I just started building a berm, how much topsoil?

[bac0nfat]

I have a berm about five feet high by six feet wide that I just put in the woods behind my house. It's a clear shot from the house and about 75 yards away. It's all fill dirt so there is a good amount of rocks in it. I assume the best thing to do it put a layer of topsoil to stop any ricochets. How much topsoil will I need for just shooting 22's?

[kevindsingleton]

My neighbor has a rifle range that uses a hill on my property for a secondary backstop. His primary backstop is logs, placed end-on, and filled with dirt. He shoots his deer rifles into it, and there's no evidence that it's ever been penetrated.

Six feet deep should be plenty for .22 rimfire.

[RobW]

The NRA has a comprehensive reference on range construction. Probably worth the few bucks if you consider the insurance hazard:

http://www.nrahq.org/shootingrange/sourcebook.asp

I have a berm about five feet high by six feet wide that I just put in the woods behind my house. It's a clear shot from the house and about 75 yards away. It's all fill dirt so there is a good amount of rocks in it. I assume the best thing to do it put a layer of topsoil to stop any ricochets. How much topsoil will I need for just shooting 22's?

[SteveD]

I have a berm about five feet high by six feet wide that I just put in the woods behind my house. It's a clear shot from the house and about 75 yards away. It's all fill dirt so there is a good amount of rocks in it. I assume the best thing to do it put a layer of topsoil to stop any ricochets. How much topsoil will I need for just shooting 22's?

The NRA Range manual suggests 2' of sifted earth. We use wood chips on our berms to minimize splatter, they're free. We pile them on 2' thick.

[crlovel]

I would suggest filling the berm with lead. Let me know when to come over so I can help with this chore.

[bac0nfat]

My neighbor has a rifle range that uses a hill on my property for a secondary backstop. His primary backstop is logs, placed end-on, and filled with dirt. He shoots his deer rifles into it, and there's no evidence that it's ever been penetrated.

Six feet deep should be plenty for .22 rimfire.

I'm more worried about whats on the surface of the berm than how deep it is. I know its enough to stop a 22 rimfire but I need to know that I wont have any ricochets.

The NRA has a comprehensive reference on range construction. Probably worth the few bucks if you consider the insurance hazard:

http://www.nrahq.org/shootingrange/sourcebook.asp

I'll have to check that out, thanks!

The NRA Range manual suggests 2' of sifted earth. We use wood chips on our berms to minimize splatter, they're free. We pile them on 2' thick.

Hmmm, "sifted earth"? Now you got me thinking, maybe there is a way I can just sift through the fill dirt, rather than buying expensive topsoil?

I would suggest filling the berm with lead. Let me know when to come over so I can help with this chore.

Well, that is my plan! Maybe if we somehow aquire a full auto .22 it will make the task much easier!

[bac0nfat]

BTW here is a pic:

[Brick]

A minimum thickness of 18" of soil will stop most rifle bullets. But thicker is better and soil is cheap. Just make it as free of rocks as possible. you don't need to use topsoil for the berm! Ordinary fill is just fine! If you want topsoil for the purpose of growing grass on your berm you only need 4" to 6".