Swanny10 Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 I'm hoping this is the appropriate forum, I've decided to gravel my personal range. I'm tired of searching for brass in the grass, mowing around targets, etc. My question is what type of gravel have y'all found works the best for a range surface. I have a slight grade that runs away from the shooter into a waterway which separates the range from a crop field. It will drain well but I don't want my gravel washing away either. I appreciate any input. I do a lot of moving and shooting so footing is a concern. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gregdavidl Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 A very long time ago when I lived in Tulsa OK, I was a member of Oil Capital Rod & Gun Club. The pistol ranges we used had a multi layer gravel surface. Big at the bottom, medium and then a pea gravel top layer. It was packed as the layers were added and was a pretty solid surface that drained well. I do not recall having trouble with maintaining my footing. The only negative I could recall was occasionally getting a piece of gravel stuck in a .45 case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e3lug Posted November 5, 2016 Share Posted November 5, 2016 Whichever size gravel you go with, the important thing is to tamp the gravel more than you ever think you should. It will maintain better if you layer it larger then small twice. I used what we call around here turkey grit for the top layer and it holds up really well. With the amount of compacting, it's almost like concrete. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swanny10 Posted November 5, 2016 Author Share Posted November 5, 2016 8 hours ago, e3lug said: Whichever size gravel you go with, the important thing is to tamp the gravel more than you ever think you should. It will maintain better if you layer it larger then small twice. I used what we call around here turkey grit for the top layer and it holds up really well. With the amount of compacting, it's almost like concrete. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk I wonder if the turkey grit you refer to is potash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DagoRed Posted November 6, 2016 Share Posted November 6, 2016 Crushed granite is pretty small. Reclaimed concrete if you tamp it hard enough after it gets rain a few times it really is like solid concrete. I was talking about this with a buddy last weekend, I think it's be cool to try our thing on one of those poured rubber surfaces they use on playgrounds. If I hit lotto I'm gonna get a range and do it Red Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATLDave Posted November 8, 2016 Share Posted November 8, 2016 On 11/6/2016 at 1:32 AM, DagoRed said: I think it's be cool to try our thing on one of those poured rubber surfaces they use on playgrounds. If I hit lotto I'm gonna get a range and do it That sounds awesome, although I wonder if it wouldn't be too grippy. When some of the grippier forms of artificial turf came out, there were lots of ankle and knee injuries from lateral moves where the shoe/turf interface just didn't have any give. Sometimes, slipping is like blowing a fuse... inconvenient, but probably better than blowing a ligament or tendon by overloading it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve RA Posted November 8, 2016 Share Posted November 8, 2016 Asphalt works very well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swanny10 Posted November 8, 2016 Author Share Posted November 8, 2016 2 hours ago, Steve RA said: Asphalt works very well. Ha! Maybe I'll go ahead and pour concrete and put in heater coils while I'm at it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TennJeep1618 Posted November 8, 2016 Share Posted November 8, 2016 2 hours ago, Steve RA said: Asphalt works very well. One of the nearby ranges uses packed, crushed asphalt for the main surface and it is really nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swanny10 Posted November 8, 2016 Author Share Posted November 8, 2016 4 hours ago, ATLDave said: That sounds awesome, although I wonder if it wouldn't be too grippy. When some of the grippier forms of artificial turf came out, there were lots of ankle and knee injuries from lateral moves where the shoe/turf interface just didn't have any give. Sometimes, slipping is like blowing a fuse... inconvenient, but probably better than blowing a ligament or tendon by overloading it. The creme de la creme would probably be the rubberized brick you see in high end horse barns. But my reality doesn't allow me to dream about such things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerritm Posted November 9, 2016 Share Posted November 9, 2016 We had a product that we used up north in Illinois when I lived/worked there to fill in roadways when we dug them up called crushed road gravel with fines. When you tamped it down and it rained it kind of almost turned into concrete. Needs a good base layer until it settles. Drains well. One of the big ranges here in Texas has something similar and it is great to shoot on. Inexpensive product and easy to use. Not sure what your local yard would call it, but go talk to them. They can recommend a product, that will work and fit your budget. Easy to find brass on it. gerritm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TennJeep1618 Posted November 9, 2016 Share Posted November 9, 2016 2 minutes ago, gerritm said: We had a product that we used up north in Illinois when I lived/worked there to fill in roadways when we dug them up called crushed road gravel with fines. When you tamped it down and it rained it kind of almost turned into concrete. Needs a good base layer until it settles. Drains well. One of the big ranges here in Texas has something similar and it is great to shoot on. Inexpensive product and easy to use. Not sure what your local yard would call it, but go talk to them. They can recommend a product, that will work and fit your budget. Easy to find brass on it. gerritm That's probably the same or very similar to what I was talking about. There are loose pieces on top, but the surface is pretty solid for the most part. The surface can be seen here: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCTaylor Posted November 9, 2016 Share Posted November 9, 2016 (edited) 17 hours ago, TennJeep1618 said: One of the nearby ranges uses packed, crushed asphalt for the main surface and it is really nice. Called asphalt millings in trade speak. Price varies on how much construction work and recycling is going on around your region. Decomposed granite or limestone road base are good options too, if you want a hard surface. You'll want at a minimum 4" over a compacted surface but 6-8" over native/non-disturbed earth will do just fine. Edited November 9, 2016 by SCTaylor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerritm Posted November 9, 2016 Share Posted November 9, 2016 1 hour ago, TennJeep1618 said: That's probably the same or very similar to what I was talking about. There are loose pieces on top, but the surface is pretty solid for the most part. The surface can be seen here: Very similar, but when you add the "fines" it gives you a more solid surface without the loose stones on top. gerritm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mosher Posted December 15, 2016 Share Posted December 15, 2016 Whatever they use at CMP in Talladega is really nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hitman Posted December 19, 2016 Share Posted December 19, 2016 We use chipped limestone, with or without dust. I would recommend a permeable underlayment and box the whole range with landscape timbers to keep it from washing away or disappearing into the dirt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beef15 Posted December 20, 2016 Share Posted December 20, 2016 The little range I practice at got crushed brick from some demolition project, guess it was cheap. I'd hate to fall on it, but it pretty well settled/packed hard on its own within a summer, drains great, and the grip is good. My one recommendation whatever you use is landscape cloth under, weeds will find a way, but it will slow them some. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swanny10 Posted December 21, 2016 Author Share Posted December 21, 2016 Thanks for all of the feedback so far every body. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mason Posted September 27, 2018 Share Posted September 27, 2018 Our local range is compacted white Gravel. The white is nice since it makes brass really stick out but in the middle of the summer you need sunglasses to just walk around it’s so bright. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TANFARM Posted March 5, 2021 Share Posted March 5, 2021 See if you can find a school or company that has used Astroturf. It really heavy but you will only do it once..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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