Movable Shooting Backstop.

[2506shooter]

I don't have pics handy but I built one that is about 4' tall X 8' wide. It's made with 2x6 framing so that the inside is hollow, 5.25" deep. Both sides are finished with 3/4" treated plywood. But, the front first has 1" rubber horse-stall matting attached to the frame, then the plywood. The interior of the frame is filled with sand.

The front plywood holds targets (stapled) and the rubber mat reseals the bullet hole after is passes thru. The sand has stopped almost everything I've thrown at it.

We've talked about doing that (with a few modifications) at a gun shop with an outdoor range I help at now and then. We have talked about adding the rubber mat on both sides so the plywood can be changed out easily. Also discussed adding a small trap door on the bottom and slope the interior so you can drain the sand through a sieve to retrieve all the bullets easily. The bullets can be sold as scrap and the sand reused.

How did you attach the mat to the frame?

 

[TSO]

...How did you attach the mat to the frame?

I just built it laying down... Set it on the back side, placed the mat on the front where I wanted it, set the plywood on it, and fastened the plywood to the frame. That handled fastening the rubber at the same time.

 

[jasonzee]

I just cleared a area in the woods for a shooting range, it is 136 yards long. This summer I will order a few trucks loaded with pit run thats a mix ofsand,gravel,clay and whatever else for a back stop.

 

[shooterdon]

Mine is built with a frame of either 2x10 or 2x12... to cold and dark to check now.

Horse mat in the front that is trapped by 1x2痴 on bottom and sides. 3/4 plywood in the back. Top has a slot to allow filling with sand. I can slide the horse mat out to replace and reclaim lead. I mounted it on a garden cart so I can move it as desired.

It has taken .308 and .450 bullets at 50 yards with no issues.

Sand is extremely effective and in my case free.

 

[bmontini]

Fun Topic... One I spent much time on.

First built a 8ft tall, 10ft wide, 2 feet deep box out of 1 1/2" square tube. add roof pitch to keep keep rain out of the future sandbox. Do this in your shop or something and put the first course of wood or 2 on the bottom. Suspend 3/4" thick "stall mats" from a hanger of sorts I think I used perforated angle (like garage door hangers)...

WHY? - the rubber mats will hang behind the final wood surface and be filled with sand. If you miss your targets too many times, and have to replace a board, the sand wont all just spill out!!! I've heard of mats for "self healing" but not for sand retention when facing is taken off. (this is my original design about 5 years ago. Though I see some variations on it online today..)

Haul it out using your front end loader and a chain!



Finish wrapping the frame with wood, I used 2x12 PT wood and finished with "READYSEAL" I found this product some time ago and love it.. Sold in many Home Depots and Lowes in Texas as it is a texas based company, but great stuff... it may drip or run if you slop it on, but it never ruins the project.. you can slap it up as ugly as you want and somehow it dries consistently.. Plus and recoats years later require no work except a quick pressure wash and dry. sorry, I digress.....

Then fill with a lot of dry sand. Attach some OSB for a roof, and finish the roof. (i used plastic corrugated roof from Home Depot). Wet sand will allow serious bullet over-penetration, however I think a 50BMG will stop in less than 18" of dry sand if I'm not mistaken. Wet sand = no good!!



I did add some "support" on the back side and boarded that in as well, I keep my compost/dirt pile behind it. I did "wallpaper" the backside with galvanized corrugated steel, to keep an air gap behind the main structure.

5 years later, no rot, no leak, and not many holes from "missed targets" I hung AR500 steel targets of a basic frame I made. Targets came from ShootingTargets7.com Very high quality. Veteran owned business. Cheap shipping..