How To
Build a shooting range for your office for $35 in under an hour
We decided to build a shooting range for the office, because I finally got tired of getting shot with airsoft guns. The idea was to base it off of real steel shooting ranges by using an foldable, angled board with carpet for dampening. Then we used a clothesline setup to hold the silhouette. The clothesline isn't really necessary if you can walk right up to the target or if you only have one lane, but it's kind of fun regardless.
What you need:
1 x 24" by 60" board
1 x 22" by 60" precut carpet
2 x offset hinges
1 x chain
1 x gate hook
2 x cup hook
2 x pully
4 x clothespins
1 x 50' clothesline
8 x 11" zipties
Drywall screws
Short screws
Start by screwing the hinges into the board
Now screw the carpet to the board with the short screws. Use as few screws as possible to minimize the chance a BB will hit a screw. Some slack in the carpet is fine because it acts as an extra dampener.
Attach the board to the wall with drywall screws
Attach the chain with the cup hooks to the board and the wall so the board hangs at a 45 degree angle
Now attach the gate hook to the wall and the board so you can fold the range away when you aren't using it
For the pully system, use the zipties to attach each pully to the roof
Thread the clothesline through the pullies and knot it to close the loop. Don't worry about the knot going throught the pullies, you won't be pulling the line in a continuous loop anyways.
Print out a target (we like this one) and tape it to a poster board and then the poster board gets attached to the clothesline with clothespins.
You now have a proper pistol range!
And here is a picture of Eli shooting me in the back while we were building the range
Don't forget to BUY SOME HEALTH POTION! (in case your friend shoots you in the back too)
Disclaimers:
1) Don't shoot anyone in the eye, ear, teeth, etc. Airsoft BB guns are still BB guns. Just because you built a range doesn't mean you can't miss the backdrop or have a wild ricochet anyways.
2) Use eye protection. It's easier and more fun to use it now than to lose an eye and then start using it. Make sure everyone around the range also uses eye protection.
3) Check your local laws before attempting. It's illegal to discharge BB guns in many cities. In fact, word on the net has it that BB guns are totally illegal in San Francisco due to an old law preventing pranksters from shooting horses.
