family room with a 28" x 24" crawl-through door.
In my younger days I, and a neighbor, managed to get a 36" x 48" sheet of 1/2" steel plate, diagonally, through that door.
The top of the plate is loosely anchored to a joist with a couple 1/4" lag screws. The plate is at a 40 degree slope and deflecting everything down into the dirt. Also added a switchable light directed at the targets/plate.
Behind the plate is concrete foundation. That plate is 2 to 4 feet below grade on the other side of the foundation. I can shoot from 60' away, this is through an open door into the furnace room. Even rigged up a manual pulley target holder.
I've never hit the foundation but while playing 'quick-draw' one night I did manage to put a furrow into the crawl-through door frame. ;-\

I used to shoot IPSC, before the 'arms/optics race', and worked up many differing loads for .45 on my Dillon 550.
I've shot pistols up to .44 Mag and 22 rifles down there. I've never noticed the plate moving, even with the .44.
I close up the basement windows and you really can't hear much outside. I used to wait for momma to take the dogs shopping.
After awhile the smoke gets kind of heavy and I open the windows and turn on a couple window fans for an hour or two.

I din' do no steenking permits...

;->

**asmo** · 11-12-2013, 23:41

When/if I win the big money in the lottery I will have a 1000m underground rifle range -- sitting under a BIG ass above ground rifle range.

We all have dreams...

**rondog** · 11-12-2013, 23:58

Myself, I'd rather have a place in the country with a private outdoor range.

**buffalobo** · 11-13-2013, 00:14

DADT!! said some folks in this forum who already have their own.

Myself, I'd rather have a place in the country with a private outdoor range.

No reason you can't have both.

**Circuits** · 11-13-2013, 02:10

DADT: suppressors and/or basements are common

**cstone** · 11-13-2013, 07:28

Here is a price list. There are certainly plenty of suppliers for precast box culverts.

http://www.ncp-inc.com/price1.html

If you consider drainage and ventilation, 50 to 100 yards underground would probably meet most needs. Over 100 yards and it is just cheaper to go above ground.

First you need the property.

Be safe.