Wasabi Posted March 12, 2016 Report Share Posted March 12, 2016 Has anyone any experience of building an indoor range for private use? My garden has more than enough room and I live in a semi rural location. I'm thinking I could build myself an indoor 50 metre range. Has anyone any experience of this and the costs and regulations involved? I'm thinking .22 lr. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoot and be safe Posted March 12, 2016 Report Share Posted March 12, 2016 I have visited a couple of indoor ranges in my time one being underneath the building (lots of steel under the floor) and another one constructed in the garden made up of concrete drainage pipes and a small brick building at the target end with a larger brick building at the trigger end, not intrusive and looked the part with ivy growing over it. Both in suburban settings Not sure on the planning aspect but they are out there. Presumably you will have to get the firearms department to give it the ok before using it. Can't help with the cost but the two foot concrete pipes would probably be the cheapest option. Good luck with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wasabi Posted March 12, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2016 Thanks for that. A pipe range was exactly what I was thinking! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted March 12, 2016 Report Share Posted March 12, 2016 I have visited a couple of indoor ranges in my time one being underneath the building (lots of steel under the floor) and another one constructed in the garden made up of concrete drainage pipes and a small brick building at the target end with a larger brick building at the trigger end, not intrusive and looked the part with ivy growing over it. Both in suburban settings Not sure on the planning aspect but they are out there. Presumably you will have to get the firearms department to give it the ok before using it. Can't help with the cost but the two foot concrete pipes would probably be the cheapest option. Good luck with it. Fair play that sounds pretty sweet, wonder what something like that would cost! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benthejockey Posted March 12, 2016 Report Share Posted March 12, 2016 Could you essentially port the pipes and create a moderatoresque effect to allow the sound to dissipate? Just a random thought that popped into my head I don't know the actual physics of it 😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperfection Posted March 12, 2016 Report Share Posted March 12, 2016 Could you essentially port the pipes and create a moderatoresque effect to allow the sound to dissipate? Just a random thought that popped into my head I don't know the actual physics of it Probably no due to you creating an edge which a bullet could ricochet off. Tunnel ranges are very loud.If in any doubt,try Kynochs in Mildenhal and judge for yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted March 12, 2016 Report Share Posted March 12, 2016 Pipe ranges which you can walk down are very good but expensive to build Never found noise a great issue up to 375 - you wear ear muffs of decent quality and fit .22 lr is no problem lots of indoor ranges all over the place though I built a 50 yard 22 range st home but it's open Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted March 12, 2016 Report Share Posted March 12, 2016 Pipe ranges which you can walk down are very good but expensive to build Never found noise a great issue up to 375 - you wear ear muffs of decent quality and fit .22 lr is no problem lots of indoor ranges all over the place though I built a 50 yard 22 range st home but it's open What's the legalities of that ? Wondering cos I saw a few houses recently with 80ft long garden. Instantly thought "that's a half decent rifle range" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old man Posted March 13, 2016 Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 Not being negative in any way but/ Apart from cost, noise, planning issues etc, would you not be bored with using it quite quickly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted March 13, 2016 Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 If it was made from concrete pipes above ground, It is supporting and aligning the length. And if it is dug into the ground you might have flooding issues. You could have a shed for the firing point and the target on a string recovery from the butts end. Post #10 quite possibly. But good fun. Beware of neighbours and planning. Don't go asking for outside opinion until you have to. Don't forget it's about GUNS. Do your research first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saddler Posted March 13, 2016 Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 Presumably you will have to get the firearms department to give it the ok before using it. Police have NEVER been in the job of range certification. It WAS the job of the MoD for years...now not carried out... Private .22 range? Always fancied one too. No more FAC for .22 rifles & ammunition. (Check the Firearms Act under "Gallery Range") Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spandit Posted March 13, 2016 Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 I just shoot into an earth bank 50yds away. I've knocked 2 post in and a pallet slots over them - the targets get clipped to that Have thought about making an indoor range in my workshop but it's not that long Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted March 13, 2016 Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 (edited) Would you need target shooting on your ticket? It's not really in the spirit of 'zeroing' or load development with a RF is it? Edited March 13, 2016 by kyska Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saddler Posted March 13, 2016 Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 Would you need target shooting on your ticket? It's not really in the spirit of 'zeroing' or load development with a RF is it? designate it a gallery range & no "ticket" required Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted March 13, 2016 Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 designate it a gallery range & no "ticket" required What is a gallery range classed as ? How does that work ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjimmer Posted March 13, 2016 Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 The range in Dorchester was built with rectangular concrete culvert sections and covered with the spoil that was dug out. There are fewer planning restrictions on stuff that does not protrude above the pre-existing ground level. The backstop for an over ground range has to be substantial, but it's a consideration even for an underground range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old man Posted March 13, 2016 Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 designate it a gallery range & no "ticket" required Not sure you meet that criteria? Do you still need a safety certificate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph5172 Posted March 13, 2016 Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 I saw a home made 30m odd one with a car port type covered firing end and the target end was a large steel plate on the back wall of an open sided shed, hung from the roof about a foot in front of that was what looked like thick rubber / neoprene type sheets with overlapping edges and a double batton bottom (i assume as a weight to keep it taught) and another 'patch' stuck on at around target level, target holders were just of ply, - there was one side without any sheet ( just the steel plate) and i assume that was for airguns as there were a few spinners of different sizes screwed into a post in the middle. the side walls seemed to be standard shed type from what i can gather the round would pass through the target then the sheet, hit the steel plate and not bounce back because of the lack of energy meaning it was caught by the sheet if it bounced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saddler Posted March 13, 2016 Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 What is a gallery range classed as ? How does that work ? Not sure you meet that criteria? Do you still need a safety certificate? As I posted earlier - read the 1968 Firearms Act - full details in that about the ".22 Gallery Range" You can find a copy online. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperfection Posted March 13, 2016 Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 (edited) Also known as a miniature rifle range. Edited March 13, 2016 by Imperfection Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjimmer Posted March 13, 2016 Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 hung from the roof about a foot in front of that was what looked like thick rubber / neoprene type sheets with overlapping edges and a double batton bottom Might have been Kevlar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted March 13, 2016 Report Share Posted March 13, 2016 What's the legalities of that ? Wondering cos I saw a few houses recently with 80ft long garden. Instantly thought "that's a half decent rifle range" None at all its not a home office approved range Not the best idea in an 80 ft long suburban garden perhaps but here I can safely shoot over more than 1000 yds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old man Posted March 15, 2016 Report Share Posted March 15, 2016 As I posted earlier - read the 1968 Firearms Act - full details in that about the ".22 Gallery Range" You can find a copy online. Does this exemption only apply to.22 rifles and ammunition not the conditions relating to actual range premises use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeadWasp Posted March 15, 2016 Report Share Posted March 15, 2016 3' concrete pipe is very expensive - I did look at reclaimed bricks set as arches (Victorian sewer style) built over formers then covered with earth to landscape. Don't forget positive ventilation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjimmer Posted March 16, 2016 Report Share Posted March 16, 2016 None at all its not a home office approved range But what if the F.A.C. only allows the weapon to be used on approved ranges? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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