Just finished/tested my prototype indoor bullet trap

[azasadny]

Originally Posted by Tim Hancock

Art,

I think my wife has bought a progressive reloading press for me for x-mas and I intend to reload all of my 9mm brass because most of the serious IDPA competitors are using 147 gr bullets vs the common store bought 115 gr stuff. When loaded properly, the 147 gr stuff just makes legal power factor for the class, but has less recoil for getting back on target faster.

Once I have shot up all my store bought 115 gr inventory, I should have a little over 4000 once fired cases to reload. Unfortunately I have to use plated bullets in the Glock (unless I go with an aftermarket barrel) which are a bit pricier. I will end up with close to the same money reloading as the store bought stuff, but it will be the lighter recoiling loads neccessary for competition.

Tim,
You're going to enjoy reloading! you should try Berry's Plated bullets from St George, UT for your Glock. I buy mine at Cabela's in Dundee and they are reasonably priced and shoot well and are easy to load. Lead bullets gum up the dies a little, but Berry's don't mess up the reloading dies and they seat and crimp consistently. Let me know if you need anything!

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by azasadny

Tim,
You're going to enjoy reloading! you should try Berry's Plated bullets from St George, UT for your Glock. I buy mine at Cabela's in Dundee and they are reasonably priced and shoot well and are easy to load. Lead bullets gum up the dies a little, but Berry's don't mess up the reloading dies and they seat and crimp consistently. Let me know if you need anything!

Will let you know if I need a little start up help, but my wife's boss and his son are already set up to do the IDPA 147gr rounds so I am guessing he will be over right after she gives it to me. Federal primers were what they used when they could get them as they were found to be the most reliable with the modded Glocks... I hope they become available again soon. Last I heard they were buying 1000 plated 147 gr 9mm bullets for just under $100...... Not sure what brand, but the local IDPA guys have been researching this stuff for quite some time in regard to the best pricing and powder/bullet/primer combos for target ammo for the 9mm Glocks.

[Joeaksa]

Tim,

Try spraying some "Pam" on the ramps going into the trap and see if that helps them any.

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by Joeaksa

Tim,

Try spraying some "Pam" on the ramps going into the trap and see if that helps them any.

I checked it out last night and there appears to be a slight flaky lead build up back in the tube portion. It does not appear to be a major issue, but I may experiment with running a flapper type sanding rod down thru it to smooth what was originally a rough rusty piece of pipe. I may try adding an extra machine mister I have laying around that sprays a fine mist of water/oil emulsion into the trap when I am using it.

I shot a couple hundred rounds again last night and am getting pretty frustrated that at best, I can only group at 2"- 3" at 25' with a Ruger Mark II that shoots 1/2" groups at that distance from my vice...... This is going to require some serious work on my part to hopefully get down to 1"-1.5" slow fire groups prior to the start of our winter fun shoot pistol league. I am aware of the fundamental concepts of bullseye shooting, but just can't seem to link them all together very well at this point.... When I concentrate on focusing on the front sight and minimizing arm movement, I probably blow my trigger control and vice/versa. I may never get really good, but I am determined to improve.

Practice practice practice.

[Tim Hancock]

I moved the trap back a bit and mounted it a bit higher on two sawhorses. I set some 1/8" scrap sheet metal panels against the back wall then set a 1" particle board against that then a sheet of 1/2" ply over that to keep oop's from going thru my pole building sheet metal. I also made a wood leading edge protector and squirted the thing with some rattle can black. I probably have about 1000 rounds thru it so far. I mainly having been shooting offhand at 25', but have also shot from my max distance of 40'. This is a blast shooting in my heated shop!

25' view


40' view




I also removed a cracked window from my garage door that faces out to my dirt berm. I made a Lexan slider type arrangement for shooting my centerfire stuff without going out in the cold.... Makes it easy to collect brass from the concrete floor. I am probably going to rig up a spotlight also to shoot in the evenings. I will probably also use the slider to pass a car exhaust hose thru when working on running cars.

[nynor]

strong work!

[scidlik]

Tim,
A few questions about your trap... Have you shot much 9mm in it? If so, is the 3/8" holding up? I plan to build myself one and will shoot up to 40 s&w into it. I plan to build with at least a 24" x 24" opening. What about jacketed bullets? .... I plan to shoot mostly lead. What about the angle of the plates.... did a 45 degree angle seem to be best? Last one.... did you suggest a 6" pipe instead of 4 1/2"?

Scott

[NP0]

Tim, The fourth picture of your bullet trap has me scratching my head a bit.
I was thinking a 'V' of the two sides sticking directly into and centered in the slot in the round tube, but now not so sure. I am drawing out a plan for another guy to weld this up for me but need to give him a correct layout. Also, did you check out any thinner steel stock?
Thanks, N.