Any interest in a new range

[RossP]

Hi everyone,

Just putting the feelers out as to whether there would be any call for or interest in a range in the West Midlands. Would be max range of around 600yards and would be looking at a variety of gongs and animal silhouettes.

Interested to hear from anyone with experience of doing something similar regarding the legal side of things or common problems that could occur.

 

[finnbear270]

Make sure the site is well away from monks.

 

[One on top of two]

Good luck

 

[bowji john]

Choose your site well

Face it North, not South

Take some good guidance on layout, design, construction and maintenance

Decide if you are applying for planning (change if use) or wing it under the radar

Find adequate insurance cover

Consider noise impact and neighbours by factoring in

what calibres,
use of mods,
when and how often you are open
Opening and closing times
Number of shooters at anyone time
Prevailing winds

Think about access, parking, poor weather shelter

Whether you intend to use sentries

Posting of flags, restricting access and warning signs

Rights of way, authorised and un authorised public access

FAC conditions of shooters

 

[GrahamK998]

I'd strongly recommend that if you're not already aware of it, you give this doc a good read.

Range Design & Safety Handbook

 

[Millerich]

Hi everyone,

Just putting the feelers out as to whether there would be any call for or interest in a range in the West Midlands. Would be max range of around 600yards and would be looking at a variety of gongs and animal silhouettes.

Interested to hear from anyone with experience of doing something similar regarding the legal side of things or common problems that could occur.

Yes, I’d be interested.

 

[RossP]

I'd strongly recommend that if you're not already aware of it, you give this doc a good read.

Range Design & Safety Handbook

This is perfect thank you!

 

[RossP]

Thanks for the information so far guys, it's definitely something I'm interested to take a serious look at so really appreciate the advice.

 

[bowji john]

It is doable

Not sure it is a profitable use of your land and time

Do an honest profit loss assessment

It worked out for me, but that was more luck than judgement

 

[Dave31]

I'd speak to your local pistol and rifle clubs as I imagine they and their members could form a large part of your clientele.

 

[Nkawu]

Also interested if I could pay per hour to do some load development and also shoot my 375 H&H.

 

[enfieldspares]

Go to a old bookshop, or online, buy a 1940s, 1950s, 1960s Ordnance Survey map. Look for railway lines, in cuttings, that don't now show on today's maps. That may be useful. Or near Bedworth there are old large munitions "bunkers" like the ones at Hereford used by the SAS for small arms training. They resemble a small Roman amphitheatre with banked earth sides, one entry only, about fifty yards (and more) across on the ground inside. A railway cutting with a tunnel would be even better!

 

[RossP]

It is doable

Not sure it is a profitable use of your land and time

Do an honest profit loss assessment

It worked out for me, but that was more luck than judgement

This is probably the biggest concern, it's got to add value to the land above it's arable value. Searching for diversification on the farm that I'm passionate about.

 

[RossP]

Go to a old bookshop, or online, buy a 1940s, 1950s, 1960s Ordnance Survey map. Look for railway lines, in cuttings, that don't now show on today's maps. That may be useful. Or near Bedworth there are old large munitions "bunkers" like the ones at Hereford used by the SAS for small arms training. They resemble a small Roman amphitheatre with banked earth sides, one entry only, about fifty yards (and more) across on the ground inside. A railway cutting with a tunnel would be even better!

Great idea but it's on the farm where I'm living that I'm looking at. Trying to find ways to add value to the farm what with the uncertainty of the future in farming alone.

 

[Tarquin]

Have a chat with the chap who built silverstone shooting centre

 

[Dave_424]

I'd certainly be interested!

 

[enfieldspares]

Great idea but it's on the farm where I'm living that I'm looking at. Trying to find ways to add value to the farm what with the uncertainty of the future in farming alone.

A tube range? Like wherever else in the Peak District (I think) has one? Visit them, see their set up, use their ideas that work. Discard those that don't. Big trench big concrete pipes you could maybe walk down and a firing point in a "cabin" one end and a "stop butt" the other?

I 've shot on "no danger area" military ranges in Germany that were a open to the air deep "trench" maybe two hundred metres long (!) with wood faced cast concrete "flys" across it (like a bridge) every twenty five metres or so to stop high shots escaping. That might work?

I can't remember where it was. But when I have access on Wednesday to a laptop I can insert a crude drawing that helps show the concept.

 

[Eddie P]

Yes, presuming the price is right and the location suits.

I'm sure other club members would join me too.

 

[Lever357]

Be brave and give it a go. I would say in the UK,we have a huge lack of privately owned ranges and have to rely too heavily on using MoD ranges that quite frankly have antiquated target systems, take eons to change anything or just close the range down, and will cancel your bookings at very short notice.

 

[Dickie]

Isn’t what you’re thinking about like what Andy Bronson is doing in the Cotswolds?
pay to shoot and simulated stalks on offer.