How to Set Up a Backyard Steel Target Range

Quick answer: start with the rules and the dirt, not the targets. Before you hang a single plate, find out what your state, county, town and any HOA allow, then pick a spot with a solid earth backstop and a direction of fire that points away from homes, roads and livestock. Once that's settled, set steel at the right distance for each gun, angle it down, and keep hard surfaces out of the impact area.

A backyard steel range is one of the best things a shooter can have. You get more practice, less driving and instant feedback every time you hear that ring. But "my land" doesn't automatically mean "I can shoot here," and a sloppy setup puts people and property at risk. Here's how we'd approach it, step by step.

Backyard steel at a glance

Not sure which rifle row you're in? Check the muzzle velocity on your ammo box. If your load leaves the muzzle over 3,000 fps — many 55-grain .223/5.56 loads like M193 do — use 200 yards. Very fast varmint rounds (.204 Ruger, .220 Swift, .22-250) need more: back up until the bullet hits under 3,000 fps.

Want the reasoning behind these numbers? Read how far away to shoot steel targets.

Step 1: Find out what's allowed where you live

This is the step people skip, and it's the one that matters most. Rules on discharging a firearm on private property differ a lot from place to place. Your state may have one set of laws, your county another, and a city or town limit can add its own. Some areas set minimum distances from occupied buildings or roads. Some limit noise or shooting hours. Many HOAs and deed restrictions ban it outright.

We're a target company, not a law firm, so we can't tell you what's legal on your property. What we can tell you is who to ask:

• Your county or city government for local ordinances on firearm discharge, noise and zoning.
• Your local sheriff's office, which can usually point you to the rules they enforce.
• Your state wildlife or natural resources agency for hunting-related setbacks and land rules.
• Your HOA documents and property deed for private restrictions.
• A local attorney if anything is unclear.

Get answers in writing when you can, and check again if you move or the rules change. It's also worth talking to your neighbors before the first shot. A friendly heads-up goes a long way.

Step 2: Pick your direction of fire

Every bullet you fire has to stop somewhere, including the ones that miss. Stand where your shooting line will be and look downrange. You should see nothing past your backstop that a stray round could reach: no houses, barns, roads, driveways, trails, pastures or property lines.

Think well past the berm, too. A missed .22 can travel over a mile, and centerfire rifle bullets go farther. What's behind your backstop matters as much as the backstop itself.

• Shoot toward rising ground, like a hillside, whenever possible.
• Never shoot toward an open horizon, over a ridge or across water. Bullets skip off water.
• Think about where people and animals walk, not just where buildings are.
• Pay attention to the sun. Facing it during your usual shooting hours makes it harder to see your target and what's around it.

Step 3: Build or find a real backstop

A good backstop is packed earth: a natural hillside or a dirt berm that is taller and wider than anything you'll hang in front of it. It catches misses and the fragments that come off steel on impact. The top of your tallest target should sit well below the top of the berm so a high shot still goes into dirt. As a reference point, range guidance commonly calls for an earth backstop at least 12 feet tall, and many range designs go higher (16–20 feet), with several feet of dirt above your highest target.

• Keep the dirt clean. Pull out rocks, concrete, metal and junk. Hard objects in a berm can send bullets back out.
• Don't rely on trees or fences. A tree line or a sheet of plywood is not a backstop.
• Call 811 before you dig so you don't hit buried gas, power or water lines.
• Plan for water. Grass on the berm helps it hold up, and good drainage keeps your target area from turning into mud.

Step 4: Set your steel up right

With the location sorted, the target setup is the easy part.

• Measure your distances. Pace them off or use a rangefinder, and mark your firing lines with stakes so everyone shoots from the right spot.
• Angle targets down. Use the angle built into your hanger or stand, typically 15–20° down; don't prop plates at a homemade angle. A downward angle sends fragments into the dirt instead of back toward you, and hanging targets that swing also soak up energy.
• Keep the ground in front clear. Gravel, rocks and concrete in front of or under a target can cause ricochets. Dirt or grass is best.
• Use the right steel for the gun. 1/4" steel is for non-magnum handguns and .22 LR only. Magnum handguns and rifles need 3/8" steel at the right distance.
• Space your targets. Give each plate room so a hit on one doesn't spray fragments onto another.

For ammo and target rules, see our safety information.

Step 5: Set range rules for everyone

Write down a few simple rules and share them with anyone who shoots with you: eye and ear protection on, a clear firing line, no one downrange while anyone is handling a gun, and a cease-fire call everybody knows. Inspect your steel before each session and retire any plate that's pitted, cratered, bent or cracked.

Common mistakes

1. Buying targets before checking the rules. Find out what's allowed first. The steel will wait.
2. Treating a tree line as a backstop. Bullets go through brush and branches. You need earth.
3. Leaving rocks in the berm or in front of targets. Hard surfaces are ricochet surfaces.
4. Shooting rifles at pistol distances. A 5.56 at 25 yards will damage steel and can send fragments back at you.
5. Hanging targets above the backstop. If a high miss would clear the berm, lower the target.
6. Using the wrong ammo. Steel-core, armor-piercing, green tip, tracer, incendiary and steel shot have no place on steel targets.

What to buy

A simple first setup: the Gong Starter Kit gives you 8", 10" and 12" 3/8" AR500 gongs plus three hangers. Pair it with Quick Stands, which use standard 2x4 boards, and you're ready to hang steel.

If you have T-posts: a T-Post Hanger slides right onto a standard steel T-post, no tools needed. The Torso T-Post Pack bundles a USPSA/IPSC torso with a T-Post Hanger (T-post not included).

For .22: the Rimfire Reset Pack (built for .22 rimfire and air rifle). For .22 and non-magnum pistol: the 1/4" AR500 Gong Set (4", 6", 8" and 10").

For something more fun: the Texas Star: five 8" plates of 3/8" SR500 on a hub that spins as you knock them off.

For close-range and zeroing: a Paper Target Stand and cardboard backers for anything too close or too hot for steel.

Browse everything in stands & parts.

FAQ

Is it legal to shoot steel targets in my backyard?
It depends entirely on where you live. State, county and city rules all play a part, and HOAs can add their own. Check with your local government and sheriff's office, and talk to an attorney if you're unsure. We can't give legal advice.

How much land do I need?
The shooting distance can be short, but the real question is what's behind your backstop. A missed .22 can travel over a mile, so you need a berm that reliably catches misses and nothing downrange you couldn't accept being hit. Beyond that, you need enough room to meet your local rules: non-magnum pistol and .22 LR work at 10–25 yards, magnum handguns need 25 yards, and centerfire rifles on our 3/8" steel need at least 100 yards (200 if your load leaves the muzzle over 3,000 fps).

Can I use a pile of logs or a fence as a backstop?
Not by itself. Packed earth is what stops bullets reliably. Keep it free of rocks and debris.

What's the best first steel target for a backyard range?
A few 3/8" AR500 gongs on a simple stand. They work for non-magnum pistol at 10–15 yards, magnum handguns at 25 yards and rifle at 100 yards (200 for loads over 3,000 fps at the muzzle), so they grow with you.

Should I tell my neighbors?
We'd recommend it. Let them know when you usually shoot and how you've set things up safely.

Planning a backyard range and not sure what you need? Contact us and we'll help you pick targets and stands for your space.