Bulked Up Plywood Target - Not Bulked Up Enough

[Abraham]

I bought a sheet of 4' X 8' - 5/8" thick Plywood - had it cut in half - installed the now 4' sheets front and back side of 2 - 8' landscaping timbers, leaving 2' legs for ground installation - then tightly tamped/compacted topsoil between sheets with a 4' landscaping timber installed on bottom of frame holding topsoil in place - finally planted whole thing in post hole dug holes.

Put target on above and .22 LR rounds completely penetrated it.

Sigh...!

I was convinced this much bulk couldn't be penetrated by a mere .22 cal LR from a pistol, but I was wrong.

So - where can I obtain and what are the specifics for metal backing.

I am concerned about ricochets using metal, but perhaps by the time the round hits most of the energy will be dissipated and shouldn't be a concern or am I wrong?

Or, go to a junk yard and look for ...?

Today I plan to get another sheet of cut in half plywood and beef up the target, but of course in time this will be chewed up so I need metal backing, I think...?

Suggestions anyone?

Thanks!

[southboundp]

Sounds like you did a heck of a lot of work. Sounds cool. Wish I had some suggestions.

[seamusTX]

.22 LR rounds will shatter and bounce off metal and come right back in your face. I have some metal targets. You have to shoot them from around 20 yards minimum.

A bale of straw will stop .22 LR and function indefinitely. That's an inexpensive solution.

- Jim

[joe817]

How about a steel plate of same dimensions, but have the steel plate(angled away from the target), the plywood target and the ground form a triangle. That way the penetrated bullets will be deflected to the ground. Kind of like a bullet trap.

[Abraham]

I never considered hay bales - great idea.

Thanks Jim

joe817

Your idea sounds good too, but the cost of hay bales vs. cost of metal appeals a bit more to me...

[seamusTX]

Straw, not hay. Hay rots, and animals eat it.

Straw also costs less than half of hay.

- Jim

[marksiwel]

Whatever happened to Sandbags?

[Rex B]

As Joe817 suggested, plate steel is best. Find a surplus sheet of 1/4" about 4x4 or larger.

Have two large angle-iron legs welded on so it sits at 45 degrees. Couple of steel plate "feet" will keep it from sinking.

It will last darn near forever.

[HankB]

When I had a range in my basement, I had a piece of 1/4" steel plate, angled down at 45 degrees, where it hit another steel plate. Also had some lighter sheet metal on the sides, as the bullets tended to spatter. Worked well.

When setting up your range, be aware of what a bullet that misses backstop entirely might do.

[juggernaut]

I use paper targets and replace them each session. I use furring strips to hold the paper and replace those when they get shot up too much.

[Chemist45]

I used to have a .22 bullet trap in my basement.

It was something like this:
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?p ... ber=744831" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Here are instructions on making your own if you have metal working capability:
http://www.reloadammo.com/backstop.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[jimlongley]

When I was a kid we had one like that, it worked fine until my brother decided to see if it would work for an M1 Carbine with military full patch ball.

The resulting dent spit lead back uprange, so it was eventually consigned to the barn, where it was still rusting away 30 years later.

[The Annoyed Man]

Sandwich several layers of high tech ceramics and Kevlar between two sheets of 6" thick steel plate. Pour resin into all the empty spaces.

VOILA!!

Your own home made chabum armor backstop!

It's so simpo.

[KD5NRH]

Sounds like you need more depth, and maybe clean sand rather than topsoil to make sure there aren't any voids or other areas of low density:
http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot7.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[CDH]

The resulting dent spit lead back uprange, so it was eventually consigned to the barn, where it was still rusting away 30 years later.

This is the problem with metal backing plates. Craters present a ricochet hazard...so the best answer is to either use something that will not crater (within a reasonable lifetime) or something replaceable (like dirt).

AR plate is popular, but expensive. Anything from sand to crumb rubber (shredded tires) will work if you get enough.