GTA
All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => BB Guns and Such => Topic started by: dmrey on April 29, 2022, 07:46:49 AM
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Forgive this slightly 'off-topic' post because it is related to BB gun backstops (specifically 4.5mm steel BBs).
This is the US airgun forum (Daisy/Crosman) - and I know most folks probably had their first experience with a Red Ryder or Crosman BB gun.
I'm trying to get the family interested in more shooting. BBs are super cheap - lead free - and generally lower velocity. All pluses for my goal of an indoor shooting range set up in the garage. Also, with the price of ammo, I want a place to practice pistol shooting at home with BB guns, and the ability to shoot at 'gun range' size targets (approx 2ft x 3ft) that are at typical 'gun range' height.
As such, I just want to document a few findings for others (trying to do something more than "stuff a box with towels") in terms of off the shelf supplies for a simple 5m indoor gallery/pistol/red-rider BB gun range (specifically NOT designed to stop pellets - but to capture BB's and prevent them from damaging the walls).
The BB gun armory:
Daisy: Red Ryder, Buck, Powerline 426
Crosman: PSM45, Pumpmaster 760
Umarex: 357 Colt Python, Brodax, Beretta Elite II, S&W M&P 40 (newer model uses same 19 mag as Elite II)
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3 Harbor Freight 40x72 moving blankets ($5/ea) stacked and stapled to 1x2 at the top and hung - stopped a few (bounced), but most went thru 1-2 blankets, and a couple went thru all 3 when shot from approx 2 yards - if a BB penetrated, it typically pulled some of the loose fill out the back ... I can see how this would quickly shred moving blankets
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$13 rubber "door mat" from Walmart
Most BBs were stopped or caught in between the little dimples - a few more powerful shots went straight thru - might work well behind the moving blankets to prevent wall penetration
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***Inspired to try something different and reading about 'boys shooting each other with Red Ryder BB guns' - I'm assuming in the leg
... Denim pants - one pant leg hung down (2 layers of denim) ... STOPPED EVERY ONE OF THEM ... bounced off the front (no penetration thru first layer)
noticed a small amount of damage to the fibers on the front side depending on the shot
I was pleased when I found it would bounce the Pumpmaster 760 at 5 pumps (even though I'm planning to keep it at 2-3 pumps).
If placed behind a sheet of (replaceable) poster board/cardboard/foam board ... this might allow shot penetration thru gun range style paper target - then cardboard - then hit the denim and bounce back on cardboard (much slower) ... and drop to a collection below (thinking gutter, or fluffy carpet, or box of sand) to reclaim BBs with magnet.
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When I had lots of people shooting BB guns, I used 2x6 frames. I usually made the frames 30"x72" with carpet stretched/stapled diagonally in between so the BBs would hit and go to the long side of the frame. Then I stapled two layers of cardboard on both faces. Separate sets of staples every 6" alternating. I could knock up a bunch of these and they could be used to hang standing, kneeling or prone targets in lanes. I put triangle braces on the inside corners of the frames for stiffness, and rope or leather handles on the long sides. They worked fine for any BB guns I ever used with them. I never had to replace the frames, only cardboard and carpeting when I emptied the BBs. Once and a while I would get a BB that would bounce off the surface of the cardboard, or maybe they bounced straight back out another hole, but that was few and far between. I eventually gave them to shooting clubs over time, they didn't wear out.
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Thanks!
You've given me some ideas. ;)
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The post office has Priority shipping boxes.
Fill these with the plastic bags you are bringing home from the market.
Shoot away.
When shot up, dump everything out and use your strongest magnet to retrieve and shoot again the BBs.
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You could get one of these, I've been using it for a while no problems.
https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=198257.0 (https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=198257.0)
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Its just me and the dogs….but the clanking on the indoor champion bullet trap bugged one of em…so I stuffed it with rubber mulch…I may have to do it outside as yesterday was quiet and the trap made some noise…lol…good luck
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If only you could get a roll of kevlar fabric.
What you want is something durable with a tight weave, but lightweight enough to move and really steal all.the energy from the BB's.
Maybe some thick canvas ?
I'm not really sure anything will really do exactly what you want at that distance with the higher powered co2 replicas.
Maybe you'll just have to stick to the red Ryder and get a model 25 or two.
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Personly, build it with a sloped / angle back that forces them down to the bottom tray that has a clean sand bedding . Then with a magnet you can reclaim the bb's.
The angle is important to insure there forced down when hit and you could add a rubber mat like shop floor rubber or black semi truck mud flap to help the wood back out.
Hard time find a good example but this one is close to that.
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a bunch of unopened bills, taped together and/or put in a little box has no problems stopping the pellets I have tried
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I used a box that some cigars got shipped in and cut a rectangular hole in it. Then realized the hole should've been hexagonal. I put some folded packing paper in it on top of some deflated air pillows and map pinned the Gamo targets to it. works fine.
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/640x480q90/924/MnkGK2.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/poMnkGK2j)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/640x480q90/922/YDf117.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pmYDf117j)
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Someone mentioned a heavy rubber floor mat…somewhere…..Im going to do that with my paper target set up outside..hard to use multiple paper on a Champeen catch box…good luck op
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I wound up using some hard Styrofoam in the back of that box I'm using. About an inch thick...the BB's in the Co2 M1 Carbine were denting the back of the box after going through everything else. Need to put a bit of cardboard in the back.
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I use a plastic bucket and lid filled with shredded rubber. Cut a hole in the lid, put several layers of cardboard in the hole to retain the rubber when the bucket is laid down and targets shot. Square buckets from home depot work great as they don’t roll around. Cut the hole in the top as it is easily replaceable. This setup will handle 22long rifles at a very short distance. 223 at 100 yards. Bb and pellets are not a problem.
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Back in the day...I used a big metal coffee can. About 8" diameter, maybe 10" tall. Filled loosely about halfway with old rags. I probably had them packed densely at the back. The plastic lid was just right to let bbs or low velocity pellets through, but catch any bouncers if there were any. Very quiet trap. As I recall, the sound of the paper punching was the loudest part. I'm thinking I'd use a plastic 5 gallon bucket today, with a hole in the lid and suitable cardboard target backer / bounce stopper.
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It's amazing how many different ways we've all come up with to make a good airgun backstop.
I use a simple box full of magazines. Been shooting at it for years and seems to be fine. I just keep taping new targets to the front of it. after the stack of targets gets several inches thick I just take them down and start over. never had a problem.
the walmart bag idea seems like it would be superior if you shot a lot of bbs and wanted to reuse them. I don't shoot bbs much.
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After reading this post ……for shooting BB’s indoors…I hung a heavy piece of cloth in my champion box and taped a piece of cardboard across the bottom to keep BB’s in for reuse….they hit the cloth and drop down……@ the end of the day its about works for the individual….good luck