Pistol Bays

Lawn bowling target practice setup with a metal spike in foreground, multiple small target boards, and a small shed at the end of a gravel course, surrounded by grass and woods.
Outdoor area with a gravel ground, surrounded by trees, with a makeshift barrier at the front, a table, a barrel, and some trash cans. There is a large mound of soil or dirt on the right side.
A gravel clearing surrounded by greenery with parked trucks, equipment, benches, and a safety fence at the forefront, leading into a forested area.

  • The 4 Safety Rules apply ALWAYS!

  • 1 5 YARD MINIMUM DISTANCE FROM THE STEEL TARGETS NO EXCEPTIONS!

  • NO MAGNUM ROUNDS ON THE STEEL TARGETS NO EXCEPTIONS!

    • NO CENTERFIRE RIFLE ROUNDS ON THE PISTOL RANGE PERMITTED! NO EXCEPTIONS! THIS INCLUDES ANY LONG BARREL PISTOL CALIBER CARBINES OR LEVER GUNS.

  • Pistol caliber carbines are permitted (9mm, 40 and .45). Long barrel pistol caliber rifles such as lever guns are NOT permitted.

  • Long-barreled guns are generally discouraged for close-range steel shooting because they generate higher bullet velocities, increasing the risk of dangerous ricochets, bullet fragmentation, and severe damage to the steel target itself. Shorter, slower-velocity weapons are safer at close distances, while long barrels are best for long-range, high-velocity needs. 

    Safety Hazards of Long Barrels at Close Distances

    • Increased Velocity: Longer barrels allow more propellant to burn, producing significantly higher muzzle velocities (

      ). High-velocity rounds can penetrate or shatter steel targets, causing unpredictable, high-energy fragmentation (spalling) back towards the shooter.

    • Safety Distances: The Savage Arms guide notes that high-velocity rounds require much greater safety distances to avoid being hit by projectile fragments, whereas lower velocity (closer to 2,000 fps or less) keeps close-range shooting safer.

    • Target Damage: Excessive velocity from long barrels will pit, dimple, or break target steel, creating unsafe, concave surfaces that make ricochets unpredictable. 

  • Please be mindful of the next group of folks that follow you to enjoy the range, by replacing all fallen steel targets on the Texas Star, spray painting the steel targets before you leave, disposing of all paper targets in the trash and cleaning up the range before you leave.

  • There are plastic buckets available for picking up your spent casings. If you don’t reload your own ammunition please place your spent casings in these buckets, thank you!

Our club provides three separate pistol bays for your enjoyment and training needs. From left to right is Pistol bays 1, 2 and 3.

Pistol Bay 1

  • Steel target bay DO NOT SHOOT ANY CLOSER THAN 1 5 YARDS, THIS IS A SAFETY VIOLATION!

  • No target stands in Bay 1; Steel targets ONLY!

    Pistol Bay 2

  • Snow fence for hanging paper targets; no steel permitted in this bay. Single target stands are for shotgun, do NOT use shotgun ammo on the snow fence!!

    Pistol Bay 3

  • Snow fence for hanging paper targets; no steel permitted in this bay.