A better rubber mulch pellet trap - pictures inside

[cdegrassi]

Ok, I can see that.
I think my 10x12 though was more like $25 for the seal. But definitely not the $4 for the mulch bag

Cool, thanks guys. I will look into this.

[ancient1one]

Really nice workmanship and well thought out. I use a .22LR metal trap and it is loud.. Louder than any of my air guns being shot..

[JCM]

My first trap was a brief case from Goodwill with duct seal, built in handel and cheep. Because my only option for indoor distance is 10 meters from the den through the dinning room into the living room I wanted something that looked a bit nicer. So back to Goodwill and the purchase of a decent night stand. I think it was about $10.00. Put the duct seal in the top drawer with old towels and a cardboard face. I sit the drawer on top of the night stand when in use and when done I put the drawer back into the night stand. The other drawers are a nifty place to store targets spot light etc. FWIW
Judd

[cdegrassi]

Wow, a night stand from Goodwill!
What a great solution!  Already built and ready to go!

[Rdsail]

i really like the use of the vinyl self healing matt. I use card board which I have to replace often. I'm going to get some of that matt and try it out. My trap is only 5 inches deep with a steel plate as backing. The much stops my .25 shooting at 60fpe with no problem.

here is my trap

[Tater]

I have a question:  What is the advantage of using  the rubber mulch versus duct seal compound?
 

Another big plus for mulch is the weight, especially if you have to move it around quite a bit. Duct seal and a lot of pellets gets really heavy fast.

[Rdsail]

I Think these are the pros of using rubber mulch:

Weight of the box
Initial cost and replacement
Much easier to clean
Easier to pack the first time and in later uses.
Easier to separate pellets from medium.

[DOKF]

Nice design.  Clean, practical, portable.

[Sfttailrdr46]

  Rubber mulch gets my vote when I replace the duct seal in my basement back stop I will modify with the mat and a frame to hold the mat

[korny351]

May I suggest a cheaper alternative for the front of your trap.  The timing is perfect.  Cheap (free) and readily available after today.

[Tater]

May I suggest a cheaper alternative for the front of your trap.  The timing is perfect.  Cheap (free) and readily available after today.

The signs around me already have bullet holes in them.   

[avator]

May I suggest a cheaper alternative for the front of your trap.  The timing is perfect.  Cheap (free) and readily available after today.

Absolutely, I pull evey one out they put in my yard and apply it to my indoor pellet trap.. They make for nice little uniformed holes in paper targets. It's real fun to shoot the ones for the job of sheriff and such. Brings out the rebel in me.

[madmullet]

Im sold on the Duct Seal traps my self.  I use old electric service panels for boxes.  Also a note to anyone looking to build a duct seal trap don't buy it from a big box before checking at your local electric supply house.  My local supply house has it much cheaper than the big boxes. last time I made a trap I cost me 42 bucks for 60 pounds, and they gave me a old 100 amp panel box they had around all I had to to is freshen up the paint. 

[William]

I love it, great little project for sure. I wonder if or should I say how much rubber mulch it would take to stop a Sam Yang .357 Big bore shooting at near 180 FPE? 

I may just have to find out 

William

[TDK]

The big advantage of rubber mulch over duct-seal, besides the others mentioned above, is that the rubber mulch is much more resistant to tunneling when shot in the same spot.  The mulch essentially 'shuffles' itself each time it is shot.  This means it is almost maintenance-free.  I did a lot of reading before building my traps and mulch was the winner among users who tried both.

My trap is only 5 inches deep with a steel plate as backing. The much stops my .25 shooting at 60fpe with no problem.

Good to know I was close with my guess!  If I build some dedicated small-bore airgun traps, I'll probably go with a box made from 1x6 boards.  Should make a nice and light trap with 1/2 mulch bag per trap.  Based on what your trap looks like (slide in cardboard sheets from the top?), you should also consider using coroplast signs talked about in this thread.  That may be an easier retrofit than the vinyl mat and it sounds like the performance is similar.

[TDK]

That nightstand idea is pretty awesome.  I remember seeing one style somewhere that had only one small drawer at the top and then a big swing open door for the bottom part.  With this style you could have it set up in the house, open the door and have a fully prepped trap inside ready to go.  Then all you have to do is close the door real quick when the wife pulls up in the driveway.

[Missed-Em]

Coroplast is no longer used by the politico's in this area, they have gone to plastic sleeves over the wire frame.  You can, however' get it at Wally World pretty cheap.

[josixpack]

How much rubber mulch comes in a bag?  Do any of the pellets make it to be back of the box??  I'm thinking a Rubbermaid container filled with rubber mulch.  Put the lid on and you good to go.  Duck tape the lid has it gets shot up.

[f4milytime]

Some excellent workmanship !!!

[Longknife]

wow! puts my cardboard box full of magazines in the basement to shame