Range History and
Construction
Though the Seven Eagles Shooting Association (SESA) has been shooting at our ranch since 1997, the newest range was constructed in 2009 as a joint effort between the Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO), the WC Road & Bridge Department, and Rock Crushers who supplied the material. Construction began in August of 2009 on the new shooting range which was designed by law enforcement for law enforcement with the maximum safety of surrounding areas in specifications. - NRA Best Range Practices Followed
One full acre was 75% enclosed by a 12 foot high wall of sand/rock to create a three-side enclosure measuring 50 yards wide with two 50 yard side walls. This took three weeks and 450 dump trucks of material to build such a large barrier. Since these berm walls are 36 feet wide at the base and 10 feet wide at the very top, not even a 50 .cal armor piercing round would get through the berm.
After the massive safety berm was completed, work began on the bullet capture target walls. The first three were built 8 foot wide by 8 foot high and are 18 inches thick filled with four tons of sand each. They also have 1 inch thick steel plates behind each wall to stop high caliber rifle bullets like 7mm, .338 and even .50 cal.
Later we added an additional floor and side wall system to catch spent bullets that spill out of shot-up walls and downward lead spatter from steel targets. That way all lead is either removed from walls every few years or immediately swept up from the smooth flooring.
Finally an additional safety bullet capture wall for highly unlikely over-shoots of the berm was built. The plywood stops filled with 4” x 8’ x 8’ of pea gravel stops all pistol and rifle rounds up to and including 300 Winchester Magnum. This provides a 20 foot high barrier for land behind the backdrop.
Though the Seven Eagles Shooting Association (SESA) has been shooting at our ranch since 1997, the newest range was constructed in 2009 as a joint effort between the Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO), the WC Road & Bridge Department, and Rock Crushers who supplied the material. Construction began in August of 2009 on the new shooting range which was designed by law enforcement for law enforcement with the maximum safety of surrounding areas in specifications. - NRA Best Range Practices Followed
One full acre was 75% enclosed by a 12 foot high wall of sand/rock to create a three-side enclosure measuring 50 yards wide with two 50 yard side walls. This took three weeks and 450 dump trucks of material to build such a large barrier. Since these berm walls are 36 feet wide at the base and 10 feet wide at the very top, not even a 50 .cal armor piercing round would get through the berm.
After the massive safety berm was completed, work began on the bullet capture target walls. The first three were built 8 foot wide by 8 foot high and are 18 inches thick filled with four tons of sand each. They also have 1 inch thick steel plates behind each wall to stop high caliber rifle bullets like 7mm, .338 and even .50 cal.
Later we added an additional floor and side wall system to catch spent bullets that spill out of shot-up walls and downward lead spatter from steel targets. That way all lead is either removed from walls every few years or immediately swept up from the smooth flooring.
Finally an additional safety bullet capture wall for highly unlikely over-shoots of the berm was built. The plywood stops filled with 4” x 8’ x 8’ of pea gravel stops all pistol and rifle rounds up to and including 300 Winchester Magnum. This provides a 20 foot high barrier for land behind the backdrop.
To view out SESA Safety Policies and Procedures, click on the PDF link below:
| sesa_safety_policy.pdf |
