Bullet Box

[S4B]

A couple of weeks ago I built what I call a bullet box (target trap). It's a plywood box/cube filled with shredded rubber from old tires. I got the idea off another board. It got good reviews.
The box is 24 X 24 X 24 because it will be used primarily for pistol @ 25 yards.
We've put quite a few 22 rounds into it with no problems. Today I fired a bullseye load .45 into it and it didn't come out the back, so that's a good sign.
Some guys are filling a 5 gallon bucket with the stuff and it's stopping some rifle loads.
Why the rubber you ask, and not say sand. Well, as the front face gets shot up, the sand would run out, at least faster than the rubber would. I haven't open it up yet to see what's happening inside it, but they tell me that the bullets are almost in good enough to re-use. It should make it easy to recover them, without a lot of lead dust. It's quiet too. No noise like a bullet smacking a steel plate.
You can buy the rubber @ Wally World. They sell it for mulch or playground covering.
The biggest problem I'm having so far is the front face gets shot up, and the rubber leaking out. Right now, I'm just covering up the holes with duct-tape when we're done. I might try to find some rubber matting to place on the front. It should be kind of self-sealing, to a certain extent.
It's still a work in progress, but seems to be a success.

[Smokin_Gun]

Sounds like a good Target Box/Bullet Trap ... I like the idea. It's a good project I'd dare say 

[bjmac]

S4B you know the rules. Projects need pictures!

[S4B]

S4B you know the rules. Projects need pictures!

Well, ya, but a 24" cube painted grey makes for a pretty boring pic.

[Smokin_Gun]

S4B you could always put baloons in front as a target or one a them exploding ones, 0r even an empty bean can and do a short movie clip of it whilst ya fire sumfin at it. That be exciting not boring ... Always wanted to do that 

[prof marvel]

And photos of the disassembly and recovery of the bullets!

and photos of the bullets!

and more closeup photos of the bullets!

did I mention photos of the recovered bullets would be nice?

and how about an acid test, shoot it with a 12 ga  rifled slug, and a 45-70.

and then photos of the recovered bullets.

your humble and obsessed servant, ( temporarily living vicariously through the internet posting of etherial friends)
prof marvel

[S4B]

I have it sealed up pretty good to keep the weather out. I don't plan on opening it up for a while. With all that rubber in it, I envision it to be a big job to sort the lead from the rubber.
The way I calculate it, it takes 175 22s to get one pound of lead. That's about what's in it right now. It might be a good job for a winters day.

[S4B]

The guy that did most of the development for this has posted the penetration of several firearms.
Here's what he come up with.

Caliber Weight Speed Average Depth

.22LR     30 gr  1300        13.5”
.22LR     40 gr  1150         12”
.22LR     40 gr  1050        10”
.22Mag   40 gr  1875       14-22”
.22Mag   30 gr  2300        10”
.22Mag   30 gr  2200        12”
.223       40-gr 3200        11.5”
.223       55-gr 2950         21”
.380       90     830           10”
.380      100    850           10”
.357      130 1300           19”
.357      150L 1250           23”
.357      158   675            11”
.45        200  800           14.5
.44Mag   240L 1000         23”
.44Mag   240  1450        30.5”
.44Mag   180 1800          30”
.30 cal    150 1300          23”
.30 cal    150 2000          25.5”
.30cal     150 2390          20”

[Smokin_Gun]

It's an impressive Box you got there S4B ... How did you chop up the tires, or did you buy the material(rubber) precut in bulk?

[S4B]

You can buy the rubber @ Wally World. They sell it for mulch or playground covering.