Shooting Platform Height

[driftersgear]

Helping a buddy build out a private range here in Florida and would like to get some feedback from the hide. We will be shooting prone, ~5 shooters, have 2000 yards to shoot, also some friends supplying telephone poles...

• What would be the ideal height to have the platform? Trying to avoid the mirage as much as possible for afternoon shooting in the summer.
• What depth is ideal having a shooter prone, spotter behind, gear and enough room to walk behind?
• In motion target still one of the best bets for moving targets?

 

[sakoguy21]

Good question, but you will have better luck in a more technical thread on the hide....

 

[Maggot]

Helping a buddy build out a private range here in Florida and would like to get some feedback from the hide. We will be shooting prone, ~5 shooters, have 2000 yards to shoot, also some friends supplying telephone poles...
What would be the ideal height to have the platform? Trying to avoid the mirage as much as possible for afternoon shooting in the summer.
What depth is ideal having a shooter prone, spotter behind, gear and enough room to walk behind?
In motion target still one of the best bets for moving targets?

Wouldnt that depend on the overall terrain...I reckon in Florida thats flat or flat.

This is one I shoot at in Tex ass, really nice set up. With the lay of the land the slab is ground level with standard benches.

 

[Duc]

With this you can shoot over AND drive around 2 story houses

Snorkel’s new 76-foot S9070RT-HC is the tallest rough-terrain scissor lift in North America​

Don McLoud
May 22, 2020
Updated Mar 2, 2021

After unveiling the world’s longest telescopic boom aerial work platform earlier this year, Snorkel has introduced the tallest scissor lift for the North American market.
Until the release of the new S9070RT-HC rough-terrain scissor, the tallest platform height on a scissor lift was 53 feet in the United States, according to Equipment World’s Spec Guide.

The platform on Snorkel’s new scissor extends to 70 feet and has a max working height of 76 feet.
Not only is it tall, but the platform can be extended to 27 feet long. It is 7.5 feet wide and has a lifting capacity of 2,000 pounds.
The company says the lift is made to lift more materials for working at height and reduce the number of times the lift has to be lowered and raised.
The platform has dual-powered extension decks and four hydraulic stabilizers with automatic leveling. It is large enough to place a full-sized pallet on its deck, which is aided by a double material-loading gate on the platform.
The lift delivers 50 percent gradeability. It is powered by a Kubota diesel engine and has four-wheel drive. The engine is mounted to the side and has a swing-out tray for maintenance access. The 36-inch foam-filled tires are designed for maintaining grip on rough terrain.
Snorkel says the dual-shear scissor stack is made of high-strength steel for durability and lighter weight. The lift weighs 25,500 pounds.
The drive system is the same as on the company’s mid-size telescopic boom lifts, and many of the lift’s parts are common to other Snorkel lifts. It also shares the same onboard diagnostics system.

Snorkel unveiled a prototype of the lift at ConExpo 2020 and plans for full production to begin late this year.
The S9070RT-HC is one of four new high-capacity scissors from Snorkel. The other models are the S9031RT-HC with a platform height of 31 feet; the S9043RT-HC at 43 feet; and the S9056RT-HC at 56 feet.

​

Quick specs on the S9070RT-HC:​

Platform height: 70 feet
Capacity: 2,000 pounds
Weight: 25,500 pounds
Ground clearance: 14 inches
Max drive height: 44 feet
Raise/lower time: 70 / 40 seconds

 

[Trigger Monkey]

I'd figure that a platform at least 8-10' high should be sufficient with an area of at least 15' x 15'. That way your shooters aren't laying on top of each other and there's room behind them to set up tripods, stow gear, and move around.

 

[Mike Casselton]

We have 12' at JTAC. If the spotter is behind the shooter, there's no room to walk behind.
The easy way to figure it is to get someone prone. Tape the area off. Set up the spotter. Add more tape.
See how much more you need for safe passage.

I'd recommend 8' or more for the height of the platform. You know how bad mirage gets around 9:30-10. Rain just makes it much worse.


What compass direction will you be shooting?

 

[driftersgear]

We have 12' at JTAC. If the spotter is behind the shooter, there's no room to walk behind.
The easy way to figure it is to get someone prone. Tape the area off. Set up the spotter. Add more tape.
See how much more you need for safe passage.

I'd recommend 8' or more for the height of the platform. You know how bad mirage gets around 9:30-10. Rain just makes it much worse.


What compass direction will you be shooting?

I have shot at JTAC and that mirage can get fun. My recommendation is as high as possible. I was curious if there is any diminishing return at some point with height. Florida is just plain flat and hot.
I like the setup rifles only has out in Texas, but looks like that pipe would take some time to get built.
The safest direction for us to shoot is South.

 

[Mike Casselton]

Straight into the 10:00 sun.
Lots of glare to contend with.

Can you build a platform on top of a shipping container? Extend it over the side and have a big sun shade over it?

 

[Mike Casselton]

I think 8-10' high is the sweet spot.

 

[msgriff]

I would think that building an 8' tall retaining wall out of eco-blocks and back filling it would be more stable and easier to increase in size, if necessary. Ramp it up in the back.

 

[softcock]

I think 8-10' high is the sweet spot.

Not sweet enough, If not tall enough you can't Shoot, and Rappel off it.
.

 

[Mike Casselton]

Three stacked containers should do the trick.

 

[Maggot]

Doesnt shooting off as high a platform as y'all are suggesting , while diminishing the effect of mirage, also give you a somewhat skewed DOPE if youre in a different situation say hunting on relatively flat terrain,