Rifle targets-need ideas

[jwmorris]

Safty is not a lost point with me. Just pointing out that steel can be just as safe to shoot at as dirt.

Take my home range back stop for example.

 

[bigtiller]

Safty is not a lost point with me. Just pointing out that steel can be just as safe to shoot at as dirt.

Take my home range back stop for example.

That looks great. It reminds me of the ones at the old ordnance plant where they test fired 50 cal for WWII near here, but theirs had a bullet trap under/behind it.

 

[Cherokee140]

Very impressive, what is the thickness, hardness of the steel....What are you shooting? What is the weight of the steel.....and if you don't mind me asking what was the cost.

Reason I ask is I just finished taking down my own range, and am looking at a rebuild. I do want to shoot surplus soviet steel core, and I have seen that blow right through AR500 like it was nothing, so I was leaning to dirt for me.

 

[jwmorris]

I don't know exactly how hard it is, I will test some of the drop when I get a chance. It's 3/8" thick and weighs just over 4000lbs. I paid almost $1000 for the single sheet of steel that was 32'x8', drop from bridge construction.

Main reason it is so large is to make sure no bullets miss it. Overkill most of the time but worth it when letting folks that have never shot a machinegun, give one a try.

The angle of the plate is the key to it living, I know it is not as hard as AR500, the most powerful round I have shot into it was a 458 socom.

In general AP rounds of any sort are a bad idea on steel. But if you make the angles shallow enough and have a snail trap at the end, they will live.

Only problems with a dirt pile is that it erodes everytime it rains, getting shorter each time and grass/weeds grow on top giving the shooter the illusion that the berm is taller than it actually is. If there are any rocks, hard objects or even other bullets, they will sooner or later come to the surface where an incoming bullet could hit them and deflect them skyward over the berm (similar to a steel target that is angled back).

 

[Cherokee140]

Very true, and I am with you on saying you have to know where EVERY bullet goes. I do hear what you are saying about the dirt....I wish I could find a photo of my plans. I am going to have the RR ties as basically a retaining wall with the dirt behind them. The ties will be up to the level of my pond, so I will be able to get the tractor and mowers behind them to keep them maintained.

I really like your setup, looks good and it looks like you could keep it nice and clean inside the trap. Scoop out the old lead, re melt it down or even sell it to other cast bullet guys. Getting good lead is getting hard to do.

 

[sparc]

What about setting up a light with a sound trigger?

The light could be timed to go out after say 10 seconds.

Could be powered by a deep cycle 12v battery and would last all day if not a couple days.

Give your trolling motor battery (if you have one) something to do when you're not fishing.
You'll keep its charge up and it will be in better condition than sitting unattended for months at a time.

I see a few motion detector deer chasers on Amazon that flash a light and make noise for under $40. Not sure those particular models would work but something along that line is what I am thinking of.

With our Motion-Sensored DeerchaserTM with Adjustable Sound and Light, you can keep deer away from flower beds and vegetable gardens without harming pets. The unit has a radio tuning function that you tune into FM frequency. Once motion is detected, the tuned-in FM radio station plays and an intermittent super-bright LED light is triggered to keep the deer away effectively and humanely.​

 

[Cherokee140]

A little OT but it is a funny story.....sorry for the hijack.

I think those deer things are not worth their weight in lead. In my experience the deer will learn nothing will happen. At least ours around her will. When we first moved in the wife wanted tulips....so did the deer. I would run out and scare them away, then they actually got to the point where I was just outside of arm length away and they would run. Then I started chucking ice cubes at them....then they figured out IF I hit them it really did not hurt so they would still stay and much away. Then I actually went and bought a red rider bb gun. That would make them run just out of range....I would chase them at 10 yard intervals across the field...as soon as I was gone they would come back. Then I went out with a real gun...shot it (into the ground) that made them run off...about 100 yards, they then turned around to say you can't shoot for **** can you.

I also tried soap, taking a wiz on the flowers, and lastly fishing string....nothing worked.

Yea I could kill it, but I really did not want to kill it, I just wanted them to leave, almost hit one on the way to work today....I really hate deer.

You want to know how I finally solved the problem.....the wife planted Daffodil's.

 

[zing]

A little OT but it is a funny story.....sorry for the hijack.

I think those deer things are not worth their weight in lead. In my experience the deer will learn nothing will happen. At least ours around her will. When we first moved in the wife wanted tulips....so did the deer. I would run out and scare them away, then they actually got to the point where I was just outside of arm length away and they would run. Then I started chucking ice cubes at them....then they figured out IF I hit them it really did not hurt so they would still stay and much away. Then I actually went and bought a red rider bb gun. That would make them run just out of range....I would chase them at 10 yard intervals across the field...as soon as I was gone they would come back. Then I went out with a real gun...shot it (into the ground) that made them run off...about 100 yards, they then turned around to say you can't shoot for **** can you.

I also tried soap, taking a wiz on the flowers, and lastly fishing string....nothing worked.

Yea I could kill it, but I really did not want to kill it, I just wanted them to leave, almost hit one on the way to work today....I really hate deer.

You want to know how I finally solved the problem.....the wife planted Daffodil's.

This works for me.

 

[k0ua]

Marigolds and Jonquils work fairly well. I guess they taste pretty bad. They also eat other types that are supposed to be "deer resistant".. It has really got to taste bad for the deer not to eat it. Our deer suck down the rose blooms like they are candy.

Good looking dog!

 

[Cherokee140]

Great looking dog. I lost mine not too long ago It took me about 6 months to even think about getting another, finally my wife said you NEED a new dog. I really did not want one again, but got one anyway. He is a pound puppy and still a little small for doing much outside, too many coyote out for me to feel good about letting any dog outside. (my old one died of cancer)

Anyway here is Remington.....first his "mug shot"...with a face like that you know you are in for trouble.