Original Nov. 2013 writeup when new 300 M range opened
After a long gestation...the 300 M range is done and open for use. The logging, grading, drainage work, a HUGE impact berm, a drivable access road to the berm for target changes, a turn around/parking area at the berm, new parking area up front, perimeter fence/gate, safety signage and a fully "furnished"/shelter house are all in place.
All earthwork was done by Lee Weddle of Weddle Farm Drainage, Morgantown who built our other ranges. The impact berm is 25 feet tall and more than 100 feet wide from left to right. White posts with wire netting between were installed at the berm corresponding to the 10 openings in the shelter house. Shooters need only attach paper targets to the wire netting with club provided binder clips available in the shelter...no need to lug target stands down range.
We installed one 22" diameter AR500 steel gong at the berm, more are planned at shorter distances in the future. Martinsville's own: Brad Beaton, owner of "Backwoods Design Co."(317-460-8013) custom built and installed all the "furniture" in that shelter. The eight shooting bench/seat sets are modeled after those of the Army Rangers at Ft. Benning, GA. Three 12 foot sitting/gear benches toward the rear and two large rifle racks complete that shelter's woodwork. Two bays on the left end as you face the berm, were left open for prone, standing or kneeling shooters. We liked Brad's work so well, we had him build and install eight of these new shooting bench/seat sets in three of our existing shelters which allow rifles...two in the 100 yard Range shelter and three each in the shelters on Pistol Ranges 2 & 3 for a total of 16 sets facility wide. New sitting/gear benches were also added to our four existing shelters. Some of the shooting benches had their heights adjusted in 2015 to allow for taller shooters who found existing benches too short.
Safety signage...posted for this range was carefully designed with the help of an an NRA range consultant who visited our facility recently. Please pay attention to the large swinging gate as it designates whether range is HOT or a CEASE FIRE is underway...USE THE GATE.
When gate is swung to the left, it allows vehicles/or walking on the road to the berm...a large CEASE FIRE sign is evident and access to the shooting shelter is blocked at the same time.
When gate is swung to the right, it prevents vehicles/or walking on the road to the berm...a large HOT / RANGE ACTIVE sign is evident and access to the shooting shelter is open.
PLEASE do move the gate accordingly when you are using the range.Read and follow the unique rules specific to this range, unique due to the difficulty of seeing a person 300 + meters down range.
During Cease Fire, range shelter must be completely vacated...no one is allowed to remain in the shelter when others are down range...use Cease Fire sheltered waiting area outside the fence.
Range perimeter fencing has RIFLE RANGE / KEEP OUT signage on every post (all 92 of them!), so hunters or hikers in the surrounding woods don't walk into the line of fire.
In January 2015 we installed additional berms, backstops and wire target backing steel targets for the 100 yard and 200 yard distances
on our 300 M range option in addition in our existing 100 yard range. Another steel silhouette target was added to the right side of the 300 M berm (an existing hanging steel gong is to the left).
