Tunnel shooting project

[RTH1800]

In the next year I will be in possession of approximate 1 mile of 26” pipe. Thinking of setting up a 100 yard tunnel for rimfire testing.
This is just early planning stages at this point.
Thoughts, suggestions or is anyone interested it the excess pipe for a similar project?
Thanks
RTH

 

[mcfred]

Figure drop with your favorite rimfire ammo. Rainbow trajectories won't go very far without touching something in a 26" pipe. Maybe you can trade 1 mile of ø26" pipe for 1/4 mile of ø48"...

 

[RTH1800]

I think I could get to 100 yards inside 26”.
Target ammo sighted at 50 yards gets to 100 yards with 7 MOA.

 

[mcfred]

In that case, I'd be careful of ventilation and possible effects on trajectory. My local range has a 100yd concrete culvert and with the venitlation on it seems to blow projectiles around odd as it seems.

 

[RTH1800]

That is my concern.

 

[barronian]

sighting down the middle of the 26" pipe i believe the max range you can get (with Eley Target ) before the trajectory clips the 'roof' of the pipe is c. 170m (i dont know the thickness of the pipe wall so i guessed at 2" )
sighting close to the bottom would give a max range of c. 220m .

 

[RTH1800]

Thanks. It’s not over 3/8” thick.

 

[barronian]

@rth1800 OK, in that case you get approx 185m (202 yds) with a sight line in the middle and 245m (268 yds) when sighting along the bottom.
in any case a good safety margin for 100m or 100 yds.

 

[Mike Casselton]

If the pipe is exposed to sunlight, it will heat up and cause mirage issues.
Also, as it heats up, air will flow through it as it exchanges temps.
Bury it in the ground.

 

[RTH1800]

^^^^^^
Good point.
Doubtful I do this project.
Thank you for all the input.

 

[PAYDIRT]

Probably be money ahead to go to Eley in Texas. Bass Pro in Springfield used to have a 100 yard tunnel, not sure if they still do. I've shoot in it, back in he day you could rent it hourly.

 

[RTH1800]

That is only about 3 hour drive.

 

[PAYDIRT]

Or you could find a building that could get 100 yards. We shoot in an old chicken house, basically zero wind.

 

[cmoore806]

What’s the highest vertical rise for 22LR even at 200 yards has to be too high for a small diameter pipe

 

[justin amateur]

Standard velocity 22lr peaks at about 20 to 21 inches above line of sight.

 

[Cuzz]

In the next year I will be in possession of approximate 1 mile of 26” pipe. Thinking of setting up a 100 yard tunnel for rimfire testing.
This is just early planning stages at this point.
Thoughts, suggestions or is anyone interested it the excess pipe for a similar project?
Thanks
RTH

what would 50 yds cost me?

 

[barronian]

What’s the highest vertical rise for 22LR even at 200 yards has to be too high for a small diameter pipe

according to Strelok a 26" pipe with 3/8" wall thickness will get you to 202 yards firing down the center (Eley Match at 1088 fps vertical rise 12.3" ) and c. 268 yds sighting close to the bottom.

 

[pete_f]

The club that I belong to has a 100 yard underground tunnel range built with 24" diameter concrete pipe. I find it perfect for testing rimfire ammo. There are a couple of things that I have found to be important for best results like keeping your bullet trajectory centered in the pipe. I have also found that shooting out of a return to battery machine rest is the only reliable method of getting results that will repeat due to the mirage condition that exists in there.

 

[1911Shootist]

You'd have to bury it deep to avoid frost heaves. Keeping 100 yards of pipe straight would be very challenging for a home gamer.

 

[Cofercr]

Growing up we built one attached to our cellar. We used 55 gallon drums, cut out both ends and spot welded them together. They were a few feet under ground. Had a hatch at the end to change targets and the light bulb. Backstop was just the earth. Ventilation was leave cellar door open. Ha ha. Just the way it was in the old days. Great for load development.

 

[zeroz]

where is the pipe, how long are the sections and how much per section?

 

[RTH1800]

I am getting a lot of inquires. Surprising as that was not my intent. I have decided against doing the project. The pipe will be pulled and sold but will take from one to two years. I suspect it will have more value for industrial use in culverts etc than for rifle range. I will post up once we get it pulled.
Thanks,
RTH

 

[nesikabay]

do you have any idea what that pipe is worth. You could sell it and build a good indoor range. If the pipe your talking about is what we here in Texas use for pipelines. Your talking close to 100,000 dollars or more

 

[RTH1800]

Yes, it has a good deal of value.
Thank you,

 

[nesikabay]

Not to get off topic but here if you have 30 or 36 inch pipe. Its 30 to 50 bucks a foot. dug up 26 inch if its not pitted bad 10 to 15 dollars a foot

 

[Niles Coyote]

If nothing else it would make a hell of a potato cannon, just sayin'

 

[nesikabay]

If nothing else it would make a hell of a potato cannon, just sayin'

More like a watermelon cannon

 

[RTH1800]

Fat chick cannon! ?

 

[nesikabay]

Fat chick cannon! ?

Be quite If Shankster heres about a fat chick cannon. He might come back. If you don't know shankster you wont get it

 

[RTH1800]

26” pipe is not going to cut it with Shank’s hefties.

 

[MtnCreek]

26” pipe is not going to cut it with Shank’s hefties.

If it's thick enough gauge it might make a stripper pole for them.

 

[RTH1800]

These chicks were strictly terrestrial. Things that size never, ever launch.

 

[zeroz]

Enough h-1000 will launch anything!

 

[RTH1800]

Only if it fits inside the bore! ?