I need some help. I am fabricating new backstops for my private range. I am using 5000 gallon fuel tanks laid on their side and then filled with dirt. I want to reduce the size of the tanks to reduce the amount of dirt I need for fill. Currently the tanks are 14 feet long. My question is how short can I make them. Is 3 feet sufficient or do I need 4 feet or 5 feet of dirt. I will be facing the target side with 6" of cottonwood (two layers 3" thick) and the tanks are 8 gauge steel. The largest caliber I plan to shoot is .375 H&H or .338 Mag. Also I do shoot some J-word bullets. Any thoughts or experiences would be greatly appreciates. Thanks, Schutzen.
PS: To dispel any fears on cutting and re-welding fuel tanks; I am cutting them with an air saw and sand blasting the inside before re-welding. I have performed this type of work in an industrial environment. Also these tanks have set empty for 10-15 years