Building a bullet stop

[fitz69]

I am wanting to build a 'bullet stop' to place on my property so I can have a safe target area to shoot...

I have seen stops made out of metal, and I know there is probably a minimum thickness of metal needed and more importantly probably a specific angle that the metal should be set up at to safely deflect any shrapnel safely downward.
45 Degrees???

I will be shooting anything from .22LR to .300 WSM, .223, and other various varmit or deer hunting calibers.

Can anyone help me?????

 

[FBecigneul]

Ranges use dirt because it is 'dirt cheap' but dirt also serves as a sound deadening agent. Do you have room for an earthen backstop? You didn't say at what distance you will be shooting but if that distance is anything over a few yards, you'll need a federal loan to buy the steel. I have no idea how thick or at what angle to set a steel stop.

 

[LHSmith]

Francis is right. Most ranges use dirt berms as a backstop. I had to do research on this recently when my local club needed a safety upgrade to their range.
I found a lot of info on long-range.com.....they list military specs such as minimum thickness of material for positive protection against caliber ammunition such as:
compact earth= 35' for .223 using Ball M193,FMJBT)
52' for 7.62 Nato,.308)
66' for 50 BMG
Note- none of above are armor piercing rounds

dry sand= 16'/24'/ 32' respectively
wetsand= 25'/36'/48' '
In our case, we elected to build 'bunkers' out of 6x6 timbers on 3 sides and conveyor belting on the front and filled with sand. We went this route due to space restrictions on the club property.....the range is closed and used for parking for some club fundraisers.
This gave us the smallest 'footprint' for the safety requirements we needed.....and yes we sized for worst case scenario.....our 'depth' is 96'.

 

[olympian]

Building a metal bullet stop for a .22LR is easy, but the larger centerfire rounds you might be interested in firing are likely to be much more difficult to stop without damaging the stop.

I imagine the data you seek is out there. Just be patient.

 

[CJ6]

The setup I and another shooter built is almost identical to LHSMITH's. We used RR ties and lined it with belting filled with dirt .Although ours is a complete box. Dimentions are 8'H x12'W x16'L. An excellent system that withstands the abuse of his 460WBY and my 416 Rigby + all the smaller stuff. I think the key is the belting. Look at your local elevator or smaller factories,ask a maintenence guy if you can)

 

[bohemR13]

This might give you some ideas. The lead in ramps need to be AR400 or AR500 but the cyclone doesn't if you use a dual staggered 'feed' ramp.

http://www.snailtraps.com/

 

[fx77]

I have shot at an indoor range with one inch steel plate angled 45 degrees downward from the shooter, and all the lead was projected downward into a sand box built of large RR ties.
Never had a kick back and it could take up to 50 cal handgun and 300 win mag rifle. Woner had been using it for 20+ years.

 

[fitz69]

Thank you all! This is all good info.
I appreciate it.

 

[holstil]

I've been shooting at 3/8' Manganese with my pistols. I plan to shoot my BR rifles at it from 200yds. as soon as I get a chance to make a frame.
My buddy shot it with a 223 from 40yds and it ricocheted back, pretty dangerous move, it was leaning against a tree not hanging. A note, it was leaning at about a 40 deg. angle away and still it came back at an opposite angle.
That stuff is wicked hard to start, and work hardens when you hit it. There are other metals that work as good as the 500ar, one is called Endura. I think it's a little stiffer than the ar 500. Most have to be flame cut, but plasma may be the better way to keep from changing hardness.
This stuff ain't cheap. If you want a little piece of Manganese, I'll cut ya a 10'x10' or so for a little $ if you want it for a bullet stop. you may still want a burm though.
You will probably be best off making a frame to hang the plate from, let it absorb the energy. I looked at a couple web sites of people that make targets, and I think their using AR 500 3/8' or 1/2' thick. I think it was called gravity and moving targets???
I suggest you do your own research before you go popping at hard targets.
Maybe a metallurgist will chime in to advise. I'm just a fabricator.
Good shooting Jim