Before building a live-fire range, it’s best to establish your goals first. Are you planning to build your range for private use, limiting it solely to family and friends? Do you want to open your range to the public as a business? What kinds of weaponry and technology do you want to use on your range? Should it be indoors or outdoors? What is your budget?

All of these questions are important to answer before you start building, and consultation with experts is usually a good first step.

Deciding whether your range is going to be indoor or outdoor is an important step. With an indoor range, you can have more control over the environment, cancel out noise more effectively, and operate year-round. However, outdoor ranges offer more open space, a realistic environment, and can cost less, though they suffer from being seasonal in nature and requiring more noise management.

Building a live-fire range is generally legal throughout the US, but both local and federal regulations, permits, and zoning requirements may vary depending on where you intend to build. Generally, restrictions will be tougher in more urban areas due to population density, whereas rural areas may offer more leeway. Checking with your local zoning boards and regulatory agencies is a great idea, as they will be able to direct you to the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding legal requirements.

Permits and environmental reviews are often necessary when building a firing range. Local zoning laws are typically where permits become a requirement, but you will also have to conduct approved environmental reviews to ensure that your indoor or outdoor environment meets guidelines in terms of individual safety, fire safety, and even environmental safety. You may have to receive approval from organizations like OSHA and the EPA, particularly for indoor ranges. Consultation with your insurance company about liability concerns is also a must.

Depending on the intent and scope of your range, building costs will vary. A small, private, in-home firing range may cost anywhere between $50,000 and $200,000, but can often cost much more. For large, commercial firing ranges, costs will often exceed $3-4 million. These rough estimates take into account the cost of construction supplies, cleaning and landscaping, installing targets and ventilation, adhering to safety codes, and continued upkeep and maintenance.

At the professional level, designing and building a firing range can take many months, for example anywhere from 7-21 months for a smaller, indoor firing range and up to multiple years for a large-scale commercial range. Factors involved in your timeline will include the size and scope of your project, designing and assessment, the time needed to secure land and the necessary permits, working with contractors and construction agencies, and, finally, inspection and opening.

Live-fire ranges require a number of safety systems in order to function properly and keep users safe from harm. Indoor ranges need to be equipped with bullet traps and backstops to prevent live ammunition from ricocheting and causing injury. They require extensive ballistic containment consisting of walls, ceilings, and floors made of 4,000–5,000 PSI concrete that is at least eight inches thick, or adding AR500 steel to these areas. Ranges also need ventilation systems to remove fumes, shooting stalls or dividers to separate shooters, adequate lighting and targeting systems, and sufficient noise-canceling acoustic treatment.

Outdoor range safety measures?

There are a number of bullet trap and backstop options you can consider for your range. These include:

• Steel Bullet Traps: Steel traps can handle a large volume of ammunition in different calibers. They are good for commercial and tactical use and make bullet retrieval easy, but they do require more maintenance and create more noise. They also create more dust, which creates the need for a Dust Collection system that requires power and maintenance.
• Earth Berms: Earth berms are typical in outdoor ranges, and consist of a large mound of earth or soil. Careful consideration is required in regards to soil composition, slope and site grading, and drainage, as not all dirt makes a good backstop. Consultation with NRA, NSSF, and EPA guidelines will help in constructing these berms.
• Rubber Berm Traps: Rubber berm traps, such as InVeris’ GranTrap™ rubber bullet trap, consist of a steel deck with shredded rubber padding to absorb a bullet with minimal dust and ricochet. They create less noise and are cleaner than steel or earth traps. They are also less expensive and can be used both indoors and outdoors.
• Rubber Block Wall Traps: Rubber block wall traps are modular blocks of dense rubber that can be stacked into a large wall. They are excellent at absorbing energy and reducing back-splatter. They are best for low-use firing ranges, as they may need more frequent replacement.

Ventilation is an important part of indoor firing ranges, as it helps to remove lead dust and other fumes, such as exhaust gases, from the shooting range. HVAC systems that create constant airflow and funnel internal air out while taking in fresh air are necessary. In particular, prioritize an HVAC system with an airflow of 50–75 fpm that can create negative air pressure within your range and facilitate a down-range laminar flow to carry particulates away from shooters.

Noise management is vital when owning and operating a firing range, as excessive noise will often lead to complaints. Check your local ordinances for noise requirements, and when building your range, focus on the two primary noise considerations: Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC), which refers to lowering noise level within the range to protect users, and Noise Transmission Coefficient (NTC), which refers to preventing the transmission of noise outside of the range. InVeris offers several options for Noise abatement depending on the use case and customer needs.

The type of target systems you offer will depend on what kind of experience you want at your range. Common targeting systems that you may find in gun ranges include retractable carriers, trolley wire or monorail targets, 360° turning or reactive targets, and targets with different speed modes to vary your experience. For more dynamic control, including pre-programmed scenarios, attack and retreat modes, and shot location feedback, implementing overall targeting systems like the InVeris Range Control System (RCS) or the XWT-Pro Target Carrier is another great option.

If your property meets local zoning requirements, as well as adhering to environmental and safety regulations, you can absolutely build a private range. In-home firing ranges are great for training, recreation, or VIP use.

If you are building a commercial firing range, you can make your business stand out by offering a variety of customer-centric features and perks. Consider adding retail elements such as a pro shop, VIP areas and lounges, advanced technology, membership perks, and more.

You can also invest in new technologies and entertainment, such as state-of-the art virtual reality systems like InVeris’ fats® LIVE Hybrid Training System, which pairs live-fire weapons with virtual targets, and Inveris’ Location Of Miss & Hit (LOMAH) System, which measures the precise time of a bullet’s supersonic shock wave to determine hit or miss location. InVeris also offers the state-of-the-art RangeMaster™ 9000 (RM9K), an easy-to-use range control system offering instructors and range personnel the ability to write, store and run training scenarios, which can elevate your range to the next level.

It’s easy to make mistakes when building a firing range, but there are a few that you will very much want to avoid. First, do your best to avoid choosing a poor location, and never skip or ignore zoning laws. Don’t undershoot on costs–remember that things like ventilation and construction always tend to run over, so plan for extra expenses. Be very careful in your equipment selection, choosing high-quality equipment such as that produced by InVeris to ensure maximum safety and reliability. Don’t skimp on maintenance, either, and above all else, consult with experts and professionals early in the design and construction process.

Finally, be wary of working with any contractor or company that provides off-the-shelf quotes or estimates regarding the cost of your range project. Many off-the-shelf quotes fail to take into account the actual space you are working with and various other building considerations. Without expert professionals like InVeris, you run the risk of getting a quote that eats up your entire budget and leaves vital elements of your project unfinished.

Now that you have the answers to some of the most pressing questions about firing ranges, here is a checklist to use when planning your own construction before you get started:

• Choose a location and confirm zoning and permit requirements
• Conduct an environmental assessment, noise mitigation study, and site survey
• Consult with insurance company regarding liability
• Acquire necessary permits
• Determine ballistic containment measures (berms, bullet traps, backstops)
• Make a plan for ventilation and HVAC
• Plan for ceiling and wall baffles
• Lay out shooting lanes and design adequate general range and scene lighting
• Choose reinforced concrete for walls, floors, and ceilings
• Select your targeting system (manual, automatic, reactive)
• Implement safety control stations, viewing areas, and secure entryways
• Design for secure ammo storage
• Include maintenance rooms, restrooms, and other features
• Research contractors who specialize in range construction
• Budget wisely and with significant funds for safety and HVAC

For a more detailed checklist, check out our Build Your Own Range Worksheet!