Hunter Posted February 13, 2006 Report Share Posted February 13, 2006 So! got myself another project. I sneaked a day off college to spend the morning planning out a new shooting range, which will hopefully help getting the FAC. The range is 70m long (66 yards or close) and as a good backstop, which will need to be dug out to fit a target. The shooting end will need to have a raised pad on which to shoot off, to prevent laying in the mud, and to make it perfectly level with the target. I will have to use a laser to get this right when the time comes :thumbs: I spent 1 hour searching for the ideal place to put this range, whilst walking in the rain and then I saw this perfect straight, just between all the trees, and providing a good backstop. It will need lots of work though.. So I have put some string up so you can see the intended range. I have just started clearing branches off the path, and cutting any low hanging branches from nearby trees. Next will be to dig out the back stop to fit a proper target using wooden poles. I could have had a 75meter range, but that would have ment cutting down two good trees. So its a 5 meter sacrifice This is where the range begins, I plan to build a small raised wooden platform here so you can shoot without being in the mud. This is the veiw: And this is the soil bank that will be the back stop. I will need to dig this out quite a bit to get it level with the shooting point. And the fun bit.. the first shots fired on the range. I had to test the acoustics. I must not be too loud to shoot here or the neighbours would complain.. only one way to test it. Out came the big .38 blank fire revolver.. so loud that you can feel the shockwave hit your chest each time you fire it Well it passed! though its very loud to shoot down here because the sound echos off the soil banks, but my brother couldnt here the shots from the house which is 300m away, so it seems to be fine. Luckily I was wearing hearing protection for this test.. or I would be deaf I will update this as soon as I do some more work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulos Posted February 13, 2006 Report Share Posted February 13, 2006 can a FAC be granted for the purposes of target shooting if its on a private range? i thought it had to be an approved range with an official acting as referee? Nice spot there though, good luck with it :thumbs: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the last engineer Posted February 13, 2006 Report Share Posted February 13, 2006 intrigued as to what handgun that is ? thought other than black powder they were ilegal ? curious is all Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunganick Posted February 13, 2006 Report Share Posted February 13, 2006 (edited) i think its a blank firing pistol (from looking at previous posts of his) nice start there. you will want to improove that backstop though. its not just about catching the bullet once it leaves the target, its catching the bullet if you have an AD (accidental discharge) in the rough direction of the backstop - hense why backstops at bisley are about 25ft tall (no need for you to go to this extreme though) although i do appreciate you have a slight upwards slope behind the target area. i would recomend a 4 or 5ft wall of soil/sand. but having seen the other work you have done to your guns, i expect this range will be of a similar quality. good luck :thumbs: Edited February 13, 2006 by dunganick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted February 13, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2006 Thanks dunganick, I will make sure theres a propper back stop. I had planned to do some good old manual work with a spade, and dig straight down into the bank, so I can put a safe target there. I will edit a picture with drawing on it showing my plan, and put it up soon The pistol is a blank fire, though its a little too loud to be fun, so I only use it with ear protection. Has nice recoil too :thumbs: its a .38 Olympic Special. Was trying to sell it for a while because I have a new 8mm auto. The .38 is too loud hehe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whippet.22 Posted February 13, 2006 Report Share Posted February 13, 2006 Sorry mate but you won't get an FAC granted solely for use on your range, you would get it for the purposes of hunting and zeroing on your land, but if it's just for target shooting then it has to be a Home Office approved range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenbears10 Posted February 13, 2006 Report Share Posted February 13, 2006 Sorry mate but you won't get an FAC granted solely for use on your range, you would get it for the purposes of hunting and zeroing on your land, but if it's just for target shooting then it has to be a Home Office approved range. In that case would they pass this range for zeroing wippet, and the land for hunting? Remembering the differences in interpretation of the law by different police authorities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whippet.22 Posted February 13, 2006 Report Share Posted February 13, 2006 They probably would, but I got the impression he wanted the guns only for target shooting. :thumbs: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodyfirst Posted February 14, 2006 Report Share Posted February 14, 2006 Looks nice, you're lucky to have such a decent bit of land! I too would recommend making the backstop a lot bigger though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonno 357 Posted February 14, 2006 Report Share Posted February 14, 2006 Hunter is this some sort of wind up ? FAC you takin the **** ? You have about as much chance of taking AF job at Man U Dreamer Jonno Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted February 14, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2006 Hunter is this some sort of wind up ? FAC you takin the **** ? You have about as much chance of taking AF job at Man U Dreamer Jonno Care to explain? :thumbs: For the above replies, the range is so I can show I have a propper place to Zero. The range is no where near complete, so the back-stop is a little dodgey still, but it is also lot steeper then it looks on the pictures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mr Pieman Posted February 14, 2006 Report Share Posted February 14, 2006 Hunter, if you just want a place for zeroing you don't need to build a specific range. I use one of the fields on the farm where i shoot, take my rangefinder, targets, picnic table and chairs and set up somewhere 'suitable and appropriate'. It seems a lot of work (unless you really want a range of your own) just to zero a rifel now and again. The FLO won't approve your range as it is way off the Home Office spec. You can't have trees lining a range, the idea is full frontal visibility - people could walk out from behind trees into your line of fire (unlikely by possible). I have a friend in Sussex who is a Firearms Dealer who built a top flight range but still can't class it as one due to the regs! If all you want to do is zeroing, drop me a pm and I'll let you come over to the farm and do it here if you wish - I'm in East Sussex too. :thumbs: Cheers PP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted February 14, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2006 Thanks Mr Pieman! I will keep that in mind when I get the licence through. The range is also for using airguns on, so it wont only be for the rim/center fire rifles. But if im offered the use of a farm with longer range, that sounds more fun the in the gloomy woods Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted February 15, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2006 Update: Well it was a bit muddy today, after the decent rainfall during the night, but I have started digging the back stop atlast! and its looking fairly good so far, though there apears to be a small trickle of water comming out of where im digging. It must be water from the fields, and if needs be, il install pipes, but it seems fine for now. The muddy soil is perfect for digging, and sticks together like cement when dry, so its good for building the walls. Wrong footware.. oops.. boots next time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deadeye ive Posted February 15, 2006 Report Share Posted February 15, 2006 So! got myself another project. I sneaked a day off college to spend the morning planning out a new shooting range, which will hopefully help getting the FAC. Hunter I would refrain from mentioning your range as it could hinder more than help you getting an Fac ............To many trees I'm afraid ...............A FEO would question your EXPERIENCE if you was intending to use Rimmfire let's say. As as been said before .............Suitable land is all that is required for Fac . Ive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted February 15, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2006 When I went to the shooting club, they said I shouldt tell the FAC chaps that I am there, as it can get complicated lol I do understand this, but I will always need somewhere safe to pop away now and then, even if the FAC people dont know if it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axe Posted February 15, 2006 Report Share Posted February 15, 2006 Hunter, obtaining an FAC does not mean you can go just anywhere with your rifles or guns. You will need an open certificate for that, which will take at least 2-3 years to get. The only land you will be able to shoot is land cleared for the calibre you wish to use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunganick Posted February 15, 2006 Report Share Posted February 15, 2006 however if you get them to clear this area of land you have, there is (to my knoledge) no reason you cant make your own make shift range. besides even if you cant use the FAC rifles you can use your airguns. coming on well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted February 15, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2006 We have 80 acres of land, should that be enough for .222? plenty of banks to use as backstops for the shots.. I thought you can shoot on any land which has been previously seen by police, and if the landowner also shoots apon? Thanks nick, its also fun to build, even if I can only use the airguns on it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunganick Posted February 15, 2006 Report Share Posted February 15, 2006 80 acres might be a bit small for the .222 (but you never know) although (depending on surroundings and lie of the land) probably pleanty for rimfire. whether you can shoot on 'cleared' land or whether you need to list every piece of land will be up to plod. however these days most forces allow you to shoot on any cleared land (cleared meaning plod has come and seen it and cleared it for the callibre you intend to use) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonno 357 Posted February 15, 2006 Report Share Posted February 15, 2006 80 acres might be a bit small for the .222 (but you never know) although (depending on surroundings and lie of the land) probably pleanty for rimfire. whether you can shoot on 'cleared' land or whether you need to list every piece of land will be up to plod. however these days most forces allow you to shoot on any cleared land (cleared meaning plod has come and seen it and cleared it for the callibre you intend to use) Nick Size or acreage of land isn't the issue for calibre clearance. I have 63 acre farm passed for 22-250 Jonno Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axe Posted February 15, 2006 Report Share Posted February 15, 2006 Jonno is right, suitability and reason is the main concern. Extreme I know but if you had just 10 acres facing a 200ft soft faced cliff you'd get pretty much anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunganick Posted February 15, 2006 Report Share Posted February 15, 2006 80 acres might be a bit small for the .222 (but you never know) although (depending on surroundings and lie of the land) probably pleanty for rimfire. whether you can shoot on 'cleared' land or whether you need to list every piece of land will be up to plod. however these days most forces allow you to shoot on any cleared land (cleared meaning plod has come and seen it and cleared it for the callibre you intend to use) Nick Size or acreage of land isn't the issue for calibre clearance. I have 63 acre farm passed for 22-250 Jonno yes your quite right, i wasnt saying otherwise "might" "a bit small" i know that alot of land around here, despite being safe as a safe thing (in my opinion) cant get cleared becuase of its size. unfortunatly there is no constant across the countys. however your right, there is a chance it could be cleared. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deadeye ive Posted February 15, 2006 Report Share Posted February 15, 2006 One of my permissions is only 22 acres and it's cleared for .223 ..........There are more SAFER firing points on this piece than on a larger 150 acre site i've got With fullbore the higher you can elevate your firing point the better Ive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted February 15, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2006 Saying that, I was considering building a high seat as well as the small shooting range. Do you think if I removed some of the trees right next to the range line, and clear the area + add a small high seat somewhere that this will make it an acceptable area? I know you think this is all OTT but I will do anything to make it all work out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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