Backstop

[heron]

It's been a hassle for me replacing the things I use as backstops in my backyard range. I first started out using some 1 1/4" plywood panels I found, which worked okay for a while just shooting .22. I didn't care about the material, but behind the backstop is an embankment reinforced with concrete; my biggest concern was replacing the panels when they became too flimsy to protect against ricochets, and the .22's did nothing to the concrete.

Then I started shooting .22 Magnum, which was blowing pieces out of the concrete itself, and I went to heavier backstops. Better, but then I would fire a few rounds of .223 now and then -- serious damage. The most recent backstop was made of some stubs of 8x8 that were laying around; after a few rounds, the .223 was going through those without slowing down much.

Here's my latest, in progress. Based on this article:

http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot7.htm

Note the statement at the end of the test:

Sand is a very good barrier. Nothing we shot penetrated more than 6 inches into the sand.

So, I'm building a vertically-oriented sandbox. This is 4 feet square; the frame is open at the top (to dump the sand in); sides are double 2x8 pressure-treated, and the front and back are 2x10 PT. I'm making it so that the front boards (screwed in) are replaceable when they get shot out, the rest is all done with glue and screws.

I think it may weigh about half a ton with sand. I haven't bought the sand yet, and have nearly $100 in it already, but it should stop the concrete damage and prevent ricochets.

Before I put the front boards on, I'm wondering if there's anything I could put in, like rubber sheet or something, that might help keep the sand in once the boards have holes in them. Let me know what you think.

 

[Dirtpile]

Rubber Sheet would help a lot. Another thing that works really well is keeping the sand wet. Wet sand won't readily pour out of the holes.
On another note you might get a longer useful life out of a front made of carpet rather than wood. put it on pile (fuzzy) side in and it'll hold the sand in to a degree even when dry.
Have you considered just piling some dirt or old mulch in front of the wall?

 

[ScotZ]

My Dad welded up a bullet trap out of 5/16th metal plate over 30 years ago. Its still going strong after thousands of rounds have gone through it(not literally). I wouldnt want to have to move it though.(Very Heavy). We put it in place with the backhoe

 

[BhmBill]

My suggestion instead of sand: Old Tires.

Cheap (more than likely free) from the right source (tire shop, behind behind stores, dumps, etc).

Good luck and keep us updated!