Backstops For Home Target Ranges

[Hal the Elder]

For my 54-yard backyard target range, I'll be using a half-sheet of 3/4" plywood against my 6 foot cedar fence as a backstop.

Even a pellet from a magnum springer wouldn't have enough energy at that distance to penetrate 3/4" plywood, would it?

I also want to add a sheet of sound-deadening material, such as soundboard or heavy felt to soften the loud "thwack" of the pellet's impact on the plywood.

What do y'all think?

Hal

[Qwikrnu]

Even a pellet from a magnum springer wouldn't have enough energy at that distance to penetrate 3/4" plywood, would it?
Maybe not one pellet, But several in the same spot would.

[Hal the Elder]

 
 DANG, I never thought of that!

HAL

[sperho]

Two sheets should do... I've found that if they are not screwed together, there is a lot more stopping power because of the slap of the two boards.

[cactusrat]

Hal, do a search on silent pellet traps here on GTA.

It uses a duck seal (a putty like stuff) as backing and from what I read, it works good.

Repeat shots in the same spot will just about wear threw anything short of steel.

[Gertrude]

Hal,
Here's a pic of my back yard 50 yd range, looking down range.




Here is a pic of my daughter and my first version of a cheaply made, "Silent Target / Backstop".
it is a bunch or fabric wadded/layered in front of a plywood backing plate. Then I use some "styrofoam board" in front of the fabric, so that targets are easy to attach with straightened out paperclips.




This makes for a target that is so quiet, I can, (and often do), shoot at 10pm - 11pm at night, without upsetting any neighbors,.... and I'm in the city !

You can easily make a similar "Silent Backstop", using a few folded up "Movers Blankets", that are very cheap to buy at your local HF.
 HF = Harbor Freight Tools
(they are even on sale right now for something like $3.99 - $4.99 each).
get yourself 4 or 5 of them, then fold them/stack them to your desired size/thickness.

While your out at HF, stop by HD, (Home Depot), and go over to the Home Insulation area for the Styrofoam board

Hope this helps

Ron

[02stampede]

That ply wood won't last very long at all. At close range it may penetrate on the first shot.

Instead, use that ply wood to make a trap and line it with duct seal. two bricks deep should do the trick. lay one row vertical and the other horizontal. It will last for thousands of shots. You find the duct seal in the electrical section at the big box stores.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Gardner-Bender-Duct-Seal-Compound-Plugs-10-Pack-DS-110/100212441#.UUSkoxzvtIo


Here is one I made from scrap wood.

http://i1323.photobucket.com/albums/u591/gtahunterpics/20130316_120652_zpse12ede8f.jpg

[haywire2]

I totally agree with using duct seal. It's quiet, which is desireable, and effective at stopping your pellets.

If you have to use plywood, and you have enough room, consider angling it forward so that if you miss your duct seal target, at least you'll be hitting it at a downward "glance". It will help from keeping a pellet coming back at you, too.

[Hal the Elder]

HEY TEXAS,

Bricks?  I don't see any.

That duct seal looks like tar.

Hal

[PaperPunch1]

My duct seal stops all my pellets. None even begin to go through. Even when I stack 'em with the marauder it holds up nicely. That being said I mostly shoot at 25yds, so distance counts. I never shot a .25 so I can't say on that caliber, but duct seal works well for me.
I guess if I needed a 4x8 sheet of wood behind the target I'd consider moving closer, or tighten up the groups a bit before trying more than 10 yards.
JMHO
PaperPunch1

[sperho]

HEY TEXAS,

Bricks?  I don't see any.

That duct seal looks like tar.

Hal

It's a brick of putty.  Brick, meaning shape.  More clay-like than tar-like.

[Gertrude]

He meant "bricks" of Duct Seal.
it is a very very dense type of "putty" that absorbes the energy of the pellet.
Excellent stuff, but can get a little pricey if you plan on making a larger target area.

ps, Those little "green plastic army men" and dinosaurs, available at the party supply stores are great fun "reactive" targets.

[02stampede]

HEY TEXAS,

Bricks?  I don't see any.

That duct seal looks like tar.

Hal

Well, I guess they are technically called plugs.  I just call them bricks. No actual bricks used.

Yeah, it has a clay or a hard play-doh like consistency and won't harden up.

[gene_sc]

Something I did years ago was to screw some semi truck mud flaps on the back of my big piece of plywood. Thus preventing pellets from going through same hole past your sheet of plywood.  It worked for me. Pellets that do go through the plywood will just drop on the ground.
Gene

[ezman604]

For 10 yards or less, I use a duct seal lined pellet trap. One you can buy or build. For 25 yards or more, I use 3/4" pressboard sheet cut in half and doubled. I screw them together. That gives me plenty of room to attach several targets to prevent shooting out just the center, which could happen rather quickly. After it starts chipping away too much, I simply turn it around and shoot a few thousand more rounds. My backstop has lasted almost 2 years now. I use a 2 wheel dolly to roll it out and back into my shop between shooting sessions.





I also have a new 4 level target rack but haven't had a chance to actually season it yet. SOON!!!!
Has 7 of the practice golf balls on dowels when completely filled up.



SAFE & Happy Shooting!!!!
Dave
 

[gene_sc]

Now that is one beautiful golf course style shooting range. And your pellet back stops look great. Thanks for the beautiful shot of your 18 hole course Dez... Not to mention those fantastic rifle racks.

Gene

For 10 yards or less, I use a duct seal lined pellet trap. One you can buy or build. For 25 yards or more, I use 3/4" pressboard sheet cut in half and doubled. I screw them together. That gives me plenty of room to attach several targets to prevent shooting out just the center, which could happen rather quickly. After it starts chipping away too much, I simply turn it around and shoot a few thousand more rounds. My backstop has lasted almost 2 years now. I use a 2 wheel dolly to roll it out and back into my shop between shooting sessions.





I also have a new 4 level target rack but haven't had a chance to actually season it yet. SOON!!!!
Has 7 of the practice golf balls on dowels when completely filled up.




SAFE & Happy Shooting!!!!
Dave
 

[ezman604]

HaaHaa

[cactusrat]

Dave’s wine rack target holder.

Me like.

What happened to all the wine that was on it before it became a target holder?

[Hal the Elder]

 
Truck mud flaps, huh?  You guys are full of ideas!

Whatever I settle on, I'll be using 12" diameter 100-yard small-bore rifle targets, which look to be a good challenge for my abilities, with the bull being 1" in diameter.

Also, the target mounting surface has to be able to adhere to masking tape.

HAL

[ezman604]

Forgot...I also covered the surface of the backstop with white roll paper. Then I can use Shoot-N-C peel & stick targets. Any other 8-1/2x11" printed targets I use can simply be stapled to the backstop.
Me dranks all da wine...(HIC) and that's how I messed up all the meazurmunts of the rifle rax and had to use...dim for a target standdddz......(HIC)....