TargetTalk

I have the Gehmann 188 Target holder and I have used it for years with no issues. However, I switched to RWS R10 match premium pellets recently, and they are sticking to the spring plate. Is that normal?

ihasagun wrote:I have the Gehmann 188 Target holder and I have used it for years with no issues. However, I switched to RWS R10 match premium pellets recently, and they are sticking to the spring plate. Is that normal?

I THINK I have the same type of holder; black mild steel, designed to hold a standard sized Edelmann or Krueger target, with a slightly slanted backing plate behind which is a rather large spring. I've also had mine for years and it, too, recently started exhibiting the same symptom, i.e., pellets sticking to the plate. Upon closer examination I realized that over the years small smears of pellet lead had built up over the center of the plate and that's what the pellets are sticking to. I tried removing some of the lead with a file, but decided that it was unhealthy to create the lead dust, so I simply turned the plate over and used the back side.

When the time comes, I will simply replace the entire plate with a piece of similarly sized mild or stainless steel, depending upon what's in my scrap pile.

Hope this helps.

Dennis in the PRK

The one I have has a plate that is not slanted at all. However, I was able to flip the plate around. We'll see how it does.

I'm still getting some stickage.

Try rubbing some parafin or candle wax on the surface. You may have to renew it occasionally, but that should help. Grease would work too, but the wax lasts longer.

Had the same thing happen. Rubbed some silicon grease on the plate and never had it happen again.

Avoid oil as it'll diesel (not really a problem if you don't mind the smell)

Why not try cleaning it with some barrel deleading fluid? A nice smear of inorganic grease should help after.

I have what I'm sure is the same pellet trap, but don't know for certain it's a Gehmann. I got it from Cibles Canada Targets. I have four of them actually and they accept 17x17 cm pistol targets.

What I did with mine is to stick a brick of duct seal putty inside on top of the plate. That does two things: It muffles the sound considerably because the pellet is hitting putty instead of the steel back plate directly, and second, it totally prevents bounce. Every once in awhile I shake out the loose lead over a garbage bin. This is what one of mine looks like after *thousands* of shots:



I get the duct seal putty from Home Depot here in Canada and a "brick" of it costs under three bucks. The competing hardware chain up here, Reno Depot, also has putty for a similar price but the one they have is a lot messier and very very sticky. I much prefer the one from Home Depot.

Cheers!

I have similar putty setup except my pellets are all in a little pile in the centre ;-)

TenMetrePeter wrote:I have similar putty setup except my pellets are all in a little pile in the centre ;-)

Very funny! My excuse (a legitimate one!) is that I've got four friends who come over to shoot and none of them have their own guns (yet) nor are they very good. But we're all having a lot of fun!

That looks like the same target holder. I tried using pelgun oil on the spring plate and that seemed to reduce, but not eliminate, the issue. I will get some silicone grease and some putty and try those. Thanks!

My boyfriend says he has lithium grease. Any reason to prefer silicone grease?

ihasagun wrote:My boyfriend says he has lithium grease. Any reason to prefer silicone grease?

It needs to be high melting point grease to prevent the lead "soldering" itself to the steel. Silicone grease can be applied to a propane torch nozzle without burning or melting. I'm not sure lithium grease is up to that.

TenMetrePeter wrote:

ihasagun wrote:My boyfriend says he has lithium grease. Any reason to prefer silicone grease?

It needs to be high melting point grease to prevent the lead "soldering" itself to the steel. Silicone grease can be applied to a propane torch nozzle without burning or melting. I'm not sure lithium grease is up to that.

Thanks. I looked it up, and if the Internet is to be trusted, silicone grease has a melting point around 250 Celsius degrees, and lithium grease is 190 to 220 Celsius degrees.

I think most greases you have on hand would do the trick.

I can't imagine an air pistol pellet having enough energy to raise the temperature at the contact point anywhere near 200C. If you don't mind going in there regularly to add more when/if it dries out, use any grease you like. But an inorganic grease such as a silicone-based one won't need as much attention.

I've tried a couple things on my trap plate, and some have smoked and left a zorched smell in the air. I wouldn't be surprised if a really flammable grease could get overly exciting.

we have to collect targets from the holders every 5 shots and there is a definite burning smell on the plates similar to a struck match. There is enough energy converted from kinetic to thermal to cause lead splatter which suggests local instantaneous temperatures at the interface close to 300 deg C, the melting point of lead.

I've just received my second holder, my first one actually started to let pellets through - right in the centre. Going forward, I've squashed a tin can under foot and rested that against the back plate to take some of the punishment away. I started shooting this morning and can see that I'm going to have to turn the tin upside down to refresh the 'hit' area. before long I'll replace the tin and dispatch the old one into the recycle bin. come to think of it I might put two squashed tins in.

Tom

That must be thin! we use 3mm steel plate. Our boxes came with 1.5mm plates with a leaf spring behind it so we also replaced it with a coil spring from an old mattress to take the impact. They take 5000 to 10000 shots before they get bowed too convex.