This is an ongoing project spurred by changes in CA State laws.
As I'll be reloading nearly all my range ammo in 2018 because of the imposition of additional fees, I'd like to have a bullet trap so I can safely and efficiently recycle the lead I shoot---light to mid range loads launching .38 spl., .44 spl., and .45 acp.
Having the BLM range to myself for mining the berm is a hit and miss deal, so I think a bullet trap(s) makes sense. Steel traps are out of my budget and I'm leery of DIY fabrications because of the risk of ricochets and also the greater distances recommended for shooting steel---others do it but my range isn't very large and I am a coward. My solution so far is a 5 gallon plastic bucket filled with clean sand dampened and pressed firm) and a snap on lid upon which a target (bulls eye or reduced silhouette) can be taped. A 1/4" piece of hardware cloth for a sieve and a second 5 gallon bucket should make retrieving bullets simple work.
My problem is with sand leaking out of bullet holes. There are self sealing round targets 9" in diameter at Walmart (kind of expensive) I'm thinking of experimenting with. Other than that, I could use duct tape "pasters" to stem the dribbling sand. The other problem is making a lightweight collapsible stand to support the sand trap at "target elevation" rather than "rattle snake ground level."
A 5 gallon bucket of damp sand gets pretty heavy!
Anyway, that's my latest project----any thoughts or suggestions?