Bioavailibility of lead in outdoor range situations is almost nil. Reaching the water supply? Hogwash. The EPA has already said they do not have the legal authority to regulate ammunition. I personally can't see them going after outdoor ranges for lead after making that statement.
Indoor is another story.
The excellent thing about a home range, as evidenced in the pictures in this thread alone, is that you can make it as big or little as you'd like, or as budget allows.
A big pile of dirt in the middle of your yard? Yep, that works!
The side of a hill dug out? Yep, that works too!
A 360 degree 20' berm with state-of-the-art rotating steel targets? Why not!
A few things to consider:
No matter what you decide on, you'll absolutely LOVE having your own range. When you read thread after thread about guys running out of places to shoot their ARs, or paying for yearly memberships that often involve a laundry list of silly rules, you'll really start to understand just how blessed you are to be able to shoot what you want and when you want.
- Safety - Your BIGGEST concern. This can be somewhat dependent on what type of shooting you're doing. But whatever the case, know your backstop and what is beyond it. Three sides are ideal, but 1 can work. Your goal here is to contain and stop EVERY bullet that is fired.
- Noise - Shooting is a loud activity, so make sure you do it where no neighbors will mind.
- Proximity - Goes hand-in-hand with noise. Best to keep away from other people and their property.
- Composition - I've heard of guys using all different types of materials for their berms-- everything from chopped up rubber tires to railroad ties to fill dirt. It doesn't have to be fancy, but it DOES need to stop bullets (all of them).