Build a Backyard Range Without Upsetting the Neighbors

Building a shooting range at home isn’t exactly like setting up a bird feeder or planting a row of tomatoes.

This is a serious project that will also require a lot more from you than just a shovel, a few 2x4s and targets, and a “I’m just gonna wing it” sort of attitude.

Rather, building a homemade shooting range on your property will call for some careful planning, respect for law, a bit of elbow grease, and hopefully a strong desire on your part to avoid being that guy…you know, the one the whole neighborhood talks about behind their doors!

Done right, a gun range on your land can be safe, useful, fun, and something that you can take real pride in. But done wrong, and it can be an easy fast-track ticket to the county courthouse (or worse, an emergency room). 

Know the Law Before You Lift a Finger

Before you set up a single target or fire a bullet, easily the number one most important thing that you can do is to check your state and local laws.

DO NOT ASSUME ANYTHING. And don’t rely on what your buddy or your cousin told you either. 

Do your research online. Call the local Sheriff’s office. Talk to someone who has a range set up already. You get the idea.

You need to know exactly what is allowed (and what isn’t) in your specific state and county. In most rural areas in the United States, it is perfectly legal to shoot a firearm on your own land…but ‘legal’ still comes with strings (a lot of strings).

For example, some jurisdictions require a minimum acreage for you to shoot on your property. It’s also likely that there are restrictions regarding the specific distance from homes, buildings, and roads. If you’re near subdivisions, schools, grocery stores, parks, libraries, or government buildings you likely won’t be able to set up a shooting range to begin with.

It’s not enough to say “my land, my rules.” That won’t hold up when a round travels farther than you expected, or when someone calls in a noise complaint. Around much of the country, the safe distance from occupied dwellings is 300 to 500 feet, but some states go farther. 

And don’t forget about noise ordinances. Even if the shooting is legal, you could still get fined for blasting off mag dumps during dinner time on a Sunday!

Choose the Site With Safety (and Sound) in Mind

Picking the right spot for the range is more than just pointing a gun away from the house and hoping for the best. 

The land has to work with you. 

The absolute best spot is one that faces into a natural hill or slope. Think about a place where gravity is already doing half the work of stopping a bullet. 

A good shooting site is the following:

• Secluded
• Has a natural backstop (or at the very least enough room to build one)…more on this right below
• Doesn’t point anywhere near a road, neighbor’s house, or wandering livestock

Also, avoid aiming uphill. That’s a rookie mistake that will inevitably lead to bullets disappearing over the crest (and landing who-knows-where).

Again, don’t forget about the noise factor. Sound carries like gossip in the country. What sounds like a fun Saturday morning to you can sound like a firefight to someone half a mile away. Thankfully, you can utilize natural barriers (like thick woods or berms) to help muffle the sound a bit. 

Build a Backstop That’ll Stop a Freight Train

If there’s one place not to cut corners, it’s the backstop. This thing is your first, second, and third line (and fourth and fifth…) of defense against bad aim, ricochets, and all-around disaster. 

A good backstop is big, it’s dense, and it also really doesn’t care if you’re shooting a .22 LR or a .308 Winchester. 

At bare minimum, the backdrop should be 6 to 8 feet tall, at least 10 feet wide, and it should also come packed solid with clay, sand, or compacted dirt.

One neat trick you may have seen before is that folks who’ve got the tools sometimes use a skid steer or a backhoe to build a proper dirt berm. 

Others make do with tire walls filled with sand, railroad ties stacked and anchored, or even huge landscaping timbers backed with soil. 

Just don’t ever rely on plywood, hay bales, or rocks. Those won’t stop much, and in some cases, they’ll send rounds skipping in directions you never expected.

Set Up the Range Like It’ll Be There for the Long Haul

A range doesn’t need to be fancy, but it does need to be thought out. 

When it comes to the basic design, you’ll want to start out with a solid firing line. This line should be marked clearly and it should be flat as well. Gravel works great to keep the mud away.

Now if you want to get even more set up, you can add a shooting bench. It doesn’t have to be pretty, but it should be sturdy enough to handle your rifle and your gear (and maybe a couple thermoses of tea or strong coffee as well).

Distances always matter. Physically walk on the property and step it off to measure it properly. Specifically, you’ll want to mark 25, 50, 75, and 100 yards with points or small signs for reference points. Knowing your shooting distances in this matter is important for sighting in firearms, zeroing your iron sights, and practicing realistic shooting scenarios. Don’t eyeball it and call it close enough!

Run the Range With Rules Like a Pro

Just because it’s on private land doesn’t mean it should be a free-for-all. 

A backyard range needs real safety rules that are posted and enforced. 

The basics always apply: treat every firearm like it’s loaded, never point the muzzle at anything you’re not willing to destroy, finger off the trigger until ready to shoot, and know what’s behind your target.

And no matter how legal your range is, being considerate goes a long way. You should keep your shooting hours reasonable. Mid-morning to late afternoon is usually fair game. Avoid early mornings, late evenings, and holidays when folks might be enjoying some peace and quiet. 

In short, your homemade shooting range needs to be safe, legal, and built to last. The payoff is huge: no waiting in line at the public range, no fees, and no range officer glaring at your ammo can!