BULLET TRAP COMPARISONS (PT.

2)
By: Ac'on Target

Without a doubt, bullet containment is the most important aspect of every indoor and outdoor range. Proper containment of red rounds means safety for your employees and customers, but with so many different types of bullet traps available on the market that promise to do this or that, choosing the right system can be hard. The purpose of this article is to provide accurate information and valuable education by examining various bullet trap theories, technologies, and applications in an objective manner.

TYPES OF BULLET TRAPS

Sand Berm Traps Ver'cal Rubber Granule Traps Rubber Block Traps Wet Funnel Traps Ver'cal Funnel Traps

SAND BERM TRAPS

The Sand Berm trap consists of 'ghtly grouped rubber curtains or lamellas which are hung from a support structure to create a bullet stopping barrier. As bullets pass through the layers of rubber strips, their energy is dissipated un'l they come to a stop. A steel plate is mounted at the back of the trap to block rounds that make it through the lamellas.

SAND BERM TRAPS

Because rubber is destroyed every 'me you shoot into it, the rubber strips are quickly shredded under any kind of moderate to heavy use.

SAND BERM TRAPS

The benets of a lamella trap include its small oor space requirement, and the ability to capture some bullets whole. Weaknesses include high maintenance costs, re hazard, messy appearance, and the restric'on of low volume shoo'ng only. Although one of the most quoted features of rubber traps is that bullets dont fragment on impact like they do on steel, this is only true un'l bullets start impac'ng other bullets already embedded in the rubber.

VERTICAL RUBBER GRANULE TRAPS

The Ver'cal Rubber Granule trap is a European design that uses a large steel chamber lled with chopped rubber and a penetrable rubber sheet across the front the keep the rubber granules in place.

VERTICAL RUBBER GRANULE TRAPS

The benets of a ver'cal rubber granule trap include its small oor space requirement, the ability to capture some bullets whole, and reduced lead dust levels. Weaknesses include massive ongoing maintenance, service costs (to clean the trap, bullets must be mined and separated from the rubber then disposed of properly), re hazard, and the restric'on of low volume shoo'ng only.

VERTICAL RUBBER GRANULE TRAPS

The front skin of the rubber granule trap is permanently damaged each 'me a bullet is red into it, causing rubber granules to spill out as larger holes are created. Regular patching and repair is oNen required to keep the granules in the chamber as the large bulges can compromise the structural integrity of the trap.

RUBBER BLOCK TRAPS

The rubber block trap is similar in concept to the rubber granule trap, except the rubber granules are molded together to form a solid object. The rubber blocks are stacked on top of each other to create a wall that serves as the bullet trap. When a bullet is red into the blocks, it is stopped and stored within the block itself.

RUBBER BLOCK TRAPS

The benets of a rubber block trap include its small oor space requirement and the ability to capture some bullets whole. Like all rubber traps, the blocks are damaged with every shot and large holes can quickly develop, severely limi'ng the traps ability to stop bullets. As the holes get larger, the blocks get weaker and the whole wall tends to collapse under its own weight. Weaknesses include UV breakdown, signicant ongoing maintenance, re hazard, and structural collapse.

WET FUNNEL TRAPS

The wet funnel trap incorporates gently sloping steel plates that reduce bullet fragmenta'on on impact. As bullets hit the plates, they are directed to the narrow end of the funnel and enter a decelera'on chamber where their energy is dissipated. While the upper impact plates remain dry, the lower plates are constantly ooded with a water and oil mixture that is intended to lubricate the steel. The water is con'nually recycled as it ows down the plates and into a holding tank where it is electrically pumped out and again sprayed on to the plates.

WET FUNNEL TRAPS

On indoor ranges, the increased humidity can leave an oily lm on the rest of the range and may cause HEPA lters in the ven'la'on system to clog. Frangible ammuni'on can also cause problems because the powder created by disintegra'ng bullets mixes with the water and hardens into a cement-like substance that requires an extremely dicult cleaning process.

WET FUNNEL TRAPS

The benets of a wet funnel trap include the durability of steel, reduced bullet fragmenta'on, reduced lead dust levels, and the ability to handle larger calibers. Weaknesses include its higher cost, large oor space requirement, water treatment chemicals, increased humidity, problems with frangible ammuni'on, maintenance of the electric pumps and lters, and its nonmodular construc'on.

VERTICAL FUNNEL TRAPS

Instead of a con'nuous horizontal funnel, the Ver'cal Funnel Trap uses a series ver'cally oriented funnel boxes to gather the bullets. As with a horizontal funnel, bullets are deected by the impact plates into a decelera'on chamber at the back of the trap where they are collected and stored.

VERTICAL FUNNEL TRAPS

As individual chambers are mounted next to each other, ver'cal edges that run from the top to the boYom of the trap are created. These edges can pose a signicant ricochet hazard. Addi'onally, the individual chamber design prohibits any cross-lane shoo'ng and greatly limits the exibility and func'onality of the trap as a whole.

VERTICAL FUNNEL TRAPS

The benets of a ver'cal funnel trap include the durability of steel, easier lead collec'on, and a smaller oor space requirement. Weaknesses include bullet fragmenta'on, no close-range shoo'ng, and no cross-lane shoo'ng.

There are hundreds of things to take into considera'on when building a shoo'ng range, with each bullet trap having a unique set of benets and weaknesses. However, every range owner and designer's top priority should always be safety for their customers, their employees, and the environment. Anyone planning on a new shoo:ng range build or upgrade should talk to an Ac:on Target representa:ve to nd the right equipment to t their needs and budget.

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