Modified sandbox bullet backstop

[getitdone1]

Put a new piece of plywood on the front and added rubber matting to that. Shot into it 5 times with 45-70 and holes didn't seem to leak any but rubber matting did not seal-up like I wanted. Gonna help though. If you build one of these have extra plywood for replacing front from time to time. Used Loc-Tite sealant they say is better than Liquid Nails to glue matting to plywood. Used staple gun to hold pressure down on glue while it cured. Sand on board is from first shot when I had box piled high with sand and impact put the sand there. Need an especially good self-sealing material for the front of this box and was hoping what I bought would do better. There's better backstops but this one is probably the easiest and least expensive.



Don

[getitdone1]

I don't recommend any kind of bullet backstop like this for people who live near or in populated areas. I live in the country where it's generally safe to shoot, but when I do a lot of shooting in one direction--even though I know there's no homes for miles--I then want to know FOR SURE where the bullet stops. The best way to shoot safely when you live near or in populated areas is at a local shooting range.

Miss your back stop one time, with people or homes nearby, and someone could get hurt or killed. Same if you penetrate it.

Don

[markinalpine]

Corrugated Plastic, such as is used for outdoor advertising and political campaign signs, will seal pretty well, and you might be able to get them free.
Just be careful of the PC "Hate Crime" nannies.
Mark

[getitdone1]

Corrugated Plastic, such as is used for outdoor advertising and political campaign signs, will seal pretty well, and you might be able to get them free.
Just be careful of the PC "Hate Crime" nannies.
Mark

Mark,

Thanks for the tip. I'll check it out. Still.....the plywood backing is limited. Once you shoot enough into one area and thus make a big hole--it's about over for the plywood front. A durable front is the big problem with this kind of bullet backstop.

My sand testing gives proof to the effectiveness of sandbags used around foxholes.

Don

[Cast Bullet Hunter]

Another idea with the Cor-Plas would be to cut a hole in the front panel, maybe 8" diameter, then put the Cor-Plas inside the box. Then when it starts to leak too bad simply lay the box down on it's back so the sand falls away from the front. Then you can just slip a new sheet inside and go back to shooting until it gets leaking too badly again. This way you would rarely, if ever, need to replace the plywood front.

Old conveyor belting should also work and be better self-sealing, if you can locate a source.

I think I would build it with some provision for a catch reservoir of some sort on the bottom to catch the sand that leaks, then you can put it back in the box when changing the Cor-Plas sheet and minimize sand loss. Something like a plastic storage tub big enough to set the box in, with the sidewalls, at least the front, cut down to expose all but maybe 4" of bottom of the box.