[Long Shanks]

I'm looking to buy or make a portible shooting backstop for up to .45 acp. Would like it to be no more than 24" in diameter and reasonably light weight. Any thoughts or suggestions will be appreiciated.

[elmer fudd]

thick wood with steel behind it like 4 inches of plywood then a piece of tin behind it then some more wood.

[wunhunglo]

Quote:       Originally Posted by Long Shanks

I'm looking to buy or make a portible shooting backstop for up to .45 acp. Would like it to be no more than 24" in diameter and reasonably light weight. Any thoughts or suggestions will be appreiciated.

How portable does it have to be, cos the 45acp takes some stopping sometimes. man portable, two men portable, truck portable??? What range you gonna be shooting at, what about a danger/safety area behind it??? I've never seen a portable one, but of course that doesn't mean that they aren't out there somewhere!
I would be looking at around 4" wood and 1/4''steel plate.

[Long Shanks]

man portable would be good. this will be used indoors at 30'-50'. there is a concrete wall behind with stacks of old tires in front

[elmer fudd]

than i am pretty sure my idea is prorobly enough

[SwedeSteve]

I'll send you my sister-in-law!!

[elmer fudd]

^ LOL

[.22hustler]

We used 1/4 boiler plate tilted at about 45 degrees, and that was suspended over a tub of sand.This was indoors at approx 30'.

[toolman]

I like the old small bales of hay.

[SwedeSteve]

Sorry! I reread your post about 24 inch requirement. I can still send you my sister-in-law, and you'd have enough backstop for 3 shooters. But you have to pay for the freight and feed!

[SwedeSteve]

Dang! No takers?

[GlennM]

Indoor range, 1/4 inch hardened steel on the rear backstop portion. Angle is important, as well as a trap at the bottom with sand.

[Windwalker]

Very nice Glen. What angle did you use and how deep should the sand be?

[Romey]

I have made some simuliar to Glenns back stop but at the bottom it rounded , made a catch for the lead to spin into, made a cool ZZZZZZZZZZ sound too. I would how ever suggest NOT using hardened steel.
I dont have a photo but the backstops we made where about 2 ft tall and 3 ft wide, portable,for 2 men..and a mule

[GlennM]

40 to 45 degree angle works. The larger trap's sand tray (you can see it's rounded also, near the rear of the trap so that it KEEPS any frags from straying out of the sand) is about 2 inches deep. The smaller trap, believe it or not, isn't nearly as noisy as the larger one. For some reason, the harmonics on the big one is quite nasty and resounds with a very loud PING when a bullet hits it... most noticeable when using CCI CB Longs (which are very quiet and nice to shoot indoors).

We used the $70 .22 LR and air rifle backstop that Cabela's sells as our model. The smaller one is hardened steel, the larger one is standard 1/4" steel. Right now we're wondering if there's a reason the hardened steel is quieter to shoot in to. Jury is still out, pending more "investigation" during the next match.

[GlockMeister]

So basically a good solid used tractor shove/bucket would work then wouldn't it? Hell, I just might have to look for one if it would. Problem is, city ordinance makes it so you can't discharge a firearm within city limits. DOH!