SAUDI TURF TEAM SHOOTING RANGE EQUIPMENT

SAUDI TURF TEAM SHOOTING RANGE EQUIPMENT

General There are three basic categories of shooting ranges:
a) Indoor ranges.
b) Outdoor no danger area ranges.
c) Outdoor danger area ranges.

1- Indoor ranges

Indoor range is a range that is constructed inside a building

2- Outdoor no danger area ranges

A no danger area outdoor range shall be constructed or designed in such a way that no misdirected shot, that an reasonably be expected to be fired towards the targets, will leave the range.


3- Outdoor danger area ranges

Outdoor danger area ranges are ranges where the stop butt (only outdoor ranges can have danger areas) is not sufficiently high and/or wide to meet the requirement to contain all reasonably expected misdirected shots. 

Indoor ranges

B.1 Bullet Trap

Bullet trap shall take one of several forms of angled (450) steel plate or plates that direct the spent bullets down into a sand or water pit. Alternatively, an escalator type of steel plate trap may be used which, while more complex to construct, will require less maintenance. A sand bank, as used on outdoor ranges may also be used, but this will take up considerable space and may lead to a dust and dirt problem. Heavy plastic/rubber sheeting may be hung in front of the bullet trap to stop small particles of backsplash and dust from returning up range. Old car or truck tyres should not be used as a bullet trap. Many tyres contain metal bands that can cause ricochets. Spent bullets can lodge in the tyres and cause ricochets. There is also a distinct risk of fire from the particles of rubber broken out by the impact of the bullets.

B.2 Back plate

The back plate should cover the rear wall behind the bullet trap, and should extend outwards to cover the entire part of the rear wall that falls within the protected zone (see . The area of the back plate that is visible from the firing point/s shall be faced with wood or compatible material spaced on battens in the samemanner as any baffles (see 6.5).

B.3 Protected zone

This is the part of the range that is enclosed by the safety angle of 80 to the sighting line in both the vertical and horizontal planes. All parts of the range falling within this zone shall be bulletproof and proof against ricochets and backsplash. Smooth faced flush jointed double brick or 250 mm dense concrete or similar can be considered suitable.

B.4 Range entrances

No door or entrance should exist forward of the rearmost firing point, unless secured from the inside. A red light should be fitted above all doors giving direct access to the range itself (not the building). Such lights should lit whenever the range is in use. 

Outdoor no danger area ranges

C.1 Stop butt

The stop butt shall be enclosed by the safety angle of 80 to the sighting line in the vertical and 120 in the horizontal planes. The stop butt should be the steep side of a hill, the wall of an abandoned or disused quarry, sandpit, etc, or a purpose erected bulletproof brick or concrete wall, or a bank of hard earth. In the latter case, the core of the bank can be made of hard fill such as rock, building rubble, etc. The minimum slope of the face
of the stop butt is 560 from the horizontal, and the face will have to be of hard material to retain such a slope over time. It will thus be unsuitable to also act as a bullet trap. The stop butt should not be less than 5 m high for all shooting at 15 m or less.
A thick covering of light earth or sand would make a suitable bullet catcher, but this would collapse to a natural angle of repose of 300 to 350 as a result of weathering, de-leading and constant bullet impacts. It is therefore normally more practicable and economic to provide a bullet trap as a separate exercise. NOTE – The required size of the stop butt should be calculated by taking the safety angle of 80 as equalling 142 mm for every
metre of distance between firing point and stop butt. The height of the sighting line above the ground should be added to the calculated safety angle to determine the required height of the stop butt.

C.2 Bullet trap

The bullet trap should be made of steel plate in the same way as for indoor ranges, but a thick bank of earth and/or sand is normally more practicable. Care shall be taken to ensure that all rocks and stones are removed from the material used, and that the top part of the bank is deep enough from front to back. It should be remembered that bullet strikes occur at target level, not ground level. The bottom front of the bank can be made of a sand bag wall to avoid what would otherwise be a sloping bottom taking up considerable space. A
top-covering layer of mixed sand and sawdust will provide a light non-caking surface that is easily DE-leaded  when required.

C.3 Baffles

Where the butt stop is not, or cannot economically be made, wide or high enough, baffles should be used to block the sighting line beyond the stop butt sides and/or top. Regardless of the use of baffles, the stop butt shall not be less than 5 m.

C.4 Range floor (ground)

The range floor shall be free from hard surfaces, rocks or other ricochet inducing surfaces. A sand or grassed surface is preferable, and drainage should be taken into consideration when constructing the range.

C.5 Range boundary

The periphery of the range should be fenced and warning notices permanently displayed. The fence should pass some 5 m behind the stop butt.

Outdoor no danger area ranges

C.1 Stop butt

The stop butt shall be enclosed by the safety angle of 80 to the sighting line in the vertical and 120 in the horizontal planes. The stop butt should be the steep side of a hill, the wall of an abandoned or disused quarry, sandpit, etc, or a purpose erected bulletproof brick or concrete wall, or a bank of hard earth. In the latter case, the core of the bank can be made of hard fill such as rock, building rubble, etc. The minimum slope of the face
of the stop butt is 560 from the horizontal, and the face will have to be of hard material to retain such a slope over time. It will thus be unsuitable to also act as a bullet trap. The stop butt should not be less than 5 m high for all shooting at 15 m or less.
A thick covering of light earth or sand would make a suitable bullet catcher, but this would collapse to a natural angle of repose of 300 to 350 as a result of weathering, de-leading and constant bullet impacts. It is therefore normally more practicable and economic to provide a bullet trap as a separate exercise. NOTE – The required size of the stop butt should be calculated by taking the safety angle of 80 as equalling 142 mm for every
metre of distance between firing point and stop butt. The height of the sighting line above the ground should be added to the calculated safety angle to determine the required height of the stop butt.

C.2 Bullet trap

The bullet trap should be made of steel plate in the same way as for indoor ranges, but a thick bank of earth and/or sand is normally more practicable. Care shall be taken to ensure that all rocks and stones are removed from the material used, and that the top part of the bank is deep enough from front to back. It should be remembered that bullet strikes occur at target level, not ground level. The bottom front of the bank can be made of a sand bag wall to avoid what would otherwise be a sloping bottom taking up considerable space. A top-covering layer of mixed sand and sawdust will provide a light non-caking surface that is easily de-leaded when required.

C.3 Baffles

Where the butt stop is not, or cannot economically be made, wide or high enough, baffles should be used to block the sighting line beyond the stop butt sides and/or top. Regardless of the use of baffles, the stop butt shall not be less than 5 m.

C.4 Range floor (ground)

The range floor shall be free from hard surfaces, rocks or other ricochet inducing surfaces. A sand or grassed surface is preferable, and drainage should be taken into consideration when constructing the range.

C.5 Range boundary

The periphery of the range should be fenced and warning notices permanently displayed. The fence should pass some 5 m behind the stop butt.