Backstop Build

[Glynbarr]

Hi all.
Thought I would utilise an old DIY cupboard I built ages ago.
Re purposed it into a backstop for shooting.
Lined the back with carpet then 18mm MDF and then carpet again.
I have bought some spinning targets from Brinkworth smithy and will use them on a threaded bar on the bottom section with targets or cans etc on the top section.

Any improvements or ideas would be welcome.

 

[Mad Andy]

I've done something similar recently. Great minds and all that

What are the chances of ricochets from the MDF?

 

[Glynbarr]

I've done something similar recently. Great minds and all that

What are the chances of ricochets from the MDF?

I done some Test shots from approx 5-6m away (length of my garage) and I actually thought the pellets weren’t coming out the end.
I run my hand over the carpet and couldn’t feel anything.
So got a milk bottle from the recycling bucket and shot that.
Pellets were firing and going straight through.
It just soaked them up beautifully.
I imagine the carpet lining is stopping bounce back and the pellets are sinking into the 18mm MDF

 

[Mad Andy]

Good work. I like the carpet idea.
Does it help contain the sound much?

 

[Glynbarr]

Good work. I like the carpet idea.
Does it help contain the sound much?

Yeah to be fair like I said you don’t hear or feel like pellets are actually hitting which makes you feel like are they even leaving the barrel.
So yeah I would say it’s probably a pretty quiet backstop.
But all depends on what you expect is quiet.

 

[philpot]

I tried a paving slab with a piece of old carpet on the front, totally quiet and no passage of pellets. I had thought of adding two slab sides and one to act as a roof but didn't actually feel it was needed.

Phil

 

[Mac22]

fitted carpets off cuts with a good backing are great for Sub12 backstop. Very quiet and no pellets bouncing around.

 

[Mad Andy]

I'm making this into a target area. At the moment it has slabs behind it.
Maybe I should line it with, and put carpet at the back..

 

[Tom A]

I've done something similar recently. Great minds and all that

What are the chances of ricochets from the MDF?

Rigid board shouldn't give you any richocets, so 18mm mdf or mfc should be reasonably safe. Loose 6-12mm ply is generally the worst stuff for returning pellets to sender. Anything with any degree of flex is a bad idea.

My backstop of choice would be a paving slab. They're cheap, easy to cut to size, and will stop pellets dead. I've been using the same slab for ages, and it's hardly scuffed.

 

[Beaver]

Well done