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Rifle Range Bunkers Rebuild Progress Report

Mark Skweres / Rich Dunn | Published on 5/30/2025

Rifle Range Bunker Rebuild Progress Report

25 and 50 Yard Rifle Range Bunkers are complete and open for use

A Day by Day account of the project - As told by Rich Dunn

Bunker Project Update - Day 1

Four of us showed up today to oversee the demo of the old bunker and the base layout and first course lay down. All was accomplished, even with a rain squall that rolled through.

Before….

After….

Rich Stevens did the demo and grading using his Cat 430D loader backhoe,

Then hauled the debris over opposite the trap range to dump it. We’ll get a 30 cu yd roll off later in the summer to dispose of it.

It took Rich five hours to do the demo, site grading, and grade/level the 25 yd shooting line. At $100/hr, money well spent.

Then, Steve and the crew went to work laying down the base course. Got that critical job done by 3:30.

Tomorrow, we start building the backstop.

I’ve had several volunteers reach out to me confirming they’ll be out on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday.

We’re on schedule.

Our new tractor got a good introduction and workout today as well. Hauled four loads of Class Five aggregate from the stock pile down to the 25 yd range. Handled it really well and the power to move into the pile and pick up a bucket full was a new experience for me. Something the little Deere just couldn’t do.

Also hauled ties from the backyard down. Lifted fifteen ties in one lift. At about 150 lb/ tie, that’s nearly 2,300 lb. Nice machine!

Steve is the real star of this entire effort. His focus on process and perfection in all he does assures us of a great outcome. We couldn't get this done without him.

Back at it again tomorrow.

Rich Dunn's Project Update - Day 2

…. Today we had five of us show up. Worked until 4PM. Light drizzle nearly all day long. I suppose better than 95 degree heat.

We finalized the base layer course and added five more courses. Seven ties per course. We’re using 6” high ties and we’ll have 14 courses when finished. Interior height will be 84” a bit higher than the old bunkers.

Here’s where we are at this time. Coming together.

Tomorrow, continue the build. The higher it gets the trickier it gets. Working higher up is more difficult. Hope to get 6-8 more courses tomorrow.

Rich Dunn's Project Update - Day3

We’ve almost finished the 25yd bunker structure, without a roof. I’m delaying the roof installation until next Thursday & Friday as my roofing expert, member Eric Von Ruden, is not available until then. He flies for American and will be out of town until then. I’ll restore the sand on Sunday morning and it can be reopened for use on Sunday at noon. Josh Borton is okay for shooting without a roof. The Saturday workday is cancelled. Shooting without the roof is okay for this interim period per the safety officer. We’ll close the range on Thursday & Friday next week to complete the roof installation. Thanks to all the members who volunteered on this project.

Here are some pictures:

25 Yard Bunker Rebuild - Day 4 - The Crew

Bunker Project Update - 50 yard bunkers - July 11 - 14

We completed the build of the first of two 2-bay bunkers on this line per plan. We will start construction of the second (East) bunker this Friday-Sunday (7/18-20), given sufficient volunteers.
Huge shout-out to Steve Swift, John Miller, and Terry Timmons.
The west bunker is 100% complete and is open for use.
The East bunker's foundation course was laid down last Friday so we're ready to start piling on eleven more courses. We plan to build the bunker on Friday & Saturday, and the Roof on Sunday.
Much pre-work to pre-position materials at the site was accomplished that will accelerate the build.

The 50 yard line is open for shooting, albeit at a reduced capacity of four shooting lanes instead of eight lanes.

Rifle range will close this weekend - Friday through Sunday -

Thanks for your continued support.

Bunker Project Update - 50 yard bunkers COMPLETE! - July 21

Yesterday, the team completed the second bunker of the 50 yard bunker reconstruction project. What a job!

All of you contributed to the success of this job. The board, membership and I, thank you for your time, energy and sweat getting this done.

I tallied up the hours recorded by all of you and it came to over 530 man hours! A truly outstanding effort.

As for future projects, I had hoped to build the shooting line roof cover (anyone interested in shooting in the shade??) but we need to take a bit of a break before tackling that one. Steve Swift and a couple of others of us are still haggling out the design, but it’ll be a full cover over the entire 50 yard shooting line (47’ wide!).

So, wanted to share with you the success you all contributed to. Thank you so very much!