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We've been asked to travel to North Texas to teach a CHL class to a group of about 10-12. The host lives on 5 acres outside Pilot Point city limits and we'll have the class portion in their home, but I'm looking for ideas as to how to make the live fire qualification part of the class safe, temporary and/or portable. Their land is completely flat - no hills/berms - just flat and open. BUT, with horses and cows all around. I'm looking for a way to set up a temporary/portable backstop that wouldn't require movement of earth and would contain the rounds within a reasonable distance.

Alternatively, if anybody knows of any public ranges in the Pilot Point area, I could make some phone calls. I haven't been able to locate any closer than 20-25 miles as the crow flies. I'm a city girl, so my range experience has mostly been the "already there" type. Any help would be appreciated.

Be sure to check for any county regulations on shooting on unincorporated land. At 5 acres, the property doesn't have any protection under the Local Government Code.

Chas.

Hijack Timeout - welcome to the forum Mrs Murphy! Nice to be able to communicate with you here as well as Facebook!

Ok...back to the original post at hand.

Tracy

TLynnHughes wrote:Hijack Timeout - welcome to the forum Mrs Murphy! Nice to be able to communicate with you here as well as Facebook!

Ok...back to the original post at hand.

Tracy

Ha! Crack me up, Tracy! Lucky I live a clean life! But enough pleasantries...Help me figure out how to make a range!

Mrs. Murphy wrote:

TLynnHughes wrote:Hijack Timeout - welcome to the forum Mrs Murphy! Nice to be able to communicate with you here as well as Facebook!

Ok...back to the original post at hand.

Tracy

Ha! Crack me up, Tracy! Lucky I live a clean life! But enough pleasantries...Help me figure out how to make a range!

I can't think of anything light and portable. When I think of temporary berms, I think of hay bales, tires...all stuff that's big and heavy. I was certainly going to keep an eye on this post, because we've been trying to figure out the same thing. I have someone that might be willing to let me use their land for training. Did ya ask Dennis? He's got great ideas!

T.

I have seen portable bullet traps but they're not large. What if the students miss?

Can you rent/borrow a flatbed trailer (or other platform) for people to stand on so they are shooting at a downward angle? That doesn't deal with the ricochet problem, but it is a start . . .

You could stage an "Occupy Pilot Point" protest behind the targets. At least that "Occupy" protest would serve a useful purpose.

For the record, I do not recommend using people as backstops.

I would look into a used shipping container. They use one setup outside their shop on mythbusters for some some gun myths.

Most of the gear related to portable shooting is bulky, heavy and expensive. There are bullet traps, Rubber blocks that will encapsulate the bullets, etc. The best suggestion I can come up with is a steel plate at a 45 degree angle and make all the shooters shoot frangible ammunition. Still bulky and heavy and $$$ Frangible ammo - - - from the prices you'd think the bullets were made of 24 carat gold.

Your best bet is going to be finding a range you can use. edit: I looked up shooting ranges in Denton County there is one called Magnum Sports Center that is about 18 miles away. closest to Pilot Point and has some favorable reviews. I would call them and ask about using their facility.

Magnum Sports Center
4934 Duck Creek Road, Sanger, TX 76266
(940) 458-7000

Disclaimer "I am in no way affiliated with the business mentioned nor have I used their services."

I think I would be inclined to drive 25-30 miles to a shooting range to be safe.