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Non-destructive pellet trap?

Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2015 8:51 pm
by nester
I am looking for some ideas how to make a pellet trap which would not smash the pellets. Not that I am going to re-use the pellets, but I am (and especially my wife) not a big fan of producing lead dust.

Currently I have the box with duct seal putty - it works perfectly for the individual shots, but once hits start to accumulate around 10-ring - pellets start hitting each other, pieces of lead flying around, etc. etc..

Anyone can suggest a better setup?
(I am thinking about piece of thick heavy rubber (e.g. tire), free-hanging by the top. So when pellet hits the bottom part - it will not penetrate it, but lose energy to swing the rubber, and then just drop down)

This is what I have in the beginning:
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And this is in the end:
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Re: Non-destructive pellet trap?

Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2015 10:28 pm
by Dan Ide
My trap, which gets used for pistol, rifle, and has a place for silhouette targets is backed by a thick piece if industrial conveyor belt, hung at a slight slant. It drops the pellets pretty much straight down. Very quiet, and very little spatter.

Re: Non-destructive pellet trap?

Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2015 6:30 am
by Rover
Why do you guys have so much trouble accepting the fact that a box of rags is the best (quietest, cheapest, and cleanest) pellet trap?

Re: Non-destructive pellet trap?

Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2015 12:56 pm
by Marc Orvin
Rover wrote:Why do you guys have so much trouble accepting the fact that a box of rags is the best (quietest, cheapest, and cleanest) pellet trap?
Always trying to reinvent the mouse trap.

Re: Non-destructive pellet trap?

Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2015 2:51 pm
by Shooterer
Rover is right. After building all kinds of trap over the years, it took his advice in an earlier post and filled a box with rags and I haven't looked back.

Re: Non-destructive pellet trap?

Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2015 10:46 pm
by Andre
Rover wrote:Why do you guys have so much trouble accepting the fact that a box of rags is the best (quietest, cheapest, and cleanest) pellet trap?
Because I find beating a 10ga steel plate flat with a sledgehammer every few years is a good stress relief.

Re: Non-destructive pellet trap?

Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2015 4:24 pm
by peashooter
Well I've done the rag thing and it does eventually require attention. I also needed a really compact solution. I found that a lead plate made from melted down pellets and at least 5mm thick works very well. I have it in a thin box with some cardboard over the front, which contains the pellets which eventually form into a ball and just fall off into the box. Quiet. Set and forget.

Re: Non-destructive pellet trap?

Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2015 3:53 pm
by nester
Thanks everybody.
Indeed, ammo brick box filled with 1 old t-shirt worked perfectly - no lead, no mess.

Here is the new pellet trap:
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And this is after 200 shots:
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