Handgun boolit trap question?

[tek4260]

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/516406-just-finished-tested-my-prototype-indoor-bullet-trap.html

I have all the parts gathered up to build this. The plates are cut and the pipe is ready to be cut. My only question is, is there any way the boolit can come back out of this design. The only area of concern is once it makes the first revolution around the pipe and comes to the joint where the side plates join. It has to cross that gap, which will only be 1/2 inch, but the force may make it want to come back out. Another way to make it is to cut the pipe then heat and bend it in a bit for the right hand plate to join. Done this way, the boolit would have to turn 180 degrees to come back out. If this link works, you can see the thought here in the directions.

http://www.parmarng.org/freeidaho/AlSkDjFhG/SnailBulletTrap/SnailBulletTrap.pdf

Any thoughts before I get started cutting the pipe and welding? Basically they are both done the same, with the only difference being how the pipe is done. Either cut out and welded to, or cut out, heated and bent, and then welded.

[bearcove]

Only heard of good results. I'm making a few like that but small enough to move with a hand truck.

[tek4260]

Mine will not be that large. My side plates are 10" tall 18" long, and they will be about 8-10" apart. The pipe is 8" diameter, 1/2" thick and only 20" long. If I can't hit a 10x10 square at 25 yards, I have no business shooting at it.

[subsonic]

If I can't hit a 10x10 square at 25 yards, I have no business shooting at it.

Ah, but what happens when murphy creeps in - the screw comes out of the sight or you grab the ammo the gun isn't sighted for? I thought I'd never shoot my chronograph too!:bigsmyl2::takinWiz:

[IllinoisCoyoteHunter]

To the OP, yes lead can splatter back out if you are not careful. You are absolutely right about the lead spinning in the pipe and wanting to be forced back out the "entrance slit." Instead of welding both side panels fush to the pipe, weld one panel so it is about an inch inside the pipe. This will allow for the lead to enter the pipe, spin around, and then hit the "ramp" you made by sticking the one side slightly inside the pipe. Is that clear?

[tek4260]

Then the boolit sings along into the hillside as it would if I were shooting yesterday :)

And that chrono thing still scares me to this day! My wife laughed at me last time I shot because she noticed me looking at the revolver and the target and squatting a bit looking thru the screens. Then holding the revolver out and looking along side it. Quite comical to stand back and look at someone reiterate the theories of line of sight vs line of bore vs trajectory, vs ect... before shooting across the screens.

[tek4260]

To the OP, yes lead can splatter back out if you are not careful. You are absolutely right about the lead spinning in the pipe and wanting to be forced back out the "entrance slit." Instead of welding both side panels fush to the pipe, weld one panel so it is about an inch inside the pipe. This will allow for the lead to enter the pipe, spin around, and then hit the "ramp" you made by sticking the one side slightly inside the pipe. Is that clear?


Yes that is clear. You will get the same effect as bending the pipe in the second design picture without having to heat and bend the pipe. The only difference will be that the "slit" in the pipe will be a bit bigger to still maintain the 1/2" gap between the plates(or opening).

[subsonic]

Want to have some fun? Google up ballistic loophole forumula!

[tek4260]

Want to have some fun? Google up ballistic loophole forumula!

I always have fun. Especially when I don't shoot my chrony :p

And when I am not pulling a chainsaw 500 times to get it started.....

[jmsj]

tek4260,
I like the looks of the first one, it looks like it would be easier to fabricate.
I am wondering how thick the plates need to be for say .22's, 38's and 45 acp and 45 Colt?
jmsj

[subsonic]

I always have fun. Especially when I don't shoot my chrony :p

And when I am not pulling a chainsaw 500 times to get it started.....

You're the bastard that stole my chainsaw!:killingpc

[tek4260]

Well I am about 90% done with my trap. Thanks to the scrap pile at the farm, I only have rods and chop saw blades in this one. The sides are 3/8" hardened steel and the pipe is 5/16" thick so it should be plenty strong. The measurements on the plates are 10" tall and 18" long. The gap in between the plates at the pipe is 1/2" All welded with 7018 rods(looks like ****, I know). Weighs in at 103lbs per my scales.

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm35/tk3945/trap/DSCN1309.jpg
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm35/tk3945/trap/DSCN1311.jpg
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm35/tk3945/trap/DSCN1312.jpg
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm35/tk3945/trap/DSCN1315.jpg
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm35/tk3945/trap/DSCN1314.jpg

Now I have to decide how tall I want it and make some detachable legs so I can move it around if I want it. 3 legs should be fine since there is no real impact when it is hit since the boolit spins the energy off. The pallets I had it standing on are in no way stable and I couldn't see it even move at the shot.

Here is 5 quick shots. Hard to shoot a group freehanded with your eyes closed! I know it isn't supposed to bounce back out, but still..... Now that the initial shots are over, I'll be confident in it.

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm35/tk3945/trap/DSCN1313.jpg
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm35/tk3945/trap/DSCN1323.jpg
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm35/tk3945/trap/DSCN1320.jpg

In the last shot, you can see where they spin around the pipe.

And here is what is left after a shot from a 300gr cast 44 over 21gr of H110 at 25 yards.

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm35/tk3945/trap/DSCN1316.jpg

Now to make legs and paint it up so it isn't quite so ugly!

All in all, it is nice to know I can plink and still get my lead back out. Makes a difference!

[subsonic]

Yes, WW are getting harder every day to find!!!

If I had a portable version of this to take to the range, I might.

My only suggestion would be that, in theory, something could bounce off of the flat ends of the box. So maybe put something on them to angle a rocochet away from you, like hardened angle iron, if there is such a thing.

[tek4260]

I don't believe a handgun boolit would ricochet. I believe it would disintegrate and splatter at 90 degrees.

It only weighs 103, so you can carry it. After about 100 yards, you are shuffling instead of stepping with it :) Or at least I was.

[Gibson]

Nice work, tek.

[tek4260]

I forgot to post a few pictures of the finished-ish project.

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm35/tk3945/trap/DSCN1435.jpg
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm35/tk3945/trap/DSCN1442.jpg
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm35/tk3945/trap/DSCN1436.jpg

There is about 3" of lead in the bottom of the pipe

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm35/tk3945/trap/DSCN1438.jpg
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm35/tk3945/trap/DSCN1441.jpg

And some of the recovered boolits

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm35/tk3945/trap/DSCN1439.jpg

Seems to be holding up well, even though it is built from scrap. So far it has 22, 38, 44, 45, and 475's in the pipe.

[44man]

Looks darn good to me. Better then my rubber mulch thingy.

[**oneshot**]

I love the flattened boolits with the grooves visible. Looks like you painted them on there.

[Gibson]

Outstanding, young skywalker!

When should expect mine? You can even send it COD. :)

[Larry Gibson]

My only question is, is there any way the boolit can come back out of this design. The only area of concern is once it makes the first revolution around the pipe and comes to the joint where the side plates join.

Read post #5 of; http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/516406-just-finished-tested-my-prototype-indoor-bullet-trap.html

That should answer your question.

Larry Gibson

[JLDickmon]

I always have fun. Especially when I don't shoot my chrony :p

And when I am not pulling a chainsaw 500 times to get it started.....

why do you think the label says "Poulan?" Because you're poulan and poulan and poulan trying to start it...

[JLDickmon]

my Dad got me a similar one when I was a kid.. the main difference was the "snail" sat horizontal.. it had a cleanout hatch in the back..