Newest Threads

dan-r · 10-15-2009, 04:45 PM

I've seen a post describing using a stack of wet phone books to test penetration and expansion of various bullets. I'm thinking of setting up a short basement range and was wondering if anyone has experience using a stack of newspapers as a bullet stop? Stack, as in 12"-14", tightly bound or clamped in a wood frame.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

sean187 · 10-15-2009, 06:05 PM

I was wanting to find a way as awee to shoot my gun without having to go pay to shoot at the
firing rang.i have a small shop in the back yard but would need material to try to make it as
sound proof as possible.maybe we will get some great advice.actually im pretty sure we will,
thanks for making this topic!

hobbz · 10-15-2009, 06:15 PM

when i got my ccw, we did the firing test in the instructors garage/shop. his walls were 2x6 insulated with 3/4" plywood on the inside and outside, he then had drywall on the inside too. when shooting it just sounded like a hammer hitting a piece of metal if you were standing right outside. he had neighbors less than 200ft away and you could not hear it standing beside their houses.

for his backstop, he had... 1" thick steel plate angeled at like 15 degrees off vertical, then a couple pieces of 3/4" plywood, then 5 pieces of 1/2" industrial belting. His backstop was 4' wide and 8' tall. the wall behind the backstop was a triple wall just in case someone would miss the backdrop. He said he had never had a bullet make it to the steel plate. when a 22lr bullet would hit it, it would just hit the first layer of belting and fall to the ground. my 45lc went thru most of the belting.

hope that helps

dan-r · 10-15-2009, 07:33 PM

for his backstop, he had... 1" thick steel plate angled at like 15 degrees off vertical, then a couple pieces of 3/4" plywood, then 5 pieces of 1/2" industrial belting. His backstop was 4' wide and 8' tall. the wall behind the backstop was a triple wall just in case someone would miss the backdrop.

This is a help. Thanks for your reply.

That is a super back stop but 'way beyond my budget and resource level. My "target" wall is cinder block, below ground/no windows, so I'm not concerned about escaping bullets. I do need an economical (read, cheap) means of absorbing impact and containing the bullet. I doubt that I'll shoot the .223 or 9mm indoors often. Smaller caliber and air guns more so. Probably the first shots after mounting a scope or sight to find the initial zero. Yeah, I know about bore sighting but this is more fun. ;-)

Silicon Wolverine · 10-15-2009, 07:41 PM

please remember that discharge of a firearm is illegal in most cities/towns.

SW

cnsranch · 10-15-2009, 07:44 PM

FWIW, I'm lucky that I can shoot out doors, but the target I made can be set up in the basement.

Simple, really, I have 8 railroad ties stacked to 5' high. They will stop a 9mm at 5 yards, and I know they'll stop a 30 06 at 50 yards (I've done it).

Get 4 ties, cut them 4' long, haul 'em in the basement, two 2x4's attached to the wall where you want your target (or tie the 2x4's to the ceiling joists), attach the ties to the 2x4's with L brackets, and you're good to go (just don't experiment with armor piercing rounds).

tsafa · 10-16-2009, 04:35 AM

Do you have proper ventilation? The lead in the bullets can be a very bad thing to breath without good ventilation. The ventilation would probably have to be up to gun range standards. You might want to consider shooting steel BB's in you basement. It works for me. Just be sure that the entire backstop area is soft so that he BB's don't come back at you.

**Slimshady** · 10-16-2009, 05:50 AM

+1 on the ventilation, just a few shots and the powder smoke will have you wanting fresh air. For .22s and airguns, Champion makes a nice bullet trap target holder.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=744831

For your sitch, I would put up a few 2X4s mounted directly to the wall and then nail a sheet of 3/4 plywood to them to prevent spatter or bounceback if a round should miss or penetrate the other layers. For extra insurance. fill the voids with sand. Then put your newspapers, railroad ties, sandbags or whatever in front of that as the main bullet absorber. Just be aware that once a bullet hits something more solid than air they can start to yaw and tumble, often exiting the solid at an angle to which it entered. A hit on your box of newspapers could fly out the top and go through the floor above.

dan-r · 10-16-2009, 01:09 PM

Just be aware that once a bullet hits something more solid than air they can start to yaw and tumble, often exiting the solid at an angle to which it entered. A hit on your box of newspapers could fly out the top and go through the floor above.

HHMmmm... Didn't consider that angle (pun warning). Seriously, you make a good point. I had considered that the 14" of newspaper would absorb all the bullet energy but not that it might cause the bullet to change direction. The floors above are solid 2x6, (actual 1.5") but I wouldn't want to trust the well-being of my wife to the floor alone.

Thinking, thinking...

sean187 · 10-16-2009, 02:51 PM

What about sandbags?wouldn't that make a great stopper?im scared to even try now where i was goin to
set something because not because the building is brick.my 40 might not go through brick i dont know but
i rememberd a long time ago me and a friend was shooting a 357 and he shot a tree we were infront of by like8 feet
and the bullet bounced backed and hit me in the stomace.didn't really hurt but i never told anyone.he's a sheriff]
now workin at the courthouse with a 45 i forgot what kind,it's been awhile but anyway go figure.hope he's a
better shooter now lol.