SCALE Regional Public Safety Training Facility Rifle Range

[lenny7]

I thought some folks might be interested in seeing this. It's the 200 yard rifle range at the SCALE Regional Public Safety Training Facility. This photo doesn't show it well, but they have covered shooting areas at 200, 100, and 50 yards. The way they designed it I think is called a blue sky barrier. At any of the three shooting areas, you cannot see blue sky, therefore a round cannot escape. It's a mighty nice place to shoot. Too bad it's not open to the public. With no ventilation to worry about (or pay for) I'd think they could make some decent money there and help pay for it.

They also have a much wider 25 yard range. It's a "drive up" range which allows cops the ability to train for shooting behind their squad car doors, I guess.

The black tiles you see serve two purposes. it's acoustic and it captures the bullets. They're made out of recycled aircraft tires. When they've come to the end of their useful life, they send them in and the lead and rubber are separated and both are recycled.

My son (and sometimes me) get to shoot there as part of the Scott County 4-H shooting sports program. He's having a great time going ever week and is really doing well.

[lenny7]

Here's a couple pictures I found from their grand opening. The one with the vehicles is the 25 yard range.

[Holland&Holland]

That is a cool looking range.

[EJSG19]

Agreed that is an interesting design concept.

Unfortunate that the public pays for it but can't use it!

[1911fan]

SCALE? St Cloud Area Law Enforement? or if not where is this place ,and lets get our letters working to open this up to the public.

[plblark]

Scott County

http://www.co.scott.mn.us/wps/portal/SCALE
http://www.minnesotafireservice.com/scale.html

[infidel]

I am jealous of our men/women in blue. They can't possibly need to train ALL the time! Save some range time for us mere civilians!

[goalie]

I am jealous of our men/women in blue. They can't possibly need to train ALL the time! Save some range time for us mere civilians!

LOEs are civilians, just like you and I.

Don't ever forget it.

[JustinPo]

LOEs are civilians, just like you and I.

Don't ever forget it.

LEO's maybe?

That is a cool looking range but i've never heard of the blue sky concept but it makes sence in my brain anyway.

[PhilaBOR]

Del-tone-luth has a different blue sky setup on their 200 yard range. Each station shoots thru a steel tunnel, about 2' x 2' x 6' long. You can't see blue sky. They have rubber brick walls between stations so you can't cheat. I guess they figure the guys on the 200 are shooting the cannons. There are houses somewhere beyond the berm (within a few miles ballistic range any).

[lenny7]

SCALE? St Cloud Area Law Enforement? or if not where is this place ,and lets get our letters working to open this up to the public.

Just north of Jordan.

That is a cool looking range but i've never heard of the blue sky concept but it makes sence in my brain anyway.

There's a road that runs parallel to the range. If they didnt' use the blue sky concept, I don't think they could put a range there. It's also right next to a swamp....I mean wetlands.

Del-tone-luth has a different blue sky setup on their 200 yard range. Each station shoots thru a steel tunnel, about 2' x 2' x 6' long. You can't see blue sky.

With only 2' x 2' to shoot through, how do you shoot in the various positions?

[plblark]

Some ranges have prone shooting benches. You crawl up on the carpeted "bed" to shoot prone. That would cover bench and prone but what about sitting, kneeling, standing?