Ep. 139 | How to Build Your own Gun Shooting Range

Our friend Josh Froelich just recently finished (or at least reached a point of temporary satisfaction with) a new gun range on his home property in Minnesota - That’s right, a range with a 550-yard shooting lane and a large shooting bay with nearly 20-foot-high berms… In his back yard! And he did the majority of it “DIY”! This was a project for Josh that was many years in the making and after many years of saving up to get the property of his dreams. In this podcast, Josh, our very own Reuben Aleckson, Jimmy and Mark go fully in-depth on how Josh found this dream property, dealing with neighbors and local authorities, range construction, supplies, safety, a few goof-ups, dual-purpose use for hunting, and way more. If you’ve ever thought about having your own shooting range, even if it’s not quite to the scale of Josh’s, this is a must-listen. If you’ve done your own range already, we’d love to see it! Tell us about it or send us pics on Instagram @vortexnationpodcast because we’d love to see what other people are doing out there.
As always, we want to hear your feedback! Let us know if there are any topics you'd like covered on the Vortex Nation podcast by asking us on any one of our social media platforms and using #VortexNationPodcast.
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[@andrewcappiello5585]

The business where someone says "must be nice" is sadly right on point. Most people see my property with the house and the range, but never take into account the years I spent living in one room so I could save for the purchase. The don't see guys like us rolling coins and learning to run excavators. We know the required effort makes it that much more worthwhile.

[@JLFish21]

This is the train I’m getting on in about a year. Sold my house. Moved in with my parents for a year to save and I’ll be finding land with a small house so I can start building. Going to take a few years for sure. But it’s going to be my little paradise

[@MillstoneProject]

I am clearing my property mostly lone. My wife helps but we have 4 kids, 2 under 5. We have 17 acres mostly wooded. I am clearing pasture and a training ground all while working fulltime. i am waiting for the "must be nice" phase.

[@andrewcappiello5585]

@@MillstoneProject No. You're working on the must be nice phase. Have the older two kids work with you, even if they're really just playing in the dirt and wood chips. They'll learn more than they realize and earn a sense of ownership with you.

[@HarrisonCountyStudio]

About four years ago, we planned to create a 100 yard shooting range at our family farm. We discovered, thru select timbering, that we had a natural 450 yard hollow that gave us a natural back stop. We have steel set @ 20, 50, 100, 150, 200, 275, 350 and 425 yards. It’s really an amazing shooting range. Beautiful setting in the Appalachian mountains. The best part, it has really brought our family closer together. Every once in a while, we get all the kids together (neighbors too) and have a nice competition for the kids. We have youngsters who can ring steel @ 200yd. It’s really fulfilling to see these young boys and girls become capable with a rifle. Love the podcast guys. Keep spreading the knowledge for our next generation. ✌🏽

[@IcarusErm]

I am actually about to go shopping for land in a few months. Besides having an area that will not be painstaking to build a house on, this is my #1 one thing I am looking for. I will wait for the right plot and, I'd rather pass up a really good deal that comes without it, which sounds crazy to most people lol...

[@G.Smith91]

Would love to see a video tour of the range!

[@andrewkenseth4814]

I had 35 dump truck loads delivered and stacked up. My closest neighbors are 100 yards away from where I shoot and the others are hundreds of yards away. I’m on 6.5 acres. I have one neighbor behind (off to the side) of my berm who hate me, but besides that no problems. It’s awesome having a backyard range and takes shooting to another level. Even after getting a suppressor for my rifles my neighbor still gets pissed. They knew the berm was there when they moved in yet expect me to stop shooting, which ain’t going to happen. Neighbors are the biggest problem. They can mow at sunrise, run motorcycles all hours, loud parties, work on their race car, etc but let the noise of guns being fired go off and suddenly all hell breaks loose. Thankfully Florida allows me to legally shoot.

[@BimmerDudeXi]

The timing on this podcast is on point. My lady and I are in the housing market and I have the idea of building a shooting range. Glad I found this video to know what questions/opinions to ask and who to speak to.

[@kevinmcmaster9872]

Set designers: How many Vortex logos do you want?? Host: Yes

[@VortexNation]

Kevin Mcmaster sounds about right

[@ralphwinn6272]

I love you guy's just like me and my buddies, I have a400 yrd range on my 40 acres .I have a 16ft burn at end reinforced by logs from property .I built a 12×12 cement pad and welded a steel shooting made to pivot between 100yrd range to the 400yrd range all grass and clover cover my 400.yrd is only on average 30 ft wide with.trees and brush have steel every 50 yrds we don't shoot like you but our rifles are sighted and we shoot a lot of different handloads my friends don't have to go to state range to shoot only 100yrds and you cant shoot fast or on move with ARs or pistols, keep up the group talks entertaining 😀

[@mrs.armedcitizen6560]

I appreciate this podcast. My husband and I love to shoot and looking into open up an outdoor range in Pennsylvania. Thanks for sharing.

[@InkwellFoto]

Wealth of knowledge. How are these not more popular. People pay for this kind of info

[@SitNSpinRecords]

Old used rail road cross ties make awesome backstops and you can usually get them cheap from the city and they last forever. You can cut straight walls and prevent erosion at the sane time. I like the center of the lane a few inches higher and have gravel lined drainage on the sides instead of shooting up hill. Kind of like the roads are.

[@rmenard1986]

I have my own range on 5 acres and 1/2 mile in between me and my closers neighbor. I still shoot into a backstop for extra safety and i have peace of mind with knowing now where my bullet goes

[@ebblue81]

Thank You! Finally a good source of info on this.

[@curtwarkentin6167]

Dang. I like the talk but was also hoping for a walk through video also on the range. But really good discussion and you guys covered some important topics.... especially neighbours and the community around.

[@brenn330]

Very cool and unique talk. Lots of good info

[@valkry007]

should have made a youtube of the construction of the range.

[@GUNMETALGUYUSA]

Why haven't I found this podcast sooner. Laughed my butt of at all the jokes and gun guy chemistry...."everyone has a range once" ..lol. Listening, enjoying, and the next thing I knew the show was over. That's how a podcast should go. Keep Shooting Guys.👍

[@jacobivy2854]

Barrels are easy to get from local compounding pharmacies because their alcohol mixes come in 55 gal drums, and they can also be found at a lot of local apiaries for free or very very cheap.

[@aslaveofChrist]

Timestamps would be awesome, saving the video to watch later.

[@jayweezy3264]

the red shirt guy and blue shirt guy deserves each other. wonderboiz4lyfe

[@Range_Development_Services]

Depending upon location the issue of "approvals" and pressure / complaints from neighbors is a significant issue and will only continue to increase. if you were there first it helps but won't preclude major hassles. Be certain you document dates, activities and events.

[@KG5SNU]

You really need a visual -- turn that back wall into a projector screen so we can see the projects

[@l337l0gan]

I've got 22 acres. Only about half of it is usable land. The other half is super steep and a mess. On the good side, it serves as a really good natural backstop. I live 1 hour from the property. Hopefully in the next 2-3 years I will be able to build on the property and not have to drive hours Everytime I go shoot.

[@ryand5041]

Awesome 👌 what a great bunch of guys. Thanks for sharing 👍

[@joshpaul1976]

where do I skip to find how to build it?

[@damianmoskos2299]

So far people have put up with my shooting, always been on family farm. Always had a hundred meter range for sighting in and a bit of practice, it has gotten to the point where I'm setting up 400 meter gong just for fun. On the properties also shoot foxes and rabbits. Always let my neighbours know and give them a chance to say whether or not it's convenient for them on a given day.

[@slik560]

Great information. Love the stack of SPAM on the shelf in the studio. 👍 🐷🐮🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@jamesallman6782]

I'm lance Allman I love this meeting.. especially there xxv conversation 😅😅😅😊😊😮😮😢😢🎉🎉🎉🎉😂😂😂😂😂❤😂😂😂look

[@valqueenofValhalla]

I just started building my range plans started in October cleared the land I bought a John Deere loader and back hoe I’m waiting to take possession of my tractor 🚜 to start digging all said and done 22k and that was the cost of the machine and implements updated have received land has been cleared I just sent my Deere out for service last week in one week I put 30 hrs on it and has to replace Fluids ect

[@valqueenofValhalla]

Update if you are in the market for a small tractor subcompact size bit a lawns spend the money get a Deere I was shocked by how capable the machine is and I think every neighbor have asked me to clean drive ways in the winter and also help with projects where they may need trenches dug ect.

[@carterhutchinson9655]

I’m thinking about make a range at my farm

[@fr8cture]

My biggest issue in Minnesota is there is no outdoor ranges I can go to without trying to become a member. I have no issue paying but I just want to go shoot I don't want to have to go to meeting and buddy up to someone to vouch for me and all that. Forest Lake Sportsmans club is the only one that doesn't require that and I'm on a waiting list that can be 2+ years.

[@captainawesome2480]

If you are in Northern Minnesota you should check out the Bemidji Area Shooters Association. $50.00 a year, go whenever you want. Just check your email because law enforcement likes to take over the range from time to time.

[@fr8cture]

@@captainawesome2480 over 3 hours away unfortunately

[@SwepTThaTPuPpy]

Running into this same problem, I’m in downtown Minneapolis and I usually go to Stock and Barrel, but fuck, not being able to shoot outside really sucks.

[@HTRmark]

I’m thinking about opening up a shooting range in Texas I would love to visit yours

[@paulharveu526]

I've got a 100 yard rifle range, and its not really as hard as people think.

[@G.Smith91]

I think having a single lane that ends at a small backstop is doable for many, but a run and gun range like in the image for this video is intensive and expensive. Just to haul cheap fill dirt to make berms that size can run you $10k-30k. The range floor would be a few grand. AR500 static targets are about $300 a piece 😪

[@_Andy7l0]

@@G.Smith91I know this is 3 year late, but would a cost saving alternative be to dig the floor a few inches to half a foot and use that dirt to build a berm. (I would do the work myself) Id get the floor leveled and use some used rail ties or long logs to give the berm structure.

[@G.Smith91]

@_Andy7l0 I lucked out and my neighbor dug a pond and had all the dirt for me right next to where I wanted the range. I thought about digging down initially like you said but our water table is very high and it would likely hold water after every rain. The berm is still holding up well after these couple years, it's maybe 9-10' tall now after eroding. I'm glad I didn't put anything in the berm as I feel I can more easily reclaim lead in the future and re-stack the dirt on top with a front loader. (The front loader that was used was huge though to get it that tall).

[@_Andy7l0]

@@G.Smith91 That’s a great timing by you and your neighbor! I’ll make sure to check out the grounds condition before any projects! As for the rail ties or thick logs, I wouldn’t place them inside the actual berm, but more like in front of it at the floor level, only one level high. So that as I shoot areas of the dirt and it falls down it’ll get caught there instead of falling all the way toward the shooters, developing a slight ramping after a few years. I’m in Central CA, but I’m a soon to Law enforcement officer, so I feel like a range would be essential for someone who wants to work gang/drug task force, swat, or assist other neighboring agencies with specialty calls! Thanks for the insight

[@IcarusErm]

They go check out his range in present day, in 2021, and he has planted carrots and broccoli on his multi-purpose berm haha

[@wonderingtimesllc7203]

Wastewater treatment and water treatment plants have used polymer barrels generally free to take...........

[@andrewsmith1735]

Wonder if the stone wall was actually the farmers de-stoning the fields for planting. Got 40 acres with three walls built by the family generations ago removing the stones by hand. Tell starving people you can have 10% of production next year if you help de-stone this year.

[@z3phyrdok]

So just so we're clear! This video does not have any visual gun range building or anything!? 😅

[@DougJohnson-g5f]

I'm building one myself out to 1800 yd

[@XXNerdzillaXX]

So, hypothetically speaking, how deep does a range need to be so neighbors can't hear the gunfire...? Uhh, asking for a friend... Yeah.. a friend.

[@ralphwinn6272]

I live 4 mi from my 40 so I built a 75yrd to zero pistol AR range 14 ft berm steel knockover and paper ,my new neighbor should be shooting instructor shoots when he wants envy of our friends when I want to blow off steam walk 50.yrds grab my glock 21 or my AR acouple clips and blow off steam on steel great feeling PS we have freedom party every 4th July you must bring firearm and dish to pass and know one inside yellow zone if they've had a beer ,I live 25 mi west of Lansing Mi farm country. Wish had more people like you in neighborhood

[@MrTbeard2]

How do you clean up all the shell casings?

[@Lordoftheswollen]

Probably use one of those golf ball collector things.

[@jonathansommerfeld9080]

Fra-gilll-eh.... must be Italian. 1:05:55

[@cliffjohnson2273]

How do deal with problems with what is going to happen in 3 three years when a group like Pulte Group shows up and is going to have an HOA develops on two sides of your land. because amazon gotten tired of all the crime, they are moving there new corporate office and warehouse because rail is handy two interstates one north and south and one east and and west .

[@SitNSpinRecords]

I wonder what homeowners insurance runs him.. indoor ranges have to have at least a million dollar coverage.

[@acester86]

I guess haven't heard. Go far enough left and you get your guns back comrade.

[@FVPS904]

Sounds like he hired everything out and paid top dollar, renting a skid steer for a month and doing it himself would have saved 50k

[@coziii.1829]

I shoot about 500 to 2000 or more a week

[@jamesallman6782]

I see it❤❤❤😂😂🎉🎉🎉😢😢😮😮😊😊😊😅😅😅😢😢😢😢😢😂😂😂😂

[@littlehills739]

2 slabs of beer ph the footy club bbq

[@The_Art_of_Manliness_]

all for recreational at home target practise, captive deer shooting is full on animal abuse...disgusting.

[@Swollenfishy]

Your name is ironic it should be changed to the art of sissiness

[@The_Art_of_Manliness_]

@@Swollenfishy this from.s9meone calling themselves Swollenfishy....wt actual f