Science/Engineering/Technical forums

I've been working on upgrading my test shooting range for handguns and rifles. We'd been using a "tent" made of conduit and tarps, but it doesn't survive wind, rain, snow very well, and it was becoming a hassle.
So....We built a shed over the bench over the last few days, and upgraded the brass catcher for the pistol part of the range.

And finally, all done.


We use a sloped, hung tarp to catch pistol brass for reloading (and not slinging it with the mower either). I've tried a buncha different ways, and one of those tools used to pick up nuts in orchards works well if you've scalp cut the grass, but being lazy and all...this works quite well and is low maintenance.


And finally, a picture from the bench itself in the shade (whew, putting that tin up there in full sun was a job...Still seeing some spots, and I bet my face is sunburned.

The stack of pallets you can see out there are what we staple targets to, after setting one up vertical. Good thing we get them free - they wind up getting pretty perforated. Believe it or not, there's a groundhog living in the rosebush just behind the backstop up there - I guess he just ducks when we shoot.

Many thanks to friend Mark who came and did most of the heavy lifting for this project. Now we can shoot in comfort! We've even got the bench carpet covered and padded seating now!

Of course, nothing works (or fails) till you test it. As it happens, I'm accurizing a rifle (Howa, in Ruger .204 cal) for a friend, and I never seem to get enough practice with my CZ-97b so....

The CZ targets weren't too impressive, I obviously needed the practice. On the other hand had it been a rabbit at that range, every shot would have hit it (1/3 scale idpa targets, all pretty much in the middle). It's just that I prefer one hole targets, like this one I shot with the Howa.


Actually, I can't blame the gun at this point for not really putting them all through a tiny round hole. It has a middling crappy "imported" scope that only goes to 10x, and at 100 yds, I really want about twice that or more to show my my own shake better...getting old does that to you. But I think I'm probably done with this gun re any improvements unless he wants to buy a better scope for it - I'm vision limited with it now I think.