Well I am going to buy my twins(10 year old identical girls)thier first gun, a 22 bolt action single shot for thier birthday in march. I want to set up a 50 foot range in my back yard for them to learn and practice on using shorts. For a backstop I was going to use a piece of metal to deflect the rounds into the ground. What angle should I put the metal at? What type of metal and what gauge? They will only be shooting 22 shorts.

The Tazman aka Martin Price
Founder and President of
Virginia Disabled Outdoorsmen Club

Taz, Im not sure deflecting the bullet with a piece of metal is the safest way to go. I had tried the same technique with a pellet gun years ago, and sometimes one would get away. Not a big deal with an air gun, but things could get tense with a .22.

Get a cardboard box and lay WET newspaper in it til
its full, tip it on its side and you have a great target.
A 22 wont go thru it, but if you are gonna shoot somnething
with more power just put a stack of firewood or something behind
it. I do this with my .50 cal muzzleloader, very few bullets
go all the way thru but Ive found that if I put a phonebook
or two in there it stops em all. Great way to recover bullets
and see how each one performs also.

sitter I am going to angle the metal to deflect the bullets into the ground.

Indiana Dude those are good ideas, but I am looking for something permanent and also something that will guide the bullets right into the ground, I do like your idea though for checking bullet expansion with my heavier guns though.



The Tazman aka Martin Price
Founder and President of
Virginia Disabled Outdoorsmen Club

Taz that is a good question I'm still alittle concerned about useing metal though, even with the metal angled the bullets are still going to pit the metal. Once the metal is pitted the bullet could hit and go anywhere????(not sure just a thought)... I'm also building an outdoor range I'm going to make a mound of dirt at about 100 yards out then I can set up any type of target I want in front. I have lots of room to do this I'm not sure how much property your working with? The box Idea is a good one you could also use dirt instead of news paper. I hope someone can help more then I have I just get concerned when someone shoots metal targets that close.

well, some indoor ranges use metal to deflect bullets into water below it.. this makes it easy to retrieve bullets. You might call some ranges about what angle, etc. My guess would be that the angle is 45 degrees (I think this is the angle of the BB traps they sell). denting the metal should not be an issue if it is thick enough.. especially since you are only using 22 shorts (after all.. the indoor ranges allow much more powerful rounds).
I can vouch from experience that wet newspapers or phonebooks work well, though. And dirt is a proven military backstop..

Tazman, There are many many indoor ranges that employee plate steel deflection. With a 22 short you can get by with quality 1/8 plate steel but I recommend 1/4 inch which is what I use in my job as a gunsmith. You will never dent 1/4 in with a 22. You can get by with a little less than 45 degree but I recommend to stay at 45. To be the safest use sides on the backstop and you won't have to worry. Good luck Taz.

Greetings Taz! Ever thought about using a dirt berm? I had one where i used to live and it worked great. It was nice and steep and the bullets dont go anywhere. Cheers!

Taz, I was deflecting it into the ground also. Once in a while one would still ricochet out of the area. Not saying you will have the same problem, just wanted to point it out.

Lots of good data and thanks to those concerned with safety, I to am very anal about it and this is one reason I asked before doing, I wanted the words of those who have either done this themselves, or know.

model722 I agree that the earthen birm would be the best if I had the room, but I want to keep this inside of a fenced area to keep children from wondering in the area.

basserman you have given me the data I truely needed, I have shot at indoor ranges and knew they used steel plates to deflect into either dirt or water, I had no idea what thickness and the exact angle that was best, no I know. Thank you.

My plan is to dig a shallow trench at the very back of the backstop to drop the low end of the plate in, then put a 2X4 between the 2 sheds at the proper height to let the top plate sit at a 45 degree angle, then put in another plate on each side for extra protection, the width will be almost 8'. Then below the top of the plate I will nail 2 more 2X4's across the 2 sheds with enough room betwwen then to allow for hanging of targets. Last but not least I will shovel some dirt into the back section of the backstop for a little bit of extra stopping power.

I have a strong feeling I will do with this project what my wife accuses me of doing on all my projects, OVERKILL!!!! Kind of like Tim the Toolman Taylor!



The Tazman aka Martin Price
Founder and President of
Virginia Disabled Outdoorsmen Club