What Do You Use For Backstop?
- Thread starter joeg26er
- Start date
Since this thread started I've made a couple more pellet traps but I also still have the old electrical box. Both new ones are made of plywood scraps. Woodworking at least used to be my main hobby so I have scraps around and tools to make a box. The basic idea is a wood box with a metal piece inside on the back to minimize the chance a shot makes it out. A softwood frame around the front provides a place to fasten a piece of cardboard to. The cardboard is clamped in place and protected by 1/8 inch flat stock from Home Depot. That was all I purchased. I make the softwood 1/4 inch wider than the plywood overhanging it on the inside to minimize the chance a shot hits the sides of the box. The deeper box is made of 3/4 plywood and the metal protection is 1 inch wide. The shallower box is made of 1/2 inch plywood so the 1/8 inch metal is 3/4 wide. I use the shallower one for my airguns less than 35 fpe and the deeper one for the 25s which are over 40 fpe. The traps are filled with rubber mulch.
Both boxes are sized such that the metal on the front is wide enough apart that a 8.5 inch piece of paper (the target) doesn't touch them. But on the top and bottom the metal overhangs the 11 inch wide paper target holding it in place. To replace the target I use a screwgun to back the screws off on the top and bottom and replace the paper. Takes a minute or two. Occasionally I take all the metal off and replace the cardboard. I'm happy with these designs, they work well for me. Pellets do not damage the 1/8 inch steel. No dents at all so far.
I also tried separating mulch from pellets with water. I think it is a good way to go. Some of the mulch sinks but the pellets tend to be on the very bottom of the water bucket. A little separating of pellets and mulch is still required afterwards but the water is a good first step to get most of the mulch out of the way. I will dump the trap into a bucket full of water in the future, scoop out as much "pure mulch" as possible and then dump the bucket and use my blower on the residue. That worked pretty well last time.
Both boxes are sized such that the metal on the front is wide enough apart that a 8.5 inch piece of paper (the target) doesn't touch them. But on the top and bottom the metal overhangs the 11 inch wide paper target holding it in place. To replace the target I use a screwgun to back the screws off on the top and bottom and replace the paper. Takes a minute or two. Occasionally I take all the metal off and replace the cardboard. I'm happy with these designs, they work well for me. Pellets do not damage the 1/8 inch steel. No dents at all so far.
I also tried separating mulch from pellets with water. I think it is a good way to go. Some of the mulch sinks but the pellets tend to be on the very bottom of the water bucket. A little separating of pellets and mulch is still required afterwards but the water is a good first step to get most of the mulch out of the way. I will dump the trap into a bucket full of water in the future, scoop out as much "pure mulch" as possible and then dump the bucket and use my blower on the residue. That worked pretty well last time.
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Box with old clothes is good to stop and save arrows. For pellets, rubber mulch is better, after some time can clean the box of all the lead.
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I do not have any Data for .25 but I use paper targets taped to card box backed with cheap carpet backed by 15 X 21 11 Gauge steel plate I have shot it at least 15,ooo times I only use lead pellets they turn to powder and fall straight down I sue .22 from different guns
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I shoot .177 from my gauntlet into bags of Rubber Mulch I got from the garden store.
Works fine.
Works fine.
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I prefer not to leave any evidence of my activities out in the yard, so I keep things portable. I use a short, 2.5" section of 4" Schedule 40 PVC pipe stuffed with 1 pound of duct seal. I hang them on garden hooks out in the yard when I'm shooting and bring them in when I'm done. They catch all my lead, but I'm shooting .177 anywhere from 23 fpe on down to 5 fpe. About once a year I pull out the duct seal and replace it with fresh stuff.
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Oh and if I want to do some 100yard+ target shooting I just walk down to my shooting range.
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A small 5 gal tote with rubber mulch is perfect for backyard.
I cover the mulch with amazon bubble bag. It's super quiet.
I cover the mulch with amazon bubble bag. It's super quiet.
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Big fan of the tote and rubber mulch too….
Having been involved in the “mining” of a couple indoor ranges that use chopped rubber backstop…. I’m very impressed with the ability of the mulch to stop a projectile. I’ve shot this box with several .22lr rounds, and stopped them like a champ. I won’t hesitate to shoot this box with the .30 when it gets here next week.
Having been involved in the “mining” of a couple indoor ranges that use chopped rubber backstop…. I’m very impressed with the ability of the mulch to stop a projectile. I’ve shot this box with several .22lr rounds, and stopped them like a champ. I won’t hesitate to shoot this box with the .30 when it gets here next week.
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I use a carton box stuffed with 20 cm thick rags and a piece of 1.5 cm metal plate as a backstop. I think having a piece of metal plate is a must for extra safety, as rags will break down after rounds and rounds of shooting.
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Made a box out of scrap wood. Backing is 16 Guage steel pieces from home depot covered with cut up bicycle tires and duct tape.
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3ft x 4ft hardwood pallet with 1/2in plywood on both sides. Old jeans and such packed inside it.
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