# Advice wanted for construction of a bullet trap **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 20, 2014, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-wanted-for-construction-of-a-bullet-trap/696018 "2014-08-20T17:19:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-wanted-for-construction-of-a-bullet-trap/696018/21 "2014-08-21T14:38:23Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > (disclaimer: I have never fired a 22 caliber anything. But the idea of metal backstops which cause intentional ricochets seems dangerous. (even at a “safe” angle of 45 degrees–it’s still a bullet. ) Considering almost every indoor range (civilian and military) I’ve ever used has had some variation on the “boiler-plate and sand pit” backstop, I think we can call it proven tech. **Obbn** – I would check your local sportsmens league or possibly even the NRA for specs and plans. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-wanted-for-construction-of-a-bullet-trap/696018/22 "2014-08-21T16:11:52Z")
I want to know where you are getting .22LR ammo. Seems to be a bit of a shortage lately. Scarce as Hen Teeth. ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-wanted-for-construction-of-a-bullet-trap/696018/23 "2014-08-21T16:22:22Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > I want to know where you are getting .22LR ammo. Seems to be a bit of a shortage lately. Scarce as Hen Teeth. It’s been 23 months since I’ve seen .22LR ammo on store shelves, other than the occasional 50-round box priced at $8 to $12. I keep reading on the interweb that 22 ammo is/will become more available, but I have yet to see any evidence. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-wanted-for-construction-of-a-bullet-trap/696018/24 "2014-08-21T17:46:58Z")
> [@Orwell](#): > > It’s been 23 months since I’ve seen .22LR ammo on store shelves… No kiddin’! I used to wander into WalMart and be able to grab as many 550 round boxes as I wanted for about $22 each. Over the last year, I’ve been damn lucky to be allowed to buy _one_ box, because I checked a store I happened to be passing by at 8:30am. My wife was waiting in the car, so I sent her in right after me, and she got damn near the last box! It was Remington, which I don’t prefer, but felt lucky just to get some. At least they didn’t jack the price. Still about $25 after tax. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-wanted-for-construction-of-a-bullet-trap/696018/25 "2014-08-21T19:11:59Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > I want to know where you are getting .22LR ammo. Seems to be a bit of a shortage lately. Scarce as Hen Teeth. 1/4 inch steel should be plenty for Hen Teeth. Unless they’re magnum, I mean. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-wanted-for-construction-of-a-bullet-trap/696018/26 "2014-08-21T19:52:29Z")
My uncle built a cube of old railroad ties. 8’ wide, 8’ high, 8’ deep. It would stop anything, including an out-of-control pickup truck. :eek: Overlapping, angled plates of steel over a sand trap is very effective and the lead and copper can easily be recovered by sifting the sand. Bang, clang, bang, clang. I win. You sift the trap. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-wanted-for-construction-of-a-bullet-trap/696018/27 "2014-08-21T20:25:09Z")
[You can buy them.](http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?pdesc=All-Outdoors-Bullet-Box-17/22-Caliber&i=427496&r=view&cvsfa=2586&cvsfe=2&cvsfhu=343237343936&gclid=CISk9daWpcACFcRAMgodikUAsQ) I have one that I used in my basement for air guns. .22 rimfires vaporize at that close of a range. Lead dust is nasty stuff so I didn’t use it much. The sticker that is on the bullet trap I linked gives a minimum distance, 70 ft. if I recall correctly. At my new place I built a back stop out of logs with dirt piled around and behind. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-wanted-for-construction-of-a-bullet-trap/696018/28 "2014-08-21T20:42:16Z")
[Here’s one on YouTube with links at right to many more bullet trap videos.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31-xFLEXqew) ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-wanted-for-construction-of-a-bullet-trap/696018/29 "2014-08-21T21:24:56Z")
And now I have a use for those old railroad ties that no one will take. Thanks Straight Dope! ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-wanted-for-construction-of-a-bullet-trap/696018/30 "2014-08-21T23:27:09Z")
> [@Orwell](#): > > I would go ahead and build a dirt mound, or a railroad tie backstop A mound of dirt is O.K. as long as the temperature stays above 32 F; below that, bullets will ricochet. IMO, railroad ties are the best all around solution. That’s what I use. A pile of them will last many years, and will withstand any caliber. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-wanted-for-construction-of-a-bullet-trap/696018/31 "2014-08-22T04:38:52Z")
You need a Grassy Knoll. ---
**Author:** ![dstarfire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dstarfire/32/5762_2.png) [@dstarfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dstarfire)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2014, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-wanted-for-construction-of-a-bullet-trap/696018/32 "2014-08-22T21:12:27Z")
\ what’s so dangerous about ricochets from a .22? From what I’ve seen on Mythbusters, bullets tend to spatter when they hit a solid steel plate, even at fairly shallow angles. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-wanted-for-construction-of-a-bullet-trap/696018.md?page=1)