[ASGMAG.COM] AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE 77› Near right: Take
caution when
shooting at steel
targets at close range
because you can
severely shorten the
life of your target,
depending on the
type and thickness
of steel and the
caliber round you are
shooting at it. Follow
the manufacturer’s
recommended safe
engagement distance
to maintain the
integrity of the steel
and to limit pitting.
Photo courtesy of
TacticalTexan.com
‹ Above left: Once
you are comfort-
able shooting with
your arms already
extended, practice
shooting from
the holstered and
secured position. A
single lesson from
a good coach with
instructor creden-
tials can be worth
its weight in gold
for this exercise.
Photo by Annmarie
Morris› Above: The size
of your range,
complexity of
your targets and
arrangement of
your training aids
are completely
up to you. Just
make sure that the
area behind your
backstop is clear
of people, pets or
anything else that
you don’t want
to get shot. Photo
by Christopher
Goldblatt‹ Left: I love using
clay targets on my
range because they
are cheap, easy to
see and give me
excellent instant
feedback that my
point of aim is
exactly calibrated to
my point of impact.
Photo by Annmarie
Morristhat a target can be engaged from are either
covered by a backstop or that the entire dis-
tance your rounds can travel is clear of anyone
or anything that you don’t want shot. Again,
verify that the land the projectile will traverse
is either your own or is covered by a land usage
agreement mentioned earlier.
A good way to set up your range is to first
channelize the area and establish your left
and right firing boundaries. You should then
start using visual markers to identify where
those areas are, not only for you but for
anyone you will allow to use your range. If you
are building on heavily wooded terrain, use a
highly visible spray paint, such as fluorescent
yellow, on trees to mark the left and right
limits of the range. Alternatively, you can put
painted stakes or poles in the ground if trees
are not available.
After you establish the left and right limits,
depending on the terrain, you will need to
determine the location for the backstops re-
quired for all shooting distances. Although the
specific dimensions are ultimately up to you,
I prefer a range that has room to grow with
me or with others who I think may be using
my range in the future. Ideally, you’ll have a
relatively flat area that is about 25 meters
long and wide enough to offer a clear line of
sight view between all of the firing positions
and all targets that you set up.MARKING YOUR RANGE
If you are constructing a multipurpose range,
a good way to start is by gridding the first 25
meters from the beginning of the range area
(the initial firing line) to the 25-meter point.
After establishing where the initial 25-meter
corridor is going to be placed, mark the 25-me-
ter line with a brightly colored stake and then
use either natural or artificial materials such
as railroad ties or fence poles laid along the
back edge of the 25-meter line.