Building the New Standard: Inside TA Targets’ Colorado Luxury Range Project

It's one thing to have a company with products. It's another reality entirely to lead a company with vision.

That philosophy shaped every decision made throughout this Colorado range build.

The objective was never simply to place steel targets around a property and call it finished. The owner had a larger goal in mind. He wanted a property that could support everything from defensive rifle and pistol training to advanced precision rifle shooting at distances beyond 1,100 yards. More importantly, he wanted a range that took advantage of the natural terrain instead of fighting against it.

Before a single dollar was spent on steel targets, target stands, or construction, the conversation began with understanding the property's strengths and identifying how each area could be used to create meaningful training opportunities. Every piece of land had potential. The challenge was determining how to maximize that potential while creating a range that would continue to serve the owner's goals for years to come.

For TA Targets, that planning process has become one of the most rewarding parts of these projects. Over the years, we've visited hundreds of ranges across the country. We've seen what works, what doesn't, and what mistakes are commonly made when people rush into a build without a long-term vision. Our role throughout this project was to help bridge the gap between an idea and a finished range by providing recommendations, layout guidance, and target systems that would complement the owner's intended use of the property.

The result would become one of the most ambitious private range projects we have been involved with to date.

Designing Around the Terrain

The property offered opportunities that most properties simply cannot match.

The property featured dedicated flat shooting areas, elevated firing positions, natural ravines, rolling terrain, and long-range sight lines extending well past 1,100 yards. Rather than forcing a generic range layout onto the property, we chose to let the terrain dictate the design.

Every major section of the range was developed around a specific training objective. Certain areas were ideal for defensive rifle and pistol training. Other locations naturally lent themselves to positional shooting and hillside engagements. The long-range portion of the property created opportunities for precision rifle shooters that are rarely available on most private ranges.

This approach allowed the owner to gain multiple specialized training environments on a single property. Instead of one large range attempting to serve every purpose, the ranch became a collection of purpose-built shooting areas designed to complement one another.

The end result feels less like a traditional range and more like a complete training destination capable of supporting shooters of every skill level.

Range Bravo: The Foundation of the Property

Range Bravo served as the cornerstone of the project.

Designed around a large flat shooting area, Bravo was built to support two primary objectives. The first was defensive rifle and pistol training where shooters could focus on developing fundamental skills, movement, and target transitions. The second objective was creating a platform that allowed precision rifle shooters to engage targets at significant distances across the property.

Knowing those goals from the beginning made target selection straightforward.

The backbone of Bravo became a collection of TA Targets AR550 steel target systems selected specifically for durability, versatility, and long-term performance. Easy Rack systems were installed to provide fast-paced shooting opportunities with six swinging targets supported by a fully armored structure. With armored legs, armored crossbars, and self-healing straps, the systems eliminate many of the maintenance concerns commonly associated with traditional target setups.

Additional target systems included C Zone and Reduced C Zone targets, rifle-rated dueling trees, and various steel target arrays designed to create engaging training opportunities for both rifle and pistol shooters.

Unlike temporary range setups that rely heavily on lumber and disposable components, every system selected for Bravo was intended to become a long-term part of the property. The goal was not simply to build a range that looked impressive on day one. The goal was to build a range that would continue performing year after year with minimal maintenance and maximum reliability.

Range Alpha: A Different Challenge

While Bravo focused on broad capability, Range Alpha was developed for a different purpose.

Located at a lower elevation on the property, Alpha introduced a more specialized training environment that combined flat-range shooting with terrain-based challenges. The area required significantly more preparation than Bravo due to vegetation, secondary shooting paths, and the natural contours of the mountainside.

The Alpha range began with a combination of A-DAP Systems featuring both C Zone and Reduced C Zone targets, Hostage Assemblies, Gen 3 20-inch Round Base Systems, paper target holders, armored post systems, Grounder AR550 targets, rifle-rated dueling trees, and another Easy Rack system. Together, these systems created a highly versatile range capable of supporting everything from marksmanship fundamentals to more advanced shooting drills.

The inclusion of Hostage Assemblies added another layer of challenge by requiring shooters to focus on precision and accountability rather than simply hitting steel. Combined with the other target systems, Alpha became a range that rewarded discipline and accuracy while still offering a tremendous amount of flexibility.

The result was a turnkey training environment where the owner could simply show up, load magazines, and begin training.

The Mountain Challenge = Grounder AR550

One of the most physically demanding portions of the project involved placing targets throughout the mountainous sections of the property.

Manufacturing the targets was straightforward. Shipping the targets was straightforward. Carrying steel targets through the Colorado mountains was another story entirely.

As a team accustomed to much flatter terrain, hauling steel targets up hillsides and across uneven ground quickly became a reminder that mountain range construction comes with unique challenges. Fortunately, the Grounder Target Systems proved to be one of the most valuable tools on the entire property.

The Grounder 550 was designed to be compact, durable, and easy to transport. Unlike many traditional steel target systems, it does not require wood posts, complicated assemblies, or permanent infrastructure. That simplicity allowed us to deploy targets throughout areas of the property that would have been difficult to access with larger systems.

Grounders were strategically placed throughout the hillside sections of Alpha to create difficult target presentations, positional shooting opportunities, and engagements that forced shooters to work beyond the limitations of a traditional flat range. The result is a section of the property that challenges not only marksmanship but also target acquisition, movement, and adaptability.

These are the types of training opportunities that simply cannot be replicated on a conventional square range.

The 1,100 Yard Precision Rifle Range

The crown jewel of the entire property was undoubtedly the long-range section.

Stretching beyond 1,100 yards, this portion of the ranch offered exactly the type of environment precision rifle shooters dream about. Natural elevation changes, varying terrain, and substantial shooting distances combined to create a truly exceptional long-range experience.

To support those distances, several Goliath .50 BMG-rated target systems were deployed throughout the property. The Goliath systems provide an unmistakable audible response and are built to withstand the punishment associated with larger caliber rifles.

Additional target placements included Armored Deluxe Target Systems configured with multiple gong arrays and Know Your Limit racks designed to challenge shooters at extended distances. The Armored Deluxe systems were particularly well-suited for the terrain due to their adjustability and fully armored construction, allowing target arrays to be positioned throughout the property while maintaining the durability expected from a permanent installation.

One of the most rewarding aspects of the long-range build was watching the terrain itself become part of the challenge. Distance is only one variable in precision shooting. Elevation changes, target visibility, shooting position, and environmental conditions all play a role in creating a meaningful experience. This property naturally incorporated all of those elements.

For serious precision rifle shooters, it is difficult to imagine a better setting.

More Than Just AR550 Steel Targets

As impressive as the finished range may be, the project was never really about steel targets.

What truly matters is what those tools allow people to accomplish.

Over the years, one of the most rewarding aspects of these projects has been the relationships that develop throughout the process. Every range tells a story. Every property owner has a vision. Every build presents unique challenges that require collaboration, creativity, and problem solving.

That process creates something larger than a collection of steel targets spread across a property. It creates a place where skills are developed, memories are made, and friendships are strengthened.

The Evolution of TA Targets

When TA Targets was founded in 2015, the objective was simple: build the best steel target systems possible.

That mission has never changed.

What has changed is our understanding of how much impact a properly designed range can have on the people who use it. Over the years, shooters began reaching out with questions that went far beyond target selection. They wanted guidance. They wanted recommendations. They wanted help understanding how to maximize the potential of their property. That demand naturally expanded our role.

Today, TA Targets continues to manufacture premium AR550 steel target systems, but we also work alongside clients to help them develop range layouts, select appropriate target systems, and create training environments that align with their long-term goals.

This Colorado project serves as an excellent example of that evolution.

Looking Forward

Whether the project involves a private ranch, a commercial shooting range, a training facility, or a personal property, the approach remains the same.

Start with a vision. Build with purpose. Choose equipment that will stand the test of time.

The Colorado range demonstrates what becomes possible when thoughtful planning, quality equipment, and a clear objective come together. What began as a beautiful piece of property became a benchmark private shooting range capable of serving its owner for decades to come.

For the TA Targets team, that is what these projects are all about. Not simply building another range, but helping people create something exceptional.