Shooting platforms for shooting prone

[B Man]

Making a range for personal use for me and my wife, a few friends will join us time to time. Looking for what size platforms will be adequate for up to 3 shooters. I was set on 10x12 but now I’m thinking possibly 10x16. I will be setting it on 4 poles buried and concrete in place. Went today to drop everything off on the property and start working ground for the range and platform.

Some ideas and pictures of any you have built or used for inspiration would be great.

 

[Maggot]

Hope youre not in Vermont, LOL.

 

[Baron23]

Making a range for personal use for me and my wife, a few friends will join us time to time. Looking for what size platforms will be adequate for up to 3 shooters. I was set on 10x12 but now I’m thinking possibly 10x16. I will be setting it on 4 poles buried and concrete in place. Went today to drop everything off on the property and start working ground for the range and platform.

Some ideas and pictures of any you have built or used for inspiration would be great.

View attachment 8178456

Revised.....forgot to account for the width of the shooter!! LOL Yeah, I'm an old retired idiot....and still may have made a math error below! haha

I would def go with 16' wide and actually even wider would be better. Three people that's 5'4" each. If you figure a 1' 6" shoulder width of each shooter (and easily more if you are a robust size person) then you end up with 1' 11" open space on either side of each shooter and that ain't all that far away...especially for anyone with a rifle that ejects into the next county or has a brake on a center fire. Bigger shooters, it will be even less.

I think I'd go with 20' x 10' if you could swing it.

Just my view.

 

[Cardboard55]

Make sure it has power.

 

[isofahunter]

It is not very often a man says, I wish my range was only 500y instead of the 1000y I built. I wish my shop was 20x20 instead of 40x60. I wish my tractor was a 40 horse 2x2 instead of the 100 horse 4x4. Make as big as your materials allow. 10x12 sounds big until 3 people have all their shit on deck and the 4th one wants to spot from the deck. If you have a staging area where bags and cases can go and only shoot from the 10x12 it would work. The 10x16 we built years ago fills up quickly with 3 shooters and "stuff". Make sure you have a stiff structure too, friend went cheap and did not put in enough bracing and you have to almost hold your breath so you do not disturb the other shooters.

One more point if putting a roof on it make the eaves on the side facing the sun longer. My next one is going to be half again as big as the deck.

 

[B Man]

Appreciate all the solid advice and opinions so far. So I’ll do at least 10x16. It is being set on 4 light poles that are 12”-14” dia. And set in concrete so it will be solid. With it being 16’ wide I’ll definitely have to do 2x12 2ply headers to frame it out. I’ll put rails up as well and most likely a roof. I need to figure that out pretty soon to plan ahead on a build plan.

 

[isofahunter]

Appreciate all the solid advice and opinions so far. So I’ll do at least 10x16. It is being set on 4 light poles that are 12”-14” dia. And set in concrete so it will be solid. With it being 16’ wide I’ll definitely have to do 2x12 2ply headers to frame it out. I’ll put rails up as well and most likely a roof. I need to figure that out pretty soon to plan ahead on a build plan.

The extra work now pays off later. I have the T shirt!

 

[Cardboard55]

Appreciate all the solid advice and opinions so far. So I’ll do at least 10x16. It is being set on 4 light poles that are 12”-14” dia. And set in concrete so it will be solid. With it being 16’ wide I’ll definitely have to do 2x12 2ply headers to frame it out. I’ll put rails up as well and most likely a roof. I need to figure that out pretty soon to plan ahead on a build plan.

Are you going to put solar panels on the roof? Might want to figure how to angle it for best sunlight (pitch/angle of roof should be roughly equal to your latitude, IIRC.

Solar panels are cheap at the moment.

 

[B Man]

Are you going to put solar panels on the roof? Might want to figure how to angle it for best sunlight (pitch/angle of roof should be roughly equal to your latitude, IIRC.

Solar panels are cheap at the moment.

Solar panels for???

 

[pmclaine]

Don’t face it toward the west……

 

[Cardboard55]

Solar panels for???

Lights, fridge, fans, radio, repeater/wifi, bug zapper, cameras, camo...

(and of course power for the heated, massaging shooting mat, may as well build it with a little style.

 

[B Man]

Lights, fridge, fans, radio, repeater/wifi, bug zapper, cameras, camo...

(and of course power for the heated, massaging shooting mat, may as well build it with a little style.

That’s just fancy. I’ll bring a cooler with ice and drinks. Lol

Don’t face it toward the west……

Will be facing north

 

[pmclaine]

Will be facing north

My club range faces west. 9 months of the year at the time I would shoot the sun was crushing.


If you face yours North you will have to add mils than because you will be shooting “up”…….unless you believe in flat earth.

 

[Cardboard55]

North is a good direction. Keep an eye out for the socialists. They're usually up to some manner of skullduggery...

Remember the solar panels could also power an espresso machine, fondue pot or hot tub. Anything worth doing is worth overdoing.

 

[HeavyAssault]

In the South we are creating PRS/ 3-gun matches that require the constants to lie on fire ant piles during the initial 10 shot string. If you can make it to the final stage ....well you win hands down.

 

[B Man]

My club range faces west. 9 months of the year at the time I would shoot the sun was crushing.


If you face yours North you will have to add mils than because you will be shooting “up”…….unless you believe in flat earth.

My original range faces East and has its challenges in the summer if I try to shoot in the morning before it’s hot. I’ll keep that in mind about adding for shooting North…. Lol

North is a good direction. Keep an eye out for the socialists. They're usually up to some manner of skullduggery...

Remember the solar panels could also power an espresso machine, fondue pot or hot tub. Anything worth doing is worth overdoing.

That’s a pretty good collection you have. Are Those your admirers.????

I can always add the solar panel but I have an inverter generator if needed for now that’s free other than a little gas.

 

[B Man]

In the South we are creating PRS/ 3-gun matches that require the constants to lie on fire ant piles during the initial 10 shot string. If you can make it to the final stage ....well you win hands down.

I have a bottle of home brew that takes care of those things very quickly

 

[Cardboard55]

My original range faces East and has its challenges in the summer if I try to shoot in the morning before it’s hot. I’ll keep that in mind about adding for shooting North…. Lol



That’s a pretty good collection you have. Are Those your admirers.????

I can always add the solar panel but I have an inverter generator if needed for now that’s free other than a little gas.

As long as you have the equipment handy, I might suggest grading a road from the house to the precision prone palace. Maybe poke around for a nicer old car to run back and forth. Something with a little panache...

Could easily transport 6 adults plus a roomy trunk for anything up to a Solothurn.

 

[chevy_man]

Unless you need elevation because of the terrain, I'd just pour a slab on grade and call it a day.

Our range faces east, it can suck for a few minutes in the morning while the wind is low, but for 90% of the day it's fine. All my optics wear their sun shades though.
North is always best if the land allows, as you will never be looking into the sun.

We did solar panels and a battery to run strobe lights as a range cold indicator. Anyone that's running down range just hits the switch and there's lights facing all directions so anyone around knows the range is cold. Way better than the flag we used to use. Would be a good idea to have some sort of indicator if it's something good friends will have access to without you being there yourself.

 

[B Man]

As long as you have the equipment handy, I might suggest grading a road from the house to the precision prone palace. Maybe poke around for a nicer old car to run back and forth. Something with a little panache...

Could easily transport 6 adults plus a roomy trunk for anything up to a Solothurn.

I need the old Lincoln town car shuttling

Unless you need elevation because of the terrain, I'd just pour a slab on grade and call it a day.

Our range faces east, it can suck for a few minutes in the morning while the wind is low, but for 90% of the day it's fine. All my optics wear their sun shades though.
North is always best if the land allows, as you will never be looking into the sun.

We did solar panels and a battery to run strobe lights as a range cold indicator. Anyone that's running down range just hits the switch and there's lights facing all directions so anyone around knows the range is cold. Way better than the flag we used to use. Would be a good idea to have some sort of indicator if it's something good friends will have access to without you being there yourself.

We need the elevation unfortunately

 

[B Man]

The beginning, after some time for the Herbicide to work. Going to work the dirt here for a road, then jump over and start working it for targets. After turning the dirt over I’ll run it with the land leveler. Next step, platform going up

 

[Cardboard55]

I need the old Lincoln town car shuttling


We need the elevation unfortunately

An excellent choice! The Lincoln Town Car can be set up with superior ground clearance, essential for a range rat.

 

[B Man]

An excellent choice! The Lincoln Town Car can be set up with superior ground clearance, essential for a range rat.

More how I’d roll.

 

[Cardboard55]

More how I’d roll.

View attachment 8179020

Magnificent. You are a gentleman of culture and taste.

 

[Ichi]

On a north facing range, I'd extend the roof to ensure that you're still in the shade depending on the angle/track of the sun.

There's a north facing, covered range that I frequent here in Texas. During the fall, winter and early spring. the sun can roast your legs and back because the roof is only about 8 feet from front to back.

 

[Matagorda308]

At Rifles Only in South Texas

 

[B Man]

View attachment 8179237
At Rifles Only in South Texas

if I had that reasonably close I’d save my money and give it for membership to that place!

 

[hlee]

The beginning, after some time for the Herbicide to work. Going to work the dirt here for a road, then jump over and start working it for targets. After turning the dirt over I’ll run it with the land leveler. Next step, platform going up

View attachment 8178894

Don’t forget to hang the deer feeder at the 100 yard line…

 

[Matagorda308]

if I had that reasonably close I’d save my money and give it for membership to that place!

It’s an “elite firearms training facility” in Kingsville Tx. And they admit civilian students. Jacob Bynum. It’s worth the trip. Google it. He has some YouTube videos out also. I love that tower. Not much in the way of elevation where I live on the Gulf Coast.

 

[Matagorda308]

@B Man
What state are you in?

 

[B Man]

Don’t forget to hang the deer feeder at the 100 yard line…

Done!

What state are you in?

GA

 

[B Man]

Lanes clear and level. One will be a road flanking the range to drive to targets. I’m putting the platform at the far end close to the property line so I’ll be shooting into our property.
Don’t think I’ll get 1000 yards, it’s 976 to the back, but the rows start to curve enough you can’t get full use out of the plat form without being on the extreme edge. Looked like the best I can get will be 850 +\- 25yds to have full use of it.

Hope to start on the platform next weekend.

 

[Matagorda308]

Looking good! Feels awesome the closer you get to firing some rounds on your own range.

 

[Sniperwannabee]

View attachment 8179237
At Rifles Only in South Texas

Ive been there haha

 

[Sniperwannabee]

So do we count as friends? When can we come over?

 

[XP1K]

Don’t forget to hang the deer feeder at the 100 yard line…

That's pistol range.

 

[Jgunner]

3 men can shoot on an 8x8, snugly. I dont think it needs to be 10' deep, but 8' should suffice, but 12' wide would be more comfortable is you have a place to set gear and extra rifles. The biggest thing is the roof, THAT needs to be big! Sun from an agle and rain from an angle. At least 4' overhang from the front and back. So 8 becomes 16, which is easy enough to find lumber for.

Fyi, super jelous of that range!!!!

Now that i think of it, 10' platform will be better, rifle and bipod with outstretched shooter is closer to 10.

 

[fpgt72]

What I have is a large picnic table I built. It is generally just me down there, so I will spin it long ways, with the help of a riding mower or tractor, put a moving blanket over it for a little "softer" area, and hopefully keep some of the bugs down, and that is it. Quick easy and cheap. It would be fun to build a tall platform, but for the volume I have been shooting this year not really worth the bother.

 

[B Man]

Project delayed, been out of town all week with my wife in hospital. All good now but will be slow getting things done catching up on other things and close to the house with her for just a bit.

Looking good! Feels awesome the closer you get to firing some rounds on your own range.

Especially making it more enjoyable for my wife and a 5 year old boy thats taking interest in shooting. Low pressure for them off a public range.

3 men can shoot on an 8x8, snugly. I dont think it needs to be 10' deep, but 8' should suffice, but 12' wide would be more comfortable is you have a place to set gear and extra rifles. The biggest thing is the roof, THAT needs to be big! Sun from an agle and rain from an angle. At least 4' overhang from the front and back. So 8 becomes 16, which is easy enough to find lumber for.

Fyi, super jelous of that range!!!!

Now that i think of it, 10' platform will be better, rifle and bipod with outstretched shooter is closer to 10.

I’m going to put a roof but add shade cloth to the sides. Does an Amazon job blocking both. And yeah I thought 10’ because of shooting prone with bi pod.

What I have is a large picnic table I built. It is generally just me down there, so I will spin it long ways, with the help of a riding mower or tractor, put a moving blanket over it for a little "softer" area, and hopefully keep some of the bugs down, and that is it. Quick easy and cheap. It would be fun to build a tall platform, but for the volume I have been shooting this year not really worth the bother.

I wouldn’t build it, but the ground rolls just enough you have to or you’ll not have sone available ranges. So figured why not. Wife wants to shoot prone with me to so be a good thing. We can’t shoot side x side instead in single out the bed of the truck (little elevation) and more enjoyable.

 

[B Man]

So do we count as friends? When can we come over?

You would probably help put it up more than my friends that want to use it but don’t offer to help. Lol

 

[dirtybores]

I did my prone berm elevated 4', essentially making it a giant planter box. Filled it with dirt and topped it with leftover turf from a local football field getting an upgrade. Its 12'x24' which is workable for 5 shooters with spotters behind. Did a 70% sunshade overhanging 3' on all but one side that's extended, so I can tuck props, table, etc underneath. Range faces South, which works fine in the terrain and wind pattern here.

 

[Sniperwannabee]

You would probably help put it up more than my friends that want to use it but don’t offer to help. Lol

Well if I was closer I would help just for the fun and comrade

 

[B Man]

Would y’all build the plat form with a slight slant down hill? My thought being elevated shooting at a down angle from bipod it would put you at a more comfortable shooting position. Maybe just 3-4”? Anyone shooting these professionally built ranges ever noticed?

 

[Sniperwannabee]

Would y’all build the plat form with a slight slant down hill? My thought being elevated shooting at a down angle from bipod it would put you at a more comfortable shooting position. Maybe just 3-4”? Anyone shooting these professionally built ranges ever noticed?

everyone I shot was always level

 

[Milf Dots]

Would y’all build the plat form with a slight slant down hill? My thought being elevated shooting at a down angle from bipod it would put you at a more comfortable shooting position. Maybe just 3-4”? Anyone shooting these professionally built ranges ever noticed?

Slanted will allow for better rain/snow drainage.

 

[Hookturnr]

We're about done with ours 10x 100', 8 bench stations and 4 prone.

Steel critters 850 to 1000

 

[B Man]

View attachment 8183539
We're about done with ours 10x 100', 8 bench stations and 4 prone.
View attachment 8183542
Steel critters 850 to 1000

Fancy nice!! We use to have one 30 miles from here like that. Then some idiot found it fun to shoot a farm tractor. Hated losing that place, enjoy yours

 

[Milf Dots]

View attachment 8183539
We're about done with ours 10x 100', 8 bench stations and 4 prone.
View attachment 8183542
Steel critters 850 to 1000

Niiiice!
Question: is that black steel bench with concrete top a commercially available item, or a custom deal-io? thnx

 

[Hookturnr]

The benches are our own custom build

 

[B Man]

My brother drove in from base in Columbus, Ga to help me get the heavy lifting done today. Got to a stopping point where I can work on the rest solo in my spare time. Decided to go 16’ wide if for nothing else to have room for gear and 10’ tall to the plat form. Also going to run just a 4x4 post in the center on the front and rear floor joist support beam so i hopefully never have sag in it. Still a ways to go.