Plinking during a severe drought.

[Wdbutcher97]

I purchased a new revolver that I want to try out at my backyard range. My range is surrounded by cornfields that have been picked. My biggest concern is that nearly the whole state of Nebraska and most of the other states around us are in a severe drought. I wouldn't want to do anything that could cause a fire. I can't think of anything that could cause any sparks or excessive heat using FMJ ammo even if I was shooting steel. My biggest worry might be a hot catalytic converter, but I can walk.
Can anyone think of anything I might have missed?

 

[TJm15.38]

How about just find a good dirt berm for a backstop and don't worry about any fire hazard. Unless you are shooting tracer, I dont see an issue.

 

[mckenney99]

A good solid berm with wings is a good start. When my friend wanted to build a small home range at his new home property, I had him pick up a truckload of old tires (usually can get them free). Had him drop the tires over steel "T" posts ((stabilizes the tires) he had driven into the ground in the appropriate spaces and then started to pack the tires with surplus dirt. Alternating layers and packing until he had it to about 6 feet tall and 10 feet wide. The tires hold the soil in place and they also act as bullet stops. He doesn't get the normal ricochet of bullets hitting a standard soil backstop. Targets are attached to a pallet that is dropped over 2 steel "T" posts through the forklift slots in front of his backstop.

 

[robvious]

There have been quite a few wild fires in Nebraska the past few days (Davd City, Kenesaw & Gretna)... though I don't see any issues as presented, just make sure the backstop is sound and have a bucket or 2 of water handy, you know, incase...

 

[Wdbutcher97]

A couple years ago I made a backstop with a double stack of railroad ties 4 feet high held tight together with T post and wire. This works great for handguns, but I would never use it for a backstop for a rifle.
Your suggestions helped me remember the first range I used after I moved to our acreage. It's in an overgrown waterway with an old pond dam for a backstop. The only problem is that even though I have permission to use it, I don't like shooting on someone else's property and I only have about 30 yards of clear space to shoot. One real plus on this area is that it always stays shaded and green. I think I'll go there this weekend to shoot my revolver.....along with a bucket of water.
.

 

[SMSgt]

What, you don't hunt pheasants with a flame thrower there?

 

[Rudi]

When I worked in the woods, in our assortment of fire tools we had Pi$$ cans. 4-5 gal. sprayer type deal. Fill it with water, pump it up and go after the flames. I would think a good farm/feed store would have them. Local FD may also know where to get them.

 

[Wdbutcher97]

What, you don't hunt pheasants with a flame thrower there?

The pheasant population that I knew in my youth (50 years ago) is down to nearly none now, at least in southeast Nebraska. There still may be a few around, but I never see them.

 

[mtgianni]

I have been on ranges that banned muzzle loaders during a severe drought. Are you shooting black powder?

 

[Denverd0n]

Can't really help you. Just wanted to say "hello" from a fellow Cornhusker. Living in Tampa now, but grew up outside of Omaha, in the town of Millard, back before Omaha swallowed it up!

 

[Wdbutcher97]

I have been on ranges that banned muzzle loaders during a severe drought. Are you shooting black powder?

Nope, I did years ago. I doubt that I will ever do it again, but you never know.

 

[Wdbutcher97]

Can't really help you. Just wanted to say "hello" from a fellow Cornhusker. Living in Tampa now, but grew up outside of Omaha, in the town of Millard, back before Omaha swallowed it up!

Hello. I live about an hour south of Omaha. Yep, Omaha has gobbled up a lot of small communities and is still growing. Thank God I live far enough away that I think I'm safe

 

[mikerjf]

My cousin lives in Omaha. Last time we were there the whole town was full of some kinda sports thing… we had to get a hotel in Wahoo!

 

[erikpolcrack]

When I worked in the woods, in our assortment of fire tools we had Pi$$ cans. 4-5 gal. sprayer type deal. Fill it with water, pump it up and go after the flames. I would think a good farm/feed store would have them. Local FD may also know where to get them.

I got a couple from our local AGWAY. They work great!

 

[Abbynormal]

We had a drought 15 years or so ago and were shooting into 3 row of semi tires filled with sand at 100 yds. That was our pistol/rifle range, If we wanted to shoot longer, we panned 20' to the right and had a 400 acre field to shoot at. We had a natural berm at 600 yds and limited our shooting to 500 yards.

Never had a fire on the 100 yd range but in droughts, had numerous fires on the 500 yd range.

Don't even think about incendiary, API or AP during a drought. A fall shoot at Knob Creek during a drought when they had to have brush fire trucks out on the range between shoots taught me a lesson.

 

[bobsguns]

Don't forget your target holder.................

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Only got to Pheasant Hunt once in Nebraska. Went to a Buddy's In-laws Farm.
He called his neighbors and they all said , OK, but don't shoot toward my cows!
Lots of birds back then.
Sorry to hear that's not true now.
Saw this guy in a nearby NM Game Refuge.

 

[UNCLE PAULY]

Wild fires in SW Arkansas were started by the Arkansas National Guard shooting NATO ball ammo during field exercises.

Like Nebraska, Arkansas is in a severe drought and a burn ban is in effect in most counties.

My local gun range has been closed for remolding for safety reasons and I have not been shooting this Summer and Fall.

Be careful.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Come to think about it -
In SEA We carried 38 Tracer. For signaling up through those massive trees.
Only time I ever shot any was at a Base range in Thailand.
And I did start a small grass fire.
Here in NM we live in perpetual drought.
Lots of public shooting places require shovel and fire extinguisher.