Bullet trap technology has been mired in confusion, misunderstanding, and misinformation, with the various approaches to bullet containment and disposal becoming as diverse as they are numerous. This article provides accurate information and valuable education by examining various bullet trap theories, technologies, and applications in an objective manner. Read the full article here (http://www.actiontarget.com/bullet-trap-comparisons-pt-1) Related Keywords: bullet trap, shooting range, indoor shooting range, shooting range equiptment, Action Target

1. BULLET TRAP COMPARISONS (PT. 1)
By:
Ac'on
Target

2. For
many
years,
bullet
trap
technology
has
been
mired
in
confusion,
misunderstanding,
and
misinforma'on.
The
various
approaches
to
bullet
containment
and
disposal
have
become
as
diverse
as
they
are
numerous.
The
purpose
of
this
ar'cle
is
to
provide
accurate
informa'on
and
valuable
educa'on
by
examining
various
bullet
trap
theories,
technologies,
and
applica'ons
in
an
objec've
manner.

3. TYPES OF BULLET TRAPS
•
Sand
or
Dirt
Berm
•
Pit
and
Plate
Trap
•
Water
and
Plate
Trap
•
Vene'an
Blind
Trap
•
The
Escalator
Trap

4. THE SAND OR DIRT BERM
The
sand
or
dirt
berm
uses
the
mass
of
the
berm
itself
to
stop
and
store
bullets,
and
on
outdoor
ranges
can
literally
be
the
side
of
a
mountain;
on
indoor
ranges
however,
some
type
of
structure
or
barricade
is
generally
used
to
support
the
berm
and
hold
back
the
sand.

5. THE SAND OR DIRT BERM
Concentra'ons
of
lead
(called
hot
spots)
can
form
behind
targets
causing
subsequent
shots
to
ricochet
and
bounce
back
toward
the
shooter.
Sand
and
dirt
berms
are
coming
under
increasingly
harsh
environmental
scru'ny
due
to
high
lead
levels
in
the
ground
around
the
trap
and
the
tendency
of
the
lead
to
seep
into
surrounding
ground
water.

6. THE SAND OR DIRT BERM
Ul'mately,
benefits
of
a
sand
berm
include
low
cost,
rela'vely
low
maintenance,
and
the
ability
to
use
any
kind
of
ammuni'on.
Weaknesses
include
poten'al
environmental
hazards,
expensive
mining,
and
hot
spot
ricochet.

7. THE PIT AND PLATE TRAP
In
a
pit
and
plate
trap,
a
steel
plate
is
used
to
redirect
bullets
into
a
bed
of
sand.
The
steel
is
oRen
called
a
“Smash”
plate
because
the
acute
angle
causes
bullets
to
smash
into
small
pieces
on
impact
before
they
are
scaTered
on
the
sand
below.
Under
moderate
to
heavy
use,
a
thick
lead
build-­‐up
can
develop
in
the
back
corner
of
the
trap
causing
bullets
to
be
deflected
back
toward
the
shooter.

8. THE PIT AND PLATE TRAP
The
benefits
of
a
pit
and
plate
trap
include
lower
ini'al
cost
and
simple
installa'on.
Weaknesses
include
bullet
fragmenta'on
on
impact,
lead
build-­‐up,
ricochet,
and
high
maintenance.

9. THE WATER AND PLATE TRAP
A
water
and
plate
trap
is
similar
to
the
pit
and
plate
trap,
except
the
sand
is
replaced
by
a
large
trough
of
water;
bullets
s'll
fragment
into
smaller
pieces
aRer
impact,
but
bullet
fragments
simply
splash
into
the
water
and
sink
to
the
boTom
of
the
trough.

10. THE WATER AND PLATE TRAP
Lead
must
be
shoveled
or
scooped
from
the
water
and
dispose
of
it
properly.
The
water
in
the
trough
must
be
replenished
due
to
evapora'on,
and
the
evapora'on
can
cause
increased
range
humidity
and
ven'la'on
system
problems.
The
benefits
of
a
water
and
plate
trap
include
lower
lead
dust
levels
and
no
ricochet
off
other
bullets.
Weaknesses
include
bullet
fragmenta'on
on
impact,
maintenance
of
the
water,
and
the
limita'on
to
indoor
use
only.

11. THE VENETIAN BLIND TRAP
A
Vene'an
Blind
trap
uses
a
series
of
angled
steel
smash
plates
to
redirect
bullets
to
the
back
and
boTom
of
the
trap,
with
some
versions
of
this
trap
including
smash
plates
mounted
loosely
to
help
absorb
some
of
the
bullets’
energy.

12. THE VENETIAN BLIND TRAP
To
keep
bullet
splaTer
from
bouncing
back
at
the
shooter,
rubber
curtains
are
oRen
mounted
across
the
en're
face
of
the
trap.
Because
rubber
is
destroyed
every
'me
it's
shot,
these
curtains
must
be
replaced
or
patched
frequently
to
maintain
their
effec'veness.

13. THE VENETIAN BLIND TRAP
The
benefits
of
a
vene'an
blind
trap
include
the
durability
of
steel,
no
sand
or
granules,
and
a
small
floor
space
requirement.
Weaknesses
include
bullet
fragmenta'on
on
impact,
splaTer
and
ricochet,
no
close-­‐
range
shoo'ng,
and
maintenance
of
the
rubber
curtains.

14. THE ESCALATOR TRAP
The
escalator
trap
is
another
old-­‐fashioned
steel
trap
that
uses
steeply
angled
smash
plates
to
stop
bullets
and
direct
the
fragments
to
an
open
collec'on
area.

15. THE ESCALATOR TRAP
Some
manufacturers
recommend
that
the
impact
plates
be
coated
with
oil
to
reduce
fragmenta'on,
however,
this
oil
can
be
washed
away
into
the
surrounding
soil
if
the
trap
is
not
protected
from
the
elements
in
outdoor
applica'ons.
The
same
system
of
protec've
rubber
curtains
may
also
be
necessary
with
this
trap
due
to
the
acute
angle
of
its
steel
smash
plates.

16. THE ESCALATOR TRAP
Benefits
of
an
escalator
trap
include
the
durability
of
steel
and
no
sand
or
rubber
granules.
Weaknesses
include
bullet
fragmenta'on
on
impact,
no
close-­‐range
shoo'ng,
maintenance
of
the
rubber
curtains,
and
poor
lead
storage
and
collec'on.

17. Although
bullet
trap
technology
has
been
mired
in
confusion,
misunderstanding,
and
misinforma'on,
that
doesn't
mean
that
bullet
trap
construc'on
needs
to
be
confusing
or
difficult.
Ac'on
Target's
range
experts
can
help
any
shoo'ng
range
get
answers
to
their
ques'ons,
ensuring
that
the
range
has
a
cost-­‐effec've,
efficient,
and
-­‐
more
than
anything
-­‐
safe
bullet
trap.

18. Read
more
and
comment
by
visi'ng
www.Ac'onTarget.com
and
click
on
“Ac'on
Target
Journal”
- OR -
Get
there
directly
at
www.Ac'onTarget.com/bullet-­‐trap-­‐comparisons-­‐pt-­‐1