How big does the berm need to be?

N

newguy2k3v2

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    • Sep 16, 2009
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    Bellville, Tx
    #1
    After getting a fenceline cleared out I now have 1600 yds and some change that I can shoot on and another 300ish if I clear a hole in the brush on another fenceline.

    I've got a .50 now that I'd like to stretch the legs with and hopefully later add some 7mm or .338 to my collection.

    For right now though I need to work on 600 out to 1000 with the .308 and I need to build a berm.

    I'm not planning on taking any shots that I'm uncertain about the correct dope for but I still need to be able to catch a shot that is off due to user error
    crazy.gif
    and I absolutely don't need .50 bullets passing through it.

    How tall, wide and thick would be addequate for a private range, minimal # of shooters, maybe 2 of the large 1k yard targets at most. There is some livestock behind where it will be at times but I plan on using common sense on when I can and can't shoot.
     
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    #2
    Re: How big does the berm need to be?

    I shoot my 50 at my berm @100 yards and have recoverd bullets less than 2 feet in. I cut some small 6-8 inch trees and piled dirt in front of it 6' high x 5' at the bottom x 3-4' at the top and have never went through. The only thing I watch for is the front angle is not to low after alot of rain. I have a tractor and just push it up every now and then. The ranges I go to have backstops 20' high and 60' wide. I see no need for that at my place but it depends on the amount of dirt you have available as well. Time to dig a pond?

    PS if you need some company shooting out there I'll help.
    laugh.gif
     
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    #3
    Re: How big does the berm need to be?

    Go big.

    10 or 15 feet high at 600.

    20 or 30 feet high at 1k.

    40 feet wide.

    Any berm that big will not have a pass through and you can miss big and still be ok.

    you will have to water them or have big rains to firm them up.
     
    #4
    Re: How big does the berm need to be?

    It's always safe to have a bigger berm and not worry about it than worry if your bern is big enough on an errant 50 BMG shot. I have shot standard FMJ 50 BMG at 1 K. The energy is still enough to make huge dent in my 3/8" AR500 metal target. Remember the longer your range the larger the berm in case of a miss. Cheaper that way than have to explain in court why your errant bullet took out some live stocks or worse.... JMHO.
     
    #5
    Re: How big does the berm need to be?

    An AP round fired from a 50 can penetrate 96 inches of pine boards at 100yards.Know your zero-don't let ANY nitwits shoot.Both ranges I shoot my fifty at have a mountain to stop it.

    If you can aquire old telephone poles or railroad ties build a "lincoln log" pattern and get 14-20 yards of fill and get to work with a loader.

    Any NEW shooter with a new stick should boresite at 25 yards and fire at less than 100 to make certain they are close. We were banned for 2 years at one range because of nit wits-shooting boulders with ball in a dry wooded area.BIG FIRE. Both ranges have banned AP,APIT, Tracer. One banned all any 50 projectiles that will attract a magnet.

    You are SO fortunate to have a private range-DO everything you can to keep "a concerned neighbor" from creating an issue.
     
    #6
    Re: How big does the berm need to be?

    I've been thinking that something along the lines of 7' tall 15' wide and 4' thick at the top should be adequate for what I'm going to do.

    A traditional public range size berm would be nice but I really don't want to take up that much space and I'd have to get some fill hauled in to make something that big.

    I guess I'm going to try and fing some type of creosote lumber to build somwhat of a structure for it and then get to work with the bulldozer and tractor.

    Nut job you're not all that far away from me!
     
    #7
    Re: How big does the berm need to be?

    i used dirt brought in by dump truck from a nearby caliche pit.
    the highest i can make the mound or berm is 12 feet at 1000. It would be hard to pile dirt 20 feet high. I guess a frontloader may be able to increase the height a little more.1000 yards beyond the berm there is nothing but open farm field and no livestock but i still worry about shots going over my berm even though we make sure we have the right dope for 1000 yards.
     
    #8
    Re: How big does the berm need to be?

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DFOOSKING</div><div class="ubbcode-body">But the way I understood it, they take telephone pole spaced about 20ft intervals apart, starting at the firing line. Then mount poles horizontally starting about 3ft off the ground to about 20ft high. Twenty-some odd feet they do it again and then again. Three rows or more and then a modest backstop at 300yds or so I was told. Heard they rent the .50 out to people as well as full autos.
    </div></div>

    I suspect that's to stop bullets that would otherwise go over the top of the impact berm, and is not meant to be a bullet "catcher". They shoot under it. The Missouri Dept. of Conservation uses similar measures at their Henges range in StL County for that purpose.

    Cheers,

    Bill
     
    #9
    Re: How big does the berm need to be?

    We are shooting a 338 lapua at a mile and had set up a 4 foot target in front of a 7foot high and 12foot wide berm. depending on wind conditions and determining our initial dope, several rounds found there way over and around that small berm. we had plenty of land behind it but it was an eye opener how easily you could miss that berm initialy. So as was stated earlier as big and as tall as you can make it will save you nightmares later. Also planting grass seed or something to stop it from eroding from the weather is a big help. Good Luck.
     
    #10
    Re: How big does the berm need to be?

    The size of the berm is a function of the ability of the gun and shooter. If you put a mound of dirt up where cows are,they will reduce its height for you garenteed ! Fence the berm.
     
    #12
    Re: How big does the berm need to be?

    I converted an area in the back fields of our farm.... I fenced off almost 50-80 acres roughly and brought in over 200 loads of dirt via dump trucks. My company had just finished a large grade project and we had to take the dirt somewhere so I said what better way to dispose of it then make myself a shooting range!

    We leveled up the whole field except when we put in the drainage and piping to pul water off the range. most of that was trenched then covered. Then I got a dozer and started forming (with a lot of help) the berm. Right now it stands about 20' tall and at the base is equally as thick. the top being probably 7' thick. It goes completely around the fence line. Your basically trapped when in there. the backside which you dont shoot towards points to another empty field but on the other three sides your surrounded. It is an ongoing project still. Plan on black topping the road and putting in a cement floor as a staging area with a small pre made building or could go big and do a mobile home?

    I would say you need to plan for the worst for shooting at distance. I would build the berm double the size you think you should.

    Here is a video: you can see about 1/4 of the berm. forgive our editing we did this with a camera phone while testing a Manufacturers new FA lower.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEKrKP7uMmI
     
    #13
    Re: How big does the berm need to be?

    Here is a picture of my 500 yard berm.
    I started with a small dozer then bumped out the sides with a backhoe.
    Like someone else already stated....."go as big as you possibly can".

    500_yd_berm_b_WM.jpg


    500_yd_berm_a_WM.jpg


    Please post pictures when you can.

    Later,
    Stu
     
    #14
    Re: How big does the berm need to be?

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: KYshooter338</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I converted an area in the back fields of our farm.... I fenced off almost 50-80 acres roughly and brought in over 200 loads of dirt via dump trucks. My company had just finished a large grade project and we had to take the dirt somewhere so I said what better way to dispose of it then make myself a shooting range!

    We leveled up the whole field except when we put in the drainage and piping to pul water off the range. most of that was trenched then covered. Then I got a dozer and started forming (with a lot of help) the berm. Right now it stands about 20' tall and at the base is equally as thick. the top being probably 7' thick. It goes completely around the fence line. Your basically trapped when in there. the backside which you dont shoot towards points to another empty field but on the other three sides your surrounded. It is an ongoing project still. Plan on black topping the road and putting in a cement floor as a staging area with a small pre made building or could go big and do a mobile home?

    I would say you need to plan for the worst for shooting at distance. I would build the berm double the size you think you should.

    Here is a video: you can see about 1/4 of the berm. forgive our editing we did this with a camera phone while testing a Manufacturers new FA lower.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEKrKP7uMmI </div></div>

    I have to say it's a nice place to shoot! He did a good job on it. Even spread grass seed to help keep the birm together.
     
    #15
    Re: How big does the berm need to be?

    A idea

    It might be cheaper and faster to do a billboard size steel backstop.

    Go get 4 telephone size posts and set them in a line, hang your steel sheets up. This way you have vertical wall to stop rounds. Also you could have it off the ground some, 4-5 foot and hang steel targets off the front of the wall.

    This is how HardRock is done.

    John
     
    #17
    Re: How big does the berm need to be?

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 300zero</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Wouldn't you have to worry about rounds ricocheting back at you? I personally would angle steel so rounds are directed towards the ground. </div></div>

    agreed. but one of the only metals you have to worry about reflecting a round is iron. you NEVER shoot at IRON! If your metal berm is reactive you will be fine. otherwise I would angle it.
     
    #18
    Re: How big does the berm need to be?

    Map

    Here's a snapshot of a satellite map of where I'll be shooting. Our property forms a triangle. 90 degree angle on the W edge of the map, a point on the N edge, and the far point (which is where I plan to put the berm) is just south of the lighter colored block with the x like lines in it(from hay cutter). I'll be shooting ESE along the S fenceline.

    After reading some of your replies I think I'm going to shoot for about 12' high and 25' wide. At that size I'll have to get a few dump truck loads in but I can still scratch up a lot of that from around the property.

    I need to build a elevated shooting platform also that I can move around with the 4 wheeler. Thinking and angle iron frame about 6' tall and 5'x10' on top. The johnson grass on this patch gets fairly tall between cuttings.

    Nutjob thanks for the offer but I have most of the equipment I'm going to need to get it done. Tractor w/loader, bulldozer, scraper, etc.

    With all the rain lately it's just too wet to do anything right now though
    frown.gif


    If y'all have any more suggestions have at it.

    Once I get it set up like I want I'll take some pics. Hopefully I can invite a few hide members out to shoot. It's hard to come by a range that has 1k much less a mile around here. I've talked to a few of the snipers on the local Sherriff's response team and they wish they had a place to shoot farther than 400yds within easy driving range also.

    This is the second time typing this post. FU Hughesnet!!!!!!
     
    #21
    Re: How big does the berm need to be?

    shooting downwards will still travel as far as shooting flat, your just pointing down. but I agree with what you mean. I have done the same thing at our long range targets. we shoot from an elevated perch and i have never had one go over the berm.
     
    #23
    Re: How big does the berm need to be?

    If using dirt only and depending upon what it consists of you will need approx. 3 to 1 base to height to obtain any longevity to your berm until grasses and weeds can support any type of erosion control.
     
    #24
    Re: How big does the berm need to be?

    We took old tires and layed them down to make a wide base. Put fill dirt on top and then pushed it into each tire and then raked the top down level with that layer. Add another layer slightly inset for the last to make a pyramid shape. Continue up for however high you need it. Makes a good backstop that won't washout. Weeds grow on top and sides to help hold it together. Local tire shop delivered all the used tires we needed. Built 25, 50, 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 yard backstops this way and about to build 600 and 1000 yards same way.
     
    #26
    Re: How big does the berm need to be?

    Berms can protect against 'high, wide, and handsome' shots, but are not an insurance policy. Often the low shot that skips high is the worst problem.

    Another measure which can provide real benefit is baffling.

    Building a firing port which provides a wooden framework to limit high, low, and wide shots can confine strays to a more manageble area. The idea here is to absorb and/or retard shots so they do not exit the intentional beaten zone. Try to limit deflection, and convert such shots to absorbtion/retardation.

    Some folks achieve this by building a frame and nesting tires together upright, so the round fires through the stacked center of the old tires. This can also help limit sound propagation.

    Berms should be built with bullet recovery in mind. This can help when folks like EPA start making noises about lead and such. An ounce of prevention can be worth far more than just a pound of repair. Sometimes it can save the whole ball game if you can demonstrate at least a modicum of foretought and proactive proparation.

    Finally, keep it private; strictly invitational, if not your own solo range. Public access is a timebomb just waiting to destroy your peace and personal fortune. Signage is also crucial, like "Private live fire rifle range, access limited to personal invitation, entry beyond this point involves serious personal risk", etc.

    Greg
     
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    #27
    Re: How big does the berm need to be?

    Greg brought up a good point regarding liability. It is your "private" range and therefore becomes your responsibility and liability. Exercise great cautions and good judgement. Remember at the end of the day, the bucks stop at your door. Good luck and have fun.
     
    #28
    Re: How big does the berm need to be?

    Heres a picture of our 600 yard range. I used a wheeled dozer to push up about 8'-10' high mounds at every yard line from 200 to 600. Paper target stands at 2/300, 3 steel AR500 at 4,5,600. We shoot from the ridge of one hill, down this dead end canyon.

    cf160ce1.jpg


    I plan to put a shoot house up there one day, with a grill, stove, couches and 65"TV for watching football and NASCAR, and cooking gumbo, while hunting. I can see over 1000 yards in any direction from this spot, all on our place and adequately backstopped for it. Another view, to the south instead of east.

    44a6141b.jpg


    The wind screams here, and causes some wierd effects from time to time.
     
    #29
    Shiraz said:
    Re: How big does the berm need to be?

    Go big.

    10 or 15 feet high at 600.

    20 or 30 feet high at 1k.

    40 feet wide.

    Any berm that big will not have a pass through and you can miss big and still be ok.

    you will have to water them or have big rains to firm them up.
    Click to expand...
    How about shooting into a 50' wooded hill. I feel like you need either a pile of loose dirt or a vertical face dug into the hill so you don't have richochets
     
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