50 and 100 Yard Ranges
Safety Improvement

Sunday, 24 July 2011

As users of the 50 yard ranges probably have noticed over the years, the concrete blocks of the east wall of the east 50 yard range only extend about 33 yards downrange, and the last 50 feet from the end of the cinder blocks to the impact area was formed by an earthen berm.  While this worked fairly well, periodically dirt had to be added to the top of the berm as the old dirt compacted or slid away.  In recent years the brush and foliage that grew on top the berm obscured the actual height of the dirt, and it was not clear when the height of the berm had decreased so that shooters walking downrange on the 100 yard range might be exposed to a ricochet.

Range Chairman Bob Ray started a project during the work party on 25 June to replace the dirt berm on the east wall with concrete bunker blocks (each of which are 2 feet high, 2 feet wide, and 6 feet long, weighing about 3,600 pounds).  The cost of these blocks was substantially less than other options, and the required maintenance for the blocks is about nil.  The old berm was removed to the required height, and the east 50 yard range was temporarily removed from operation.

Most projects around the club depend heavily upon volunteer labor, and borrowed equipment.  This project was no exception.  The dependency on the equipment needed to move and set the blocks delayed the project, both because the equipment needed some maintenance, and because it was being used by the owners to produce income.  In the meantime the club got 4 half-blocks and 4 more full blocks hauled on site, thanks to the effort and machines from member Joe Dula.  The heavy equipment was scheduled for 8:00 AM Sunday morning, 24 July 2011, and a small work crew was assembled to do the manual labor, of which there was plenty to do.

The required work included forming the dirt berm to the shape needed, and setting the heights for the wall and the reinforcing blocks.  Then the blocks needed to be moved close enough to the wall that the trackhoe could pick them up.  The bases for the walls were leveled and tamped, and then 4 to 6 inches of gravel were laid down and leveled and tamped as well.  The first course of blocks is always the hardest to do, but the blocks were all eventually laid in position.  Dirt was moved to reshape the northeast corner of the impact area.

The ranges are all operational again, but some work remains to be done.  After the dirt has a chance to settle, the berm slope will be set, and planted in grass.  The space between the wall and the interior retaining wall needs to be filled with gravel.  The wire used to hang the targets needs to be moved to connect to the new block wall, and the old telephone poles in the northeast corner need to be removed.

The net result is that the east 50 yard and the 100 yard ranges are now safer to use, and the east 50 yard range is about 15 feet wider than it used to be, so all shooting positions are now usable.

Equipment was loaned for the project by:  Joe Dula (truck, trailer, Bob Cat, and track hoe), Jason Hall (tamping machine), and Mitch Magenheimer (track hoe).  Members provided miscellaneous personal tools, and a lot of sweat, plus a few blisters.

The following people participated in Sunday's work party.  A new member is signified by an asterisk following the member's last name.  Jim Burdett, Joe Dula, Mark Fleming*, Jason Hall*, Dennis Kenagy, Mitch Magenheimer (6/25/11), Bob Ray, and Ken Wilson*.