Lane spacing

Figure what TOTAL shots you want in your matches and set up 1/2 that amount across your lanes .... match is twice threw course
We of the SVFTC are not room constrained, having 15 lanes and 2 targets per equating to a 60 shot match in one rotation threw.

My favorite matches are the kind where the lanes are all random distances apart....where the match director specifically took advantage of a shade tree here or there for the lane marker. Or had a really cool landscape feature that they wanted to use.

Perfectly spaced out distances between shooters is for benchrest. And we do indeed have a ft club here in AZ that chose to go that route, out of convenience. They shoot from a concrete slab under a cover at an established range. All the lane markers are the same distance apart. Targets are all at 90 degrees to the firing line. No topography. No natural features. It's like a benchrest match, but from ft positions, and on steel. Envision an overzealous range officer barking orders and that's the kind of environment they're shooting field target from. Very vanilla, very sterile. Same thing every month. Not much ranging skill necessary once you knock a target or two down cuz you can eyeball down the line and pretty much know how far each target is. Any field target is fun, but those firing line type matches are harder to enjoy versus matches where the match director emphasizes variety and taking advantage of the natural landscape and topography to make it a unique experience.

Keep in mind people and there gear being there for the lane being shot and staging for the next .... too crowded is not good as is too much banter too close

Iowa Airgunner said:

Thanks I can run through the corse twice . 12 target shot twice is 24 shots. Two loops makes it a 48 shot corse.

But how far apart do the lanes need to be? Three or six feet apart.

If I run five lanes there is about 3 feet between lanes. With 4 lanes there is about 5 feet between lanes I am using 2x4 buried in the ground as toe boards.

Click to expand...

I'll try again....

Let the area determine the lane markers location and spacing. Got a cool V in a tree down close to the ground? shoot through the V, set the lane markers so that the angle is correct. Etc.

Nobody likes to cook in the sun, so if you've got a nice dense spot of shade...lane marker goes there. Etc.

Looks like a perfectly fine area to have a match in. I'd rather shoot a course on this property where you'll be having matches, then on a gravel parking lot.

Some other ideas...
I've seen matches where all the shooting lanes make a big C or U shape, shooting outwards so there's no safety concerns. I've shot matches where the lanes were WAY too close together, and I've shot matches where there was a solid 30-40 yard between each lane marker.

Try to use what you've got. Even placing a target right at the base of one of your new growth trees is more interesting than just out in the open. And mounted to trees, even only as high as you can reach off the ground, adds variety and makes a course more interesting.

Looks like maybe a minor drainage runs through the area? If so, place a shooting lane down in the bottom or vice versa, to induce some incline/decline to make folks have to consider that a bit during the match.

You can even add character.....like a 50 gallon bucket with ends chopped off, put that 2/3 of the way to a 45-55 yard target and make guys shoot through the "tunnel." Drag tree limbs into the shooting lanes to make people consider shooting around/through the obstacles too.

Lots of ways to make a course more enjoyable.

Take a few limbs off a few trees and place some targets on the trunk surrounded by branches .... Perhaps even some man made obstacles with targets nestled within ( Think Paint Ball Field )
Think outside the box as really it is all for fun and the game of Not being slam dunk easy !!

Definitely go with a bit more space. It's a bit safer too.

Vary the angle of the targets. It gives a greater variety of wind angles
for example.....

Great resource:

Someone rent a mini golf course.