Anyone built a bullet trap/bullet catch?

admin

We are looking at options for making a bullet catch. This will be placed in a shooting lane in the barn. Mainly used for handguns from a .22 to a .45. I've seen a few online but was wondering if any of you guys had built one?
Reply:I'd like to see some too.   This could be a cool project.Check out my channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkz...bZg8AYNXGqBjZQ"Both oligarch and tyrant mistrust the people, and therefore deprive them of arms." - Aristotle
Reply:Never built one, but I've worked on the one at the one range I belong to on service days. The range only allows the use of lead bullets, and the trap is little more than an angled steel plate that directs all the spent bullets into a box of sand at the base. The front of the trap was recently covered with old conveyer belt material to reduce a bit of spatter that occasionally would come forward from spots where guys would ignore the rules and shoot jacketed bullets. That replaced the older cardboard "face" that was originally used to mount targets. Now targets are mounted to removable cardboard to help save money. They did alter 2 of the lanes awhile back for jacketed bullets, but I haven't been in the back since they did that modification.The other "homemade" backstop I've seen was in a friends basement. It was simply a very large stack of old paper catalogs / phone books he'd scrounge from work, all stacked up 6 or 8 deep that he put in a steel box. (Test box was originally plywood and it worked just fine as all it had to do really was keep the books in place. He redid it eventually in steel simply because he managed to get some for free from work and wanted the extra margin of safety to be on the safe side.)  The phone books absorbed all the bullet energy in the 1st 1-2 books on average. Since he had a large supply of old catalogs ( he get the outdated ones the company would ship out when the newer ones came in) He'd simply replace them from time to time when they got too ratty. He'd wrap each one in a couple layers of duct tape simply to keep the books tight and easy to work with..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:I have built one works great . it was mainly used to .22long my boss shoots small target timed shots . (I do know the actual name )   the trap is used for indoor shooting from 20 yards. anyway it is made out of 1/4 boiler plate . about two feet wide I will post a few pics in a day or so . again it was built for .22 long but we have shot  it with a .40 S&w and a 223 but the223  dented the plate. I would not recommend using it for 223.
Reply:I made mine years ago when I only had a crappy flux-core welder.  The opening is 8.5" wide x 11" tall (to fit US letter size paper).  When shooting, I cut a piece of cardboard that size and tape it over the opening and then just keep taping computer-printed targets to the front as they get shot up.  The side plates are 1/8" and everything else is 1/4".  I added the deflector under the opening cause my ex wife used to pull shots low when I was teaching her and it started screwing up the front of the catch chamber.  The handle is 1/2" pipe and makes it much easier to carry.  One of these days I need to fix the front of the chamber and add a little door to the side to make it easier to empty.  It's been great for recycling lead (I cast my own bullets).  The scroll design of the chamber isn't the greatest - it would probably be better if it was made from something curved like a section of pipe or rolled plate and if it recirculated like a real snail trap instead of the bullets just slamming up into that lower main plate.  Oh well, something for version 2.0... Attached Images
Reply:P.S.  It's been shot with .22 LR, .380 ACP, 9mm Luger, .357 SIG, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP.
Reply:Here's a drawing I had too.  The little sections are 1/4" x 1" flat stock. Attached Images
Reply:Some more ideas:images.google.com/search?hl=en&site=&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1366&bih  =665&q=snail+bullet+trap
Reply:That first one in the link is the snail type I am familiar with - 24 degree total angle opening.This thread reminded me of yet another project I forgot to make!! Dave J.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Thanks for the input guys. When we finalize our design I'll post it up. Still looking at the many options.
Reply:The NRA has the info you need.
Reply:super cool bullet trap.
Reply:Originally Posted by millratThe NRA has the info you need.
Reply:Careful about using soft steel, the pits and dents you end up with increase the chance of bounceback and bullets breaking up on impact and throwing pieces out of the trap. Probably not as big of a problem with handgun bullets but we have built a few law enforcement indoor ranges and went through some problems with them getting hit by bullets bouncing back. Most of the time it was because they would stand closer to the target than the back stop was designed for so it couldn't adequately slow and stop the bullet. Impact angle was another big problem for us as well.