Author Topic: I Need a Better Backstop (Read 9297 times))

Kinetic45^ · « **Reply #20 on:** December 16, 2018, 04:14:47 PM »

I paid $8.48 for 1.25 cuft each on sale and bought 10 bags then got 10% discount for being a veteran at Home Depot so it's not that expensive and that was three years ago and I expect not to dump my first batch in the box for another 4 or 5 years and that's a LOT of shooting! And from that purchase I have three bags in storage for 'make-up' as the mulch gets pulverized and loss.
Shop the internet, the deals are there

Loren · « **Reply #21 on:** December 16, 2018, 08:12:58 PM »

I was doing some cleaning in the shop today and decided the bullet trap needed som attention. The front face has become pretty shot up with several layers of duct tape repair. The face was bulging pretty good so target had a nice arch to them. I reclaimed a 4 quart cast iron dutch oven full of lead. Most of the pellets and bullets where with 6-9 inches from the face, with nothing going deeper than 12 inch and none reaching the rubber tiles or steel at the back. Real pleased with that performance. Tunneling does not seem to be a problem. The lead just starts stacking and begins creating even more of a barrier.

Reclaimed the lead from the mulch by vacumming everything up with the shop vac and then putting batches in a big tub of water. The mulch doesn't really float but I mixed it and got the lead to drop to the bottom. Need a sluice and a mountain stream...lol

KnifeMaker · « **Reply #22 on:** December 17, 2018, 05:47:23 AM »

Quote from: rsterne on December 16, 2018, 01:19:39 PM

Yep, it's safety equipment, so in that respect, it's priceless....

Bob

Here, Lowes, Home Depot, Wally World, all apx 7 buck a bag. Mike

uncle paulie · « **Reply #23 on:** December 17, 2018, 06:58:51 AM »

Bob, You had indicated you would need to take a trip to get the mulch. Not sure how far in the woods you are but thought the free delivery might be of value.

Edit: Hadn't noticed the size of the trap you had... might be worth the trip?

pv

DHunter · « **Reply #24 on:** December 17, 2018, 07:11:19 AM »

Thanks for teaching me about rubber mulch! I just made myself a wooden backstop that's a wooden box with no top, and the front slides out for easy replacement, and I put a big, heavy box of books behind the front. I don't think I'll ever have anything powerful enough to shoot through that. If something were to get through it, there's still plywood behind that that's an actual 3/4" thick. Is that called 1" plywood? It was in my scrap pile.

Another idea I had was treads of used steel-belted tires from the local used-tire store where the owner told me he has to pay to dispose of old tires. I'm not sure I'd really be able to cut them though. Any ideas for that? Would a hacksaw get through them? Obviously tire treads are extremely tough and are supposed to resist being cut if you hit steel shards on the road.

Back_Roads · « **Reply #25 on:** December 17, 2018, 08:39:21 AM »

I have cut up old tires using a coarse metal blade in a sawzall. I does produce alot of smoke.

SoCalZac · « **Reply #26 on:** December 17, 2018, 12:35:54 PM »

I use a 5 gal bucket/lid and just put the whole unopened bag of rubber mulch in the bucket. I cut a big square out of the lid and used an old towel to stretch over the top of the bucket before replacing the lid. This helps keep the mulch from falling out after you shoot up the bag the mulch came in plus it is easily replaced. I ended up putting some old rags on top of the bag of mulch as it was pretty loud with the pellets hitting the plastic bag. Now it is supper quite the only noise is the pellet hitting the paper.

Xptical · « **Reply #27 on:** December 17, 2018, 01:54:06 PM »

I too have a bucket and mulch. How are you guys fixing targets to the bucket? I snap the lid out and then fix the paper between the lid and the towel. PITA when changing targets.

MJP · « **Reply #28 on:** December 17, 2018, 02:20:14 PM »

Conveyor belt is good substitute for wood.
Then chains and the second belt and plate.
You should find some company that has changed or changes belts.

Marko

PCPhack · « **Reply #29 on:** December 17, 2018, 03:20:43 PM »

Since I don't try to have a quiet backstop (I wear earplugs), I just added 3/16 steel plate on top of the existing metal for my 22 rattle trap. Nothing in airguns is going through that. I use some larger sheets behind the whole thing in case of an any accident where I would miss the trap. In this way, I collect the lead for casting, which I hope to get into during 2019. The only downside is splatter, but I have some mass loading vinyl sheet that I put over the opening, or cardboard, which keeps it down. Cardboard is ok for pellets, but with the big bores, the shrapnel itself can splatter back through it.

MJP · « **Reply #30 on:** December 17, 2018, 04:11:37 PM »

Don't count on it, I use old tractor bucket for backstop and its starting to have holes in it from airguns.

triggertreat · « **Reply #31 on:** December 17, 2018, 04:24:00 PM »

I'm going to try out the bucket and rubber mulch suggestion. Maybe it will stop my big bore? My biggest fear with any trap is ricochets flying back on me. I have had that happen with plywood. Eye protection is best with any traps used.

SoCalZac · « **Reply #32 on:** December 17, 2018, 05:48:15 PM »

Quote from: triggertreat on December 17, 2018, 04:24:00 PM

I'm going to try out the bucket and rubber mulch suggestion. Maybe it will stop my big bore? My biggest fear with any trap is ricochets flying back on me. I have had that happen with plywood. Eye protection is best with any traps used.

No need to worry about ricochets with the bucket and mulch.

Quote from: Xptical on December 17, 2018, 01:54:06 PM

I too have a bucket and mulch. How are you guys fixing targets to the bucket? I snap the lid out and then fix the paper between the lid and the towel. PITA when changing targets.

I cut out the top of the lid and use either a 8”x11.5” piece of construction paper or some cardboard I tape to the lid. I put the targets on the paper or cardboard. Super easy to change targets just tape a new one up. I don’t think I’ll ever have to change the lid unless I hit the edges a ton.

KnifeMaker · « **Reply #33 on:** December 17, 2018, 07:17:18 PM »

My HP cast slugs destroy lids. I buy 5 lids at a time. LOL!!!

I place targets directly on lid. I use long deck screws to hold the targets, and the dewalt to install or remove them.

rsterne · « **Reply #34 on:** December 19, 2018, 08:01:06 PM »

Well I got all the materials and put together a new backstop today.... The framework is 2x6s with a 3/4" ply back and a 10" x 14" plate of 1/4" steel screwed to that....

The top and bottom rails, fastened to the front, are 2x4s, arranged in such a way that I can slide three layers of 2x4s in without needing to take out any screws.... The front and back layers are 3 pieces each, vertical, and the middle layer is 4 pieces, horizontal.... which left just over 1/2" of space, into which I slid a piece of OSB.... The target clips are taped to that with duct tape....

This means there is 5" of wood before anything can hit the steel plate.... Since all the 2x4 filler blocks are separate pieces, I can replace the center ones, which will get destroyed first, and just turn the side pieces over to put the shot sections out against the edges of the opening.... This should be a lot easier and cheaper than replacing full sheets of OSB.... I guess I'll find out soon how it works, but I'm pretty pleased with it, and I should be able to refill it with about half a 2x4 and a small piece of OSB each time, which will be really cheap to do....

Bob

triggertreat · « **Reply #35 on:** December 19, 2018, 08:21:34 PM »

Interesting...My guess (based on the power you typically push) is that you will blow through the 2X4s within a few shots when in the same hole (Assuming pine boards), but hopefully not.

rsterne · « **Reply #36 on:** December 19, 2018, 08:26:58 PM »

I'm typically not concentrating on hitting the same spot every time with this backstop, it's mostly for Chrony work.... While that happened eventually with the 6 sheets of OSB in my previous backstop, if you stack pellets, they tend to add mass and resistance to the travel path, and slow the next (stacked) bullet somewhat.... I guess I'll find out !!!

Bob

Kinetic45^ · « **Reply #37 on:** December 19, 2018, 09:13:14 PM »

The reason I went with a bigger box for the shredded rubber is I had a side penetration a couple times when first using a 5 gal bucket (with 45 Texan) and shooting four different spots on the target clipped to the lid. I guess if you only shot the center it would not be a problem. Kind of made me leery on big bore use of the buckets but .25 and down I never had a problem

triggertreat · « **Reply #38 on:** December 20, 2018, 01:06:23 AM »

Quote from: Kinetic45^ on December 19, 2018, 09:13:14 PM

The reason I went with a bigger box for the shredded rubber is I had a side penetration a couple times when first using a 5 gal bucket (with 45 Texan) and shooting four different spots on the target clipped to the lid. I guess if you only shot the center it would not be a problem. Kind of made me leery on big bore use of the buckets but .25 and down I never had a problem

Yes, that's my concern using the bucket/mulch setup with the Slayer. At only 275-300 FPE, it's probably not quite the power you're pushing with the Texan, but still a concern for chrony work up close. I'm not to worried about it out at 50 yards. One member stated (using a Slayer) he was fine at 3 feet away in his garage. I'll just have to test it out for myself outside first.

At 50 yards, the Slayer has already went through a thick box filled with a mulch and tightly rolled up clothes combination and then through a 3/4 plywood and a 1" thick oak board with just one 5-shot tight group. I want a quiet backstop, but a safe one too for indoor work this winter.

oldpro · « **Reply #39 on:** December 20, 2018, 03:17:47 AM »

I shoot into a box of premixed drywall clay and just move the target to 1 of six sides till its really messed up then dig out the lead. I dont care what the fpe is it wont go threw the box. like this Bob https://hardwareonlinestore.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&view=productdetails&virtuemart_product_id=5414&virtuemart_category_id=14603&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIoPeu3e6t3wIVDZRpCh1hmQPhEAQYBCABEgIhK_D_BwE

Thank you to our advertisers!

I Need a Better Backstop

Author Topic: I Need a Better Backstop (Read 9297 times))