A safe back stop

getitdone1 · Post by **getitdone1** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 2:06 pm

Just wondering if anyone here has ever tried using thick,tough steel--like T-1 or armor plate for a back stop? 1/2 to 1" thick depending on type of steel.

Been thinking 4 feet long and 3 feet wide and lay 3 foot end on ground with other end about 3 feet above ground held to that height by "legs."

Get the angle from front to back right and don't think any typical hunding bullet would penetrate. Would expect deflection of bullet into ground and a very safe back stop.

Anyone?

We have a shooting range in this area with about 4 foot tall dirt berms to stop bullets. Poor back stop ! Tall target and hit top side of berm and no stoppage at all.

Don McCullough

Nath · Post by **Nath** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 2:10 pm

Sure, just don't get to close! Bits may still come back at you

JReed · Post by **JReed** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 2:15 pm

As long as it is angled right so as to deflect into the ground as you mentioned you should be good. Just dont shoot it with a high power rifle @ under 50 yards.

JimT · Post by **JimT** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 6:22 pm

We have had bullets come back hard enough to cut people from near 100 yards. If you used steel it would have to be steeply angled to deflect the bullets into the ground.

That deflection reduces the cross-section you see by quite a bit, so it would have to be about twice the height you are figuring on.

In the long run it's easiest to make a dirt backstop.

Andrew · Post by **Andrew** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 6:40 pm

Remember, aÂ²+bÂ²=cÂ².

If you want it to be at a 45Âº angle it would need to be 4.2' long and 3' wide.

Post by **Chuck 100 yd** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 8:46 pm

Set at 45 deg. it will work just fine for most hunting bullets.

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 9:43 pm

Just don't miss it...

Consider putting behind it (in case of a 'flyer') some tall 4x4 posts with plywood, pvc sheeting, or even hardware cloth on both sides, filled with pea gravel. You can make something rather large this way cheaply, and keep replacing/repairing it when needed for the occasional flyer. It would at least deform if not stop any bullet, and enhance safety all the more. We shot at a range with that setup using what looked like 1/4" hardware cloth and 4x4's every 2-3 ft. behind a row of targets. Even though most of the shooters there were fairly experienced, there were obvious bullet holes in the mesh, places where gravel had leaked out, etc. Lots of 'patches' with mesh sort of woven into the holes with wire. Obviously due to the ratty appearance there WERE hits missing the target and earthen berm.