65 gal pickle barrels and FT/EFT targets

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cavedweller

cavedweller

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Dec 5, 2018
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Mobile, Alabama, United States
Time to put on your thinking caps
I’ve got 10 each 65 gal heavy duty barrels
Plan is for two different types of target / pellet backstops:

#1 saw in half - create two half shells with large cut outs so I can put them over FT / HFT targets to minimize ricochet and also achieve sound reduction. - fishing for ideas

#2 Entire barrel standing upright and filled with rubber mulch or? This will be used to mount a splatter burst or other paper target on the front so I can slam .25 or .30 leads out to 100 yards w/o annoying my neighbors - so quiet is paramount - also fishing for ideas

Pics helpful as I’m a visual learner
Bonus is lead capture for reuse and recycling etc
 
These were pre cut for feed trough/ tomato planters , but. Stood up and just cut the "top" 1/4 out for paper . No milk or anything in the bottom just pad the impact area and the pellets fall . A clean bottom it's easy to just collect pellets by hand without fighting mulch or whatever ..

My 100y barrel 1/2
100y,trap.png

With test shots
trap100y.jpg

If I had a whole barrel to start I would not of needed the ply part
 
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beerthief said:
think i would have to paint the barrels camo . It would really bug me to see a white or blue barrel out in the yard or woods .
Click to expand...
LoL.. when Walmart spray paint was .89¢ that was far more doable then today at $2.89 a can ..

Around here the humidity and tree snow the white barrel turns a kinda slimy green anyway. That one above I bleached washed it to work on it ...lol


I'll add one more thing on that above is if I put it on some blocks or stand/ legs there's a 3/4+/- drain hole that I could slid a tray or can under it and just sweep the pellets through that hole into the tray/ can easy peasy. No mess no fuss. 😉
 
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Hateful McNasty said:
I was thinking off a pop up thought

The barrel cut out a window add a board shelve inside to mount your knockdown or whatever targets ? You got back stoping , pellet catching, and some weather proofing all in one .

View attachment 414434

Kinda crude example but I'm sure you'll get the idea.😉
Click to expand...
I created two preliminary types today:
FT on a half shell = two FT target houses per barrel
IMG_6887.jpeg

Then I took a whole barrel and filled it with 10 bags of rubber mulch - still creating the front frame
IMG_6883.jpeg
IMG_6886.jpeg

In hindsight I don’t think you need to cut the front out just create a changeable membrane to put under the paper target
 
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Hateful McNasty said:
I was thinking off a pop up thought

The barrel cut out a window add a board shelve inside to mount your knockdown or whatever targets ? You got back stoping , pellet catching, and some weather proofing all in one .

View attachment 414434

Kinda crude example but I'm sure you'll get the idea.😉
Click to expand...
That’s actually a great 💡 idea
Then my wife can plant flowers on top with vines dangling down
 
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Hateful McNasty said:
You barrel looks fine to me .. id probly experimented the same ways ..

On the inne side where the pellets hit I did hang/ mount a rubber mat with old jeans as a soft stop instead of the pellets hard hitting the hard barrel plastic .. + made for a lesser smacking noise ..lol

Anyway looks good to me
Click to expand...
I'm still deciding on a replaceable / disposable membrane for the front of the barrel for the exact reason you mention.
 
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cavedweller said:
I'm still deciding on a replaceable / disposable membrane for the front of the barrel for the exact reason you mention.
Click to expand...
I just used what I had handy lying around/ junk pile . The pellets are just going to shred and tatter anyway so less expence the better ..lol.

I did not have a whole uncut barrel but I like this trap ideads using them. I think the whole barrel with appropriate window cut is pretty nice overall. ..
 
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Here's another bright idea . Don't know how well it works out , but a rain visor ..

When you cut the barrel window cut the bottom and sides . Then use a heat gun to heat up the top cut line and bend up the window part then cut off excess and then you have a "roof" over the window hole to help keep rain out ..

Maybe folly . ???.. 🥴
 
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Hateful McNasty said:
Here's another bright idea . Don't know how well it works out , but a rain visor ..

When you cut the barrel window cut the bottom and sides . Then use a heat gun to heat up the top cut line and bend up the window part then cut off excess and then you have a "roof" over the window hole to help keep rain out ..

Maybe folly . ???.. 🥴
Click to expand...
Folly is my favorite dance partner.... i like the idea!
 
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Hateful McNasty said:
P.s...

Matter of fact I may keep my eyes out for a smaller 25 or so gallon for closer less flyer risk ones ..
Click to expand...
the white barrels are only good for a year in the sun.... they become very brittle and worthless unless heavily painted
The blue barrels maybe two years in the sun... need to be painted as well
The Black barrels may last 3 years without any paint? dunno?
 
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The white I used there gosh no telling how old they are 18-20 ..lol. I'm sure not as new but good shape used from feed troughs to planters . I got blue as well. But use them for no potable water for storm/ hurricane times ..

Them black ones you got look nice . Just got a more heavy duty look to them ..

That precut old 1/2 barrel I pictured been about the best thing I set up for the 100y catch .. I was going to do another at 75y bit got distracted on other things ..lol
 
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Hateful McNasty said:
The white I used there gosh no telling how old they are 18-20 ..lol. I'm sure not as new but good shape used from feed troughs to planters . I got blue as well. But use them for no potable water for storm/ hurricane times ..

Them black ones you got look nice . Just got a more heavy duty look to them ..

That precut old 1/2 barrel I pictured been about the best thing I set up for the 100y catch .. I was going to do another at 75y bit got distracted on other things ..lol
Click to expand...
The Black are pickle barrels... pricey things, even used,, but resistant to sun and acid stuff, slightly thicker? I keep getting more ideas, so much so my dreams are about pickle barrel targets.
 
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