This is my most recent simple bullet trap/alloy recycler. My first trial was with steel belted radial tyres - is it possible to cut them up with a metal blade in a hand held jigsaw but it is not much fun! I have also trialled old magazines stuffed in boxes and wood. The wood blocks just splinter, the magazines get cut to confetti.
my most recent iteration has been the most successful. I approached a local hot-rod shop for some old drag racing slicks. These do not have steel in them (except for the bead) and I was able to easily cut them up with a wood blade in the hand held jigsaw and a knife.
The pieces (around A4 paper sized) were stacked into a handy box and the lot taped up. It took two small tyres to fill a box. This box has stood up to shooting from 22lr to 30-30, 35 whelen cast and jacketed and 540grain 12ga slugs. The weight helps hold the box there during impact although the full steamjacketed 35 whelen loads will tend to make the box fall over after a couple of shots! When the box starts to fall apart it is easy to pull out the rubber A4 pieces, most of the projectiles will be at the bottom of the box, some stuck in the rubber. When I used radial tyres the wires would either cut your or trap the projectiles. These no-steel slicks are far superior.
Happiness is smelting down your own alloy to re-use!
Pros:
- Free
- Effective at soaking up significant loads
- No-wire slicks much easier to cut than radials and easier to remove lead from.
- lead is left in mostly whole projectiles, not in dust or fragments
- Heavy enough to withstand moderate impacts, not too heavy to lug about.
Cons:
- Small target size - A4 only. Conveyor belt would be a great way to make a larger target.