"Gunner" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 02 Aug 2004 16:08:33 -0400, Mike Patterson
wrote:

I'd like to make a simple bullet trap in my basement suitable for up
to .22 magnum.

I'd like to know if anyone thinks a 24" x 24"x 1/4" piece of steel
plate set at a 45 degree angle wouldn't be adequate?

I'd build it into a open frame of 4x4s with a 36"x36" box built around
the bottom containing oh... say 12 inches of sand with a 4" thick
pine base underneath.

I already have ventilation since the basement doubles as my shop.

TIA folks

Mike

Mike, it should work well, but Id increase the thickness to 3/8 and
put side plates on it, with a front and side lips on top edge at a
backwards 15' angle. Even with a good steep angle you may get some
lead splatter back wards along the line of flight on the rare
occasion. I have a tiny chunk in my leg from just such a back splatter
at 25 feet.

1/4" plate will eventually get pretty well beat up, even with 22lr and
the magnums will dimple it pretty quickly. Go to something thicker
and never have to worry about it again.

Makes me wonder what happened to all those Rams Horn bullet traps the
highschools used to have in the basement rifle ranges. Seems like
every highschool had a half dozen or so...

Gunner

There have been some difficult lead clean-ups in school basement rifle
ranges.