My Rifle is on the Way; How to Build a short Back Yard Target Range, and Other

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KnowNothing

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Jul 8, 2019
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California, United States
My el Cheapo Swiss Arms TG-1 is supposed to arrive this Monday. EDITED: It was outside my front door. The stuff is here. I pretty much purchased everything needed, including safety and gun maintenance stuff.

But I have a long way to go before I can ever pull the trigger. One of those is understanding all the parts of the rifle, and just how they come apart and go together, and how each part is maintained. So my first question is just what kind of lubricant is required, or if I need more than one type. Since I purchased a basic beginners cleaning kit, what else might I need?

I purchased shooting glasses, over ear muffs with ear plugs. I am wondering if I need a shooting jacket. I have kind of bony shoulders, so this springer is probably going to knock the heck out of my shoulder. Does anyone make a shooting jacket that protects areas like shoulders?

I also have to build a super safe back yard shooting range for 10 meter shooting. That is my ultimate goal in the hobby, to shoot at 10 meter type targets I've looked at the commercial type pellet traps, but for the most part, they seem too small, especially for someone like myself who is starting up shooting after a 30 year layoff. I also know that pellet traps are just a small part; that a backstop is a necessity. I don't have the room for a berm (earthen) backstop, nor if I did, do I have that material. So I need to come up with another system. I've watched probably a dozen videos on YouTube on the subject. The only practical one I have seen for my situation is probably erecting 4x4 posts, with a sheet of 4x8 3/4 inch plywood bolted to those. I then would have to cover the plywood with a couple inches of foam, and then cover that with some kind of heavy duty outdoor carpet. I would hope that would be enough to stop any stray pellets from exiting my back yard. I'm also thinking of adding a 2x8 foot set of ears angled at 45 degrees toward the shooting table. Not sure how long the backstop will last. Hopefully a few years. If not, all I have to do in unscrew the carpet and foam, possibly add a 1/4 inch sheet of ply and then re- cover.

I can't think of anything else that might be needed. I actually do not have any neighbors behind me for about 300 feet. And my neighbor on my left had their property recessed back from mine so that it doesn't even come into play from where I will have my shooting platform at.

I do have one difficult problem, and that is what kind of pellets I choose. I know I will have to incrementally sight in my rifle as I move the target farther out to 10 meters. That will take a lot of pellets shot to get things aligned. I know this rifle is touted to shoot about 1400fps, but the reviews say closer to 900-1000. This is still way too fast for the 10 meter target type shooting I will eventually do. What I need to try to do is just practice with what i purchased until I can afford a quality rifle, and support gear. For now I am just trying to get back into shooting, and spend about a year getting back as close as I used to do. CaleyAnn
 
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My yard is 25 yrds deep but this type setup would work at any range I guess. I target shoot with duct putty for stopping and sound as well as knock over targets. Basic framing with scraps from my job was used for construction . You will want to use heavy pellets to slow down your speed. Much better accuracy that way. Quality pellets almost as important as quality rifle. 
 
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Here is what I did. Went to Lowe’s and they have the yellow and black storage totes and I got the large one. Then went and purchased rubber mulch in the lawn and garden but I bought the busted bags for a buck. Home Depot does not carry this. Went to NAPA auto parts and picked up a 24x24 mud flap for 13 bucks, forget the other so called “ auto parts stores” as they don’t stock it. Fill the tote up with mulch with the mud flat last and zip tie the lid shut. Just bought all the parts today but should work. 
 
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Thanks for the info Gents. I kind of guessed I would need heavier pellets. Just need to find some over 10 grains that are "Match", if they make such a pellet.

Yes, I saw the tote and rubber pellet trap video. Very simple, and apparently effective.



Walter3rd, that has tons of targets. I guess the shrubbery is your backstop. I live in the high desert, so I don't have lots of native plants growing, none of which would stop a toothpick I like the concrete block backstop id from Harves. That's doable even for me. My biggest thing is making sure any strays I shoot at my 6x6 inch target card get stopped. The biggest time of danger for that happening is when I am first zeroing my rifle scope. After that, the only time I should miss is if I hiccup while squeezing the twigger. :)



I did read about using normal powder gun bullet traps. If the trap can stop a .22 bullet, then it should be able to stop a .177 10 grain pellet



I think the first thing I need to do is go out with some wood stakes and a hammer, and survey my proposed small target range so that I have an idea of how much space I have. Then I can slowly construct the most important part, the backstop. CaleyAnn
 
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I think some of you may be confused. Yes, there is the need to deaden the impact sounds of the pellets hitting on the backside of the target. But what of the occasional pellet that completely misses the entire box setup that contains the target and trap?

I'm more interested in something that protects two to three feet all round where my target is placed, so that the stray pellet does not keep going off of my property and hurts someone or does damage to someones property. 

I have reduced the size of the backstop I thought necessary from about 6 feet wide by 6 feet tall, to something a bit smaller, but I believe anyone who doesn't want to cause problems when they miss will want something larger. I know you Guys say, "I never miss by that much, EVER." But the reality is that everyone misses big every once in a while due to circumstances that cannot be controlled. That is why a professional firing range has those huge berms behind the targets

You've given me ideas on what I could use in place of an earthen berm, which I do appreciate.

What I've come up with is something about 4 feet by 4 feet by 1 1/5 inches thick. That's one sheet of ply cut in half and glued and screwed together, and attached to those two 4x4 posts. Over that I will add an inch of fairly dense foam insulation, and over that I will place a piece of heavy outdoor carpet. This is my backstop.

I will then just place my targets a few inches in front of this barrier that do have ballistic putty in their traps. I do not plan on having anything but paper targets. I won't be shooting at things like balloons, soda cans or metal pop up rabbits. I am not a hunter, though if it comes to me having something to eat, I can hit it. I don't shoot an animal unless I am ready to dress it and carry it out to eat.

Anyway, my needs are very basic, but that need has to absolutely as safe as I can make it



Enough on backstops and targets. I'm still looking at a shooting jacket or vest that doesn't break the bank, but does provide protection from the recoil of the springer type air rifle. A lot of what I have seen is either super cheap looking that don't look like they could protect a gnat, or those professional types that cost several hundred dollars. Anyone have experience with shooting jackets or vests for protection.



And my last part I introduced in my first post is about lubricants needed to maintain a springer type rifle. I know I need oil, but apparently there are a lot of types used in rifles based on the parts material and use. Anyone seen a good video that explains all these oils and their use in rifles?
 
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If you’re serious about doing your own maintenance on springers, here are the items I keep on hand, and this will include tools.

Chemicals:

1. 100% Silicone Oil

2. Moly Paste

3. Moly type Powder or Fine Graphite powder

4. A CPL type of lubricant like FP10

5. Cleaner/Degreaser of some type 

6. Goo Gone

7. Rubbing Alcohol

8. Foaming type Barrel cleaner. I’ve even used low VOC brake cleaner down my barrels, believe it or not. Must be wiped immediately and completely off when done.



Tools:

1. Mainspring compression tool. I use the one sold on Pyramid Air, the one that clamps onto your dovetail scope rail

2. True gunsmithing screwdriver and bit set, like the 45 piece Wheeler kit sold on Midway

3. A good set of ball type allen wrenches in both standard and metric

4. A good set of Torx wrenches

5. Small acid brushes

6. Barrel cleaning rod, either a one piece solid rod, a pull thru flex rod like the one Otis makes, and an assortment of tips in your caliber to hold cleaning patches, bore mops, nylon brushes, etc. Some folks have made home made pull thru’s out of weed eater line.

7. Small Dremel tool with assorted polishing bits

8. Scope mounting tools, misc. small levels

9. Pin punch set, for driving out pins like in the trigger areas

10. Small hammer, plastic face on one side, brass on the other

11. Gun vice of some type

12. Trigger pull gage

13. Torque wrench like the wheeler fat wrench

14. Fine grit sandpaper and/or fine steel wool

15. A couple of cans of compressed air, like what you use to blow on your keyboard when it gets dusty. Very handy in getting into tight spots.

16. A quality set of calipers

Thats a good basic start. The one thing I didn’t list is mainspring oil, because I do not know it’s content
 
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A cheap spring gun needs very little. Pull some patches with goo-gone down the barrel to start. You shouldn't need to clean the bore again for a couple thousand rounds. Wipe the outside of the metal surfaces with a silicon gun wipe or gun oil after handling, especially in the summer when you are sweating. You are way overestimating the recoil of a springer, you don't need a shooting jacket unless you are shooting competitions. they are for stability not recoil.
 
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Thanks Guys. I have no experience with this type of rifle (springer). The way people write about the scopes being torn up, made it sound like it kicked like a mule. I don't have the muscle layers you GUYS have. I'm pretty much skin and bone where the rifle butt rests when shooting. The only weapons experience I have was when I was in the US Air Force, with the .38 pistol and the M-16 rifle. We had to provide for our own site protection until a real security team could arrive. And I tried a pistol that had a pump lever. This thing was so weak I could see the pellet arc through the air to the target, and it barely could punch a hole in that paper target at 20 feet.

Sounds like the basic cleaning kit I have will get me started, but I do appreciate the laundry list in case I ever get into the hobby, and want to take things apart like I did with the M-16. I'll look for the silicone gun wipes on Amazon. CaleyAnn
 
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Springers are supposedly hard on scopes, not from the initial recoil, but from the "reverse" recoil when the piston stops. Apparently scopes are made to take the initial recoil but not the reverse recoil (my term, don't know what it's actually called). The initial recoil is lighter than a .22 rimfire rifle. Your M16's recoil, which is pretty light, would have been way higher.
 
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After all the research and all the questions about making a firing range in my own backyard, I find that it may very well be illegal within the town limits of 29 Palms, California. This conclusion is based on all the browsing I did concerning weapons discharge within San Bernardino County, California.

It seems that some unincorporated areas within San Bernardino County allow for shooting as long as it isn't on private property without the owner's permission.



Since the local private shooting range hasn't replied to my inquiry about my shooting at their facility, I have no organized place to shoot my new pellet rifle. It looks like the only way I can shoot it is to do what everyone else does. And that is to go out into the boonies where others do their shooting. I am not thrilled about this, as many of those out there shooting do not have a clue about gun safety.



Anyway, it looks like this may be the death of my desire to learn how to shoot, and practice shooting at 10 meter targets, unless I can find a pellet gun target range within 100 miles of my location that will allow be to join and shoot.



I'm just glad I kept researching (might be wrong about my conclusion), as it saves me about $300 and my own labour building a backstop that would bacically be bulletproof. I had finally decided on using the big 16 inch retaining wall blocks with earth piled up to six feet high and 10 feet wide in front of that retaining wall barrier
 
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Don’t confuse your pellet rifle with a firearm. According to Wikipedia...

The term "firearm" is defined in the Gun Control Act of 1968, 18 U.S.C.Section 921(a)(3), to include "(A) any weapon (including a starter gun), which will, or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive

compressed air isn’t an explosive. You really are overthinking it. Just set something up that’s safe and shoot the gun.










 
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WAY overthinking it in my humble opinion. Call the local authorities & ask what the regs are for a pellet gun in 29 Palms & THEN go from there. You ARE already in the "boonies " compared to most. 29 Palms might be under County, not City regulations & shooting an airgun on your own domain might be perfectly legal. Equipment? Get the gun, some QUALITY pellets, cheap cleaning kit & go from there. Get tools as/if needed. You're thinking yourself into a hole that doesn't need to be so deep. I admire your attitude towards gun safety as it should be first & foremost but DON'T worry about bony shoulders being harmed by a .177 airgun, ain't gonna happen IMHO. The reason scopes get toasted is ONLY due to the backward then FORWARD movement after firing, being they're rigidly attached to gun. You, however, are NOT attached in like manner & will barely feel it. See if you can connect with other airgunners (quite a few like me in San Diego co.) & I'm sure SOMEONE would let you try their Springer. If I still had mine I'd even lend it to you to try but you might find other who'd do the same. Don't let "the committee in your head" keep you from the enjoyment of the sport before even getting to TRY it. Just my opinion! 

Gerry/Encinitas 
 
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