Pellet-proof bird house feeder window

[m021478]

So I've resorted to mounting a small wooden bird house to a tree in the woods about 50 yards from where I shoot from out of my garage. I use it mostly to bait squirrels using this stuff called 'Squirrel Cake' that I bought at Lowe's Hardware. It works beautifully to draw tons of little critters into my target range, but unfortunately it didn't take long for me to shoot clean through an unfortunate squirrel that perched himself on the ledge of the feeder to enjoy a snack, and I exploded the thin plexiglass window that came on the bird feeder.

I was wondering if anyone have any suggestions on what I could replace this little plexiglass window with something considerably more durable. Ideally something able to withstand my My FX Impact MKII shooting JSB King Heavy .25 caliber pellets at about 950fps. Is that asking too much?  If it is, maybe an alternative bird feeder suggestion that would work just as well and would be more capable of taking a beating. Thanks!

 

[stoti]

Maybe try replacing it with a piece of AR500 steel! That should stop 70FPE LOL

Stoti

 

[m021478]

Obviously that’s true… But then of course the critters wouldn’t be able to see the food and my bait would probably be less effective as a result.

Anyone else have any other suggestions? Thanks!

 

[DonC]

Replace the plexiglass with +Hardwear cloth.". It really means heavy duty steel screen with 1/4" squares.

 

[m021478]

Now that’s a pretty darn good suggestion! Especially since that squirrel cake stuff I’m using is solidified into a block that the squirrels are meant to pick at slowly over time. Thanks!



How do you some of you guys bait squirrels and other small game? Feel free to share any pictures of your backyard setups.

 

[TarheelScott]

Maybe you could rotate the feeder by 90 degrees so that the Plexiglas is to the the side of the pellet path. you can still see the critters but the feeder is safely out of the way of the pellets trajectory ??? like to the left or the right of said target. 

I hope this helps . other thoughts would be plate steel cut to fit or a mesh curtain that hung loosely like on a fire screen with like 2 inches of space between it and the Plexiglas or something haha just thinking out loud here. 

Scott 

 

[TarheelScott]

dooh! donc beat me while i was typing haha. 

 

[m021478]

Another excellent suggestion! As simple as that sounds, I don’t think I ever would’ve thought to rotate the feeder 90°. That definitely gives me a cleaner shot at my targets... and it helps conceal the fact that I have a birdfeeder hung in my shooting area, so my wife will be less likely to notice and give me poop for killing poor defenseless living creatures. LOL

 

[TarheelScott]

Go for it !!! haha you made me laugh 

 

[Yo]

Why do you need a plexiglass window? Can't you use something like screen door material that you can easily see through? if you blast it no biggie just use it till it's too battered then replace it easy. Any reason it can't be no glass window are you trying to keep the insects out or something? Yo!

 

[BigTinBoat]

https://www.tssbulletproof.com/bullet-proof-glass/ballistic-glass/

 

[ChrisUSA]

Suet cakes (with seeds and such inside) have a special wire cage to hold the greasy block of suit. I used dry ear corn with great success for squirrels,... until the chipmunks found it (and later the raccoons! I hung it off brackets with a 3" drywall screw and eye. On the ground too. Anchor the ear down is best. A single chippie will clean an ear in 1 day.

For a bird feeder, there is some that are metal screen and are made to hold black oil sunflower seeds. They LOVE those. It would take some good shots, but eventually get torn up. The .25 M-rod will punch through both sides of a steel can at 100 yards.

Good luck! If coons are not a problem yet,... they will be. They have just not found your bait station yet.

Chris

 

[john8]

Good morning, try using Lexan. I used it for protecting stained glass installations. I tested it when I first started using it, 10lbs sledge hammer swung overhead it just bounced off causing no damage, 22lr at point blank would penetrate it, at 10ft it dimple it but not penetrate it. This test was done at at around 75 degrees F, not sure of cold weather performance. I never had a client call back a complaint.

 

[IraLite]

The thing about the bullet proof glass is the glass window ends up being stronger than the wood. One bag of seed cost almost the same as a new feeder (@$14), I made one with an acrylic window right above the feed tray and regret it (pellet damage and squirrels gnawing). In the future I'd just use no window, but the rotating 90 degrees sounds like a great idea. I don't know why I designed the most sensitive part of the feeder as a backstop.

 

[Yo]

 

[MMCM13]

You could put a laminated picture of food on an AR500 plate...

 

[DirtyDovi]

m021478
If you're looking for transparent and 'bulletproof', then "Lexan" [polycarbonate] sheeting is going to be your best option.
I worked with a lot of it for different applications back when I had my custom shops.. It's great stuff. Expensive though. 
Any reputable glass/mirror/window shop will either stock it or be able to order it in for you in different dimensions / thicknesses. 
The thicker - The more expensive. It works amazingly though.
I/we usually didn't usually work with much over 1/4", but, for a few projects, it called for 1/2" and I think 1 closer to 3/4"
[Those were the two that I saved a few little scrap-pieces to frame and shoot at]



Sam -

PS: Guys, you've posted some Very Cool ideas and photos!