Editing Shooting range (section)

== Components ==
===Firing point===
The firing point normally is at a defined point on the ground, and on a civilian range will usually be level and flat. Outdoor ranges without a covered firing point are usually grass, often on a slightly raised, flattened mound. Outdoor ranges with a covered firing point are usually concrete or tarmacadam. Outdoor military range firing points are not usually covered and may have other configurations, e.g., sloping, a gravel base or hole in the ground.

A "fixed firing point" or echelon<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/NaturalResources/cultural/Pages/CampLogan.aspx |title=Camp Logan National Guard Rifle Range Historic District|website=Illinois.gov}}</ref> rifle range is where the targets are located at the various distances with the marksman or woman shooting from the one firing point. The most advanced rifle range of this design was constructed for the Commonwealth Games New Delhi 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blaserbuds.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=2715 |title=CWG 2010 New Delhi Fullbore Shooting|website=BlasterBuds}}</ref>

The firing point cover can be as simple as a tent, to a frame with only a roof (to keep off rain or sunshine) to a substantial building with appropriate apertures to shoot through.

=== Targets ===
[[File:Shooting range near Pittsburgh - inside 4.JPG|thumb|Shooting targets for woodchuck hunting]]
Civilian targets are usually made of paper or a plastic coreflute, sometimes with a canvas or hessian back on the larger long-range types. Most competitive targets are a solid black circle on a white background. The black circle may have scoring rings. Targets of other shapes may be used such as used in pistol (hand gun) target shooting. [[Shooting target#by Reactivity|Reactive targets]] allow shooters to easily identify bullet strikes. This allows shooters to improve their skills by quickly being able to compare their aiming point and where the actual bullet impacted the target.

[[Electronic scoring targets]] use an acoustic or optical system to evaluate the shot as it passes through the target frame.

Service rifle competitions typically use the military-standard targets contemporary to the firearm's era. The same applies for the matches they shoot.

Other target types include a metal plate that is knocked over by the projectile such as in the air rifle sport of field target or handgun discipline of IPSC, and stationary metal plates of scaled animal outlines on which bullet strikes mark as well as those that mark the paint which is painted over again after scoring.

===Butts / backstop===
{{Main|Bullet trap}}
The butts or backstop is the area behind the target into which the shot impacts having passed through the target. Earth, sand, or rubber berms are common, particularly on outdoor ranges. Vertical or angled steel plates with collectors are common indoors, often with a ballistic rubber curtain through which the bullet passes and is then stopped by a metal plate. The rubber curtains help reduce ricochet or bounce-back of bullet fragments.

Ranges without automatic target placements sometimes have galleries or trenches from where personnel lift and retract, mark and replace targets.

Backstops need to be of sufficient height to capture the projectile intended for the target as well as any ricochet that may occur from the projectile striking the range floor. The height is determined by range distance, as well as the approved firearms - a range for unsupported or pistol shooting may require a larger backstop than a range exclusively used or prone or supported rifle where a greater level of accuracy is expected.

===Wind flags===
Outdoor shooting ranges sometimes have wind flags, positioned between the firing line (where the shooters are) and the targets. Shooters observe these flags to make an estimate of wind speed, which is then converted into lateral minute of angle point of aim corrections or, alternatively, windage holdoff corrections.

The flag method is the most common method used to estimate wind speed. A flag blowing in the wind will naturally blow away from the flagpole, with the angle of the bottom of the flag to the flagpole increasing with increasing windspeed. To estimate the wind speed in mph, the angle in degrees between the bottom of the flag to the flagpole at the mid-range position between the shooter and the target is divided by 4. For example, an angle of 60 degrees between the bottom of a flag and a flagpole would be estimated as a {{convert|15|mph|km/h|0}} windspeed.<ref name="Sniper Training">{{cite journal|title=Sniper Training|journal= Field Manual |number= 32–10|date= 17 August 1994|pages= 3–31}}</ref>

The clock method is then used to determine full value, half value, or no value corrections in a minute of angle for this wind. Aligning the target at the 12 o'clock position or direction, with the 6 o'clock direction being directly behind the shooter, winds at 3 or 9 o'clock are equated to full value, winds at 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11 o'clock are equated to half value, and winds at 12 and 6 o'clock are equated to no value.
<ref name="Sniper Training"/>

The minute of angle correction (full value) is then commonly estimated as ((Range [meters] / 100) × Wind [mph]) / ''C'', where ''C'' is a constant. The constant ''C'' equals 15 for ranges from 100 to 500 meters, 14 for 600 meters, 13 for 700–800 meters, 12 for 900 meters, and 11 for 1,000 meters.
<ref name="Sniper Training"/>

For full-value winds, this full windage correction is used. For half-value winds, the minute of correction in windage given by this formula is halved; for no-value winds, no minute of angle correction in windage is required.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Sniper Training|journal= Field Manual |number= 32–10|date= 17 August 1994|pages= 3–34}}</ref>

Multiple flags are required for two reasons. First, the wind speed closest to the midpoint of the range has the greatest effect on the projectile.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Sniper Training|journal= Field Manual |number= 32–10|date= 17 August 1994|pages= 3–32}}</ref> In addition, the wind at one part of the range will not always be the same at another part.

Wind flags are not always actual flags, sometimes streamers are used, small triangle flags, or even pinwheels. Factors such as the range length and expected strength of the wind determine the best type of flag to use. When no flags are available, a small leaf or another small light object can be dropped from shoulder height, and the object is then pointed at by the shooter; the angle between his arm and his torso can provide an equivalent wind speed estimation as a wind flag, although it will not be at the mid-range location along the bullet's trajectory.<ref name="Sniper Training"/>

=== Lighting ===
Lighting should be consistent in intensity, glare-free, and shadow-free. The shooter's vision down range should not be obstructed by lighting behind the firing line. The illumination should be bright enough to prevent pupil dilation, which lowers the shooter's visual acuity. Emergency lights for egress, "Range in Use" signs at the entrance, and exit lights are among the other lighting options. During repairs or cleaning, the lighting behind the bullet trap should be at least 30 foot-candles.