build your own bulletstop?

I recently had some cat work done and had a small shooting range cut into the hillside above my house. As we're on well water and our well is down below our house I don't want to be shooting lead into the embankment. I'm thinking about building a box with a trapdoor in the bottom and then fill it with sand to use as a bullet trap. The front would just be plywood, but I'd like to get some kind of self-sealing polymer to cover it so I don't have to constantly replace the plywood. Any ideas?

Heres three ideas.

1. 55 gal plastic drum with sand & a lid.
Repair with duct tape as it gets shot up.
Turn to a new side as necessary.

2. EPDM rubber pond / roof liner in front of your box.
Get it at the Koi pond or roofing contractor store.
http://www.firestonebpe.com/lining/syst_comp/epdm_geomembrane/_en/

3. Steel plate set at 45 degree angle to deflect bullets into a lined waterproof sand trap.
Clean bullets out often with a lief rake.

rc

I like the idea of the plastic drum filled with sand. That would be pretty easy. Would it be deep enough, front to back, to stop a .223 FMJ?

A 55 gal drum full of sand will stop a .460 Weatherby or .50 BMG if you hit it in the center.

A .223 wouldn't stand a chance.

rc

Sounds like a winner. Thanks for the tip!

In the Army, they told us that 18 inches of sandbags would protect from a direct hit from a 55mm morter. I would suspect the 55 gallon drum would be plenty. Our clearing barrels were 55 gallon drums filled with sand.

Seems to me the best bet would be to use the drum with the top end toward the firing line and a lid to keep most of the sand in. The sand can be removed as needed and replaced.

Jim

Got a drum today for $20. Now I just need to get some sand.