Interesting task - laser shooting range

Hi guys

Let's imagine we want to make a shooting range from the ir laser and ir detector(s), and do it cheap.

What technology would we use, what math should be applied to the distance and ray spread (let's say we want 0.5 diameter spread on 20m distance from the source)?

So far I looked at VCSEL tech, the angle is pretty low there. Ideally, it would be great to make this without any optics, if possible.

Any help is much appreciated!
Thanks

If the beam is IR then how will the shooter see where they're shooting? But it is possible to use a bunch of different materials to MINIMIZE the reflections. Black things like foam etc.

Thanks, NKO!
But let's say it's in a forest... Anyway, it should be mobile so the materials are not an option.

Anyways, the reflections are the minor issue.

NKO29 said:

If the beam is IR then how will the shooter see where they're shooting? But it is possible to use a bunch of different materials to MINIMIZE the reflections. Black things like foam etc.

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