1/2" AR500 will stop 308 at 100, dimple at 50. avoid hyper velocity wonder cartridges and it will last just about forever.

 

Here's a link to some targets I built last year.... I used 1/2" cold rolled steel plate. I use 'em for classes, and they do just fine with handgun calibers up to .45 ACP. No cratering, just some very minor marks. I'm very pleased with 'em. Total cost of the steel was under $185 for enough steel to do all three targets.

http://www.gunandgame.com/forums/other-accessories/120771-steel-tqargets-just-made-some.html

 

I've seen steel core Mosin ammo punch through half inch steel plate at 100 yards, spalling the rear side. Don't know what steel the plate was made from. I think a great deal depends on what kind of steel is used.

 

I've put in a a few hardened steel plates under Judges benches.
It was so hard it had to be cut before hand.
I would go with 1" hardened steel plate.

 

I'm only shooting a maximum distance of 50'. It's for a basement.

I was thinking of using this from this company.



44 LS Model Bullet Bunker (24″ wide x 16″ tall x 12″ deep) $699.00

Two good major things come from a product like this. It contains the fragments and lead splatter and you can shoot anything at it.

If I went with regular steel plates, I'd have to use lead free frangible bullets so it'd be safer and not create a lead hazardous environment.

Now, I'm not saying I have to go with this product, but I thought it'd be a good idea. I also don't know what other products are out there that are self-sealing and hold the fragments inside.

 

I found this. Is this good enough quality for what I want to do? I was thinking I could design my own "trap" box and use this plate as the backing for the box.

ASTM A514 AR400 Abrasion Resistant Steel Plate

1/2" thickness. 3x3' $297

ASTM A514 AR400 Abrasion Resistant Steel Plate | Buy Online | Cut to Size | No Minimum Order

 

Are you looking to shoot indoors? Is this why you are concerned with the lead hazard? If you are shooting indoors you are going to need the area to be well ventilated regardless.

The Abrasive resistant steel is certainly what you would want to go with. I would also have it angled at a 20 deg or better angle so it would deflect the bullets downward into a sand trap or other type of trap. For a back splash/ricochet preventer you could use reinforced conveyor belt like what's used in a rock quarry or a concrete plant. I am sure if you were to go to one of those places you could buy some of their used belt for pretty cheap. It will take a lot of abuse.

 

Yes, I'm going to shoot it inside and I will have ventilation. I want to build this in my basement and I believe the distance maximum is 25' with a width of 15'. I know it's short, but I'm only plinking with .22 LR, 9mm pistol, and occasionally a 8mm Mauser, or .223 AR. I'm not really concerned what it takes to achieve this, but I want to make it happen .

I was hoping I could make the exact box I picture in my previous post, but for less money than $700. I don't weld and I'd like to make something very simple and not huge that can't fit through the single door.

I'm not entirely sure what thickness steel I need. Some say a FMJ will go through a 1/2" plate of steel and others say I need to use soft point if I want to shoot an AR15.

If this might be such a problem with the type of caliber I want to shoot, I might as well buy the $700 box from that company because it can accommodate ALL calibers.

I know this is a second huge question and thought I should save it for later, but I figured I'd ask anyway. What's the cheapest, but still pretty effective way to dampen the DB level's in a basement that's surrounded by cinder block walls?

What do you guys think my best options are?

 

Indoor shooting range in your basement would be way cool. I've welded for a long time. You're going to need at least 1 inch plate it needs to be hard steel plate. The conveyor belt would be great for stopping splatter. As far as using a 8 x 57 in a basement or a 5.56 x 45 round in a basement that is only 25 feet to me is crazy. Reason being is especially with the 8 x 57 is the muzzle blast is going to be unreal. Maybe not for you with your protection but anyone in the house or that happened to live within 50 feet or so from your basement is not going to be happy. Unless you insulate really well. But indoor range for 22 and 9 mm sounds cool anyway that's just my thoughts. If you only use 22 or 9 mm . A lighter trap that cost far less can be used. Anyway good luck

 

Learn to weld or find someone to do it for you. I would say the steeper the angle the better up to about 45 degrees and behind the belt crossing all the way through to top and bottom and a section on the top filled with hard packed sand just in case. As far as what to shoot.... to me in an enclosed area that small I would say nothing bigger then a pistol caliber and with a supressor if thats legal in your area. On the topic of is it legal.... make double D#MN sure it is legal to be shooting in your basement at all, we dont want you getting in trouble for something that was ment to be fun

 

I will second the checking local laws before doing it. Even if you are shooting in your home it could still be considered discharging a firearm within city limits. That would be a bad thing if you went to all the trouble and expense to make it happen to then have the police come knocking on your door and ruin your day, month, and year with charges.

As far as sound dampening I would say you would need to use insulation and lots of it. R-30 at the very least.

 

I just tested the AR and handgun in the basement. It's honestly, not that bad with ear protection and from a bystander that was outside said it's not that loud. It sounds like a nail gun he said. I'm thinking that because the basement is under ground and there's dirt surrounding all of the walls on the outside, it makes it semi decent for sound protection. As far as neighbors are concerned, I don't really have any. I have a lot of woods behind me. the closest house to mine is down the hill about 200'.

I hope that soundproofing the walls would do the trick.