ROTC Pellet Traps

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Author Message Brett M. Wilbur Senior Member Username: brett Post Number: 21 Registered: 12-2004 Posted on Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - 10:14 am:    I'm looking for design information for pellet traps for high school ROTC indoor firing ranges. I did one several years ago which was basically plywood over light gauge steel sheets. The pellets could move through the plywood but lost enough force that when they hit the steel they could not richocet back through the plywood. I just don't remember the exact assembly. Does anyone have experience with these? Also, are there any liability issues for the Architect? Ron Beard CCS Senior Member Username: rm_beard_ccs Post Number: 53 Registered: 10-2002 Posted on Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - 11:25 am:    It is the Owner's executive decision to build the range, not the Architect's. If the shooter shoots the person next to him, it's not the Architect's liability exposure. The Architect's liability exposure should be limited to a flawed design. How long does the plywood last in your design? I assume it is replacable. Ron Robert E. Woodburn Senior Member Username: bwoodburn Post Number: 12 Registered: 01-2005 Posted on Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - 11:40 am:    The last time I encountered one of these it was an angled steel plate behind the targets that deflected bullets down into a sand bed. Presumably, bullets were sifted out periodically. Is that still viable, or is the plywood, which would evidently need to be replaced periodically, regarded as safer, easier to maintain, less prone to lead contamination, etc.? Colin Gilboy Senior Member Username: colin Post Number: 166 Registered: 05-2000 Posted on Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - 12:03 pm:    I recall vividly cleaning out that lead as part of an ROTC program. I am not sure that cleaning the lead would be acceptable today. I have a special section for rifle ranges. I know there are one or 2 companies there with bullet traps. You might check them out and call for their ideas. http://www.4specs.com/s/11/11-6723.html Brett M. Wilbur Senior Member Username: brett Post Number: 22 Registered: 12-2004 Posted on Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - 12:41 pm:    Ron, from what I remember, the plywood was removable and replacable, and may have been held off the steel backing a 1/2 inch or so to act as a pocket trap for the pellets. Robert and Colin, I have also had the oppurtunity to work on a project which required the bullet traps to which you refer, I think Blackhawk Industries may have made them. They were factory-built units, made out of steel plate, maybe 3/8 inch thick, angled down into a funnel like you mentioned. I used them on a Sherrif's Department Training Academy several years ago. They were serious bullet traps and targeting devices, and could deflect AR15 ammo, 9mm handguns, 308, etc. They also had automated moveable targeting systems. They did deflect the bullet down into a hopper which eventually expelled them into a bucket. The lead was thus easily collected and remediated. Most of them that I saw were outside though. We did several tours of local sherrif's practice ranges, one at an FBI range. (BTW, Bad A**!) At these agency facilities, they used the pre-fab target systems with bullet traps instead of the typical earth berm that you see at most of the public firing ranges where you have serious threat of lead contamination. The ROTC pellet range is for indoor air-fired pellets though, not gunpowder ammunition. The pellet trap I am referring to may be make-shift, but it seemed to work. When the plywood got too shot up they replaced it. I'm not sure if the pellets are lead, but it is something to consider. Thanks for the input. Brett M. Wilbur Senior Member Username: brett Post Number: 23 Registered: 12-2004 Posted on Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - 12:55 pm:    Okay, maybe it was Blackwater Targeting Systems, not Blackhawk Industries. David Axt, AIA, CCS, CSI Senior Member Username: david_axt Post Number: 417 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - 02:07 pm:    We specified Casewell International Corporation for a US/Canadian border station. http://www.caswellintl.com/ Ralph Liebing Senior Member Username: rliebing Post Number: 149 Registered: 02-2003 Posted on Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - 02:47 pm:    Hang on, gang! How did we get to "ROTC Pellets"???? As dedicated wordsmiths, surely we should professionally refr to all this as, "Firing [Shooting] Range Ammunition", or "Ammunition/Pellet Traps", etc.-- but let's not hang ROTC [yes, i was a member once during the Civil War!!!} with wholly misplaced nomenclature! Brett M. Wilbur Senior Member Username: brett Post Number: 24 Registered: 12-2004 Posted on Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - 03:25 pm:    No comment Anonymous   Posted on Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - 05:15 pm:    Ralph: They weren't pellets back in the Civil War. I believe they were called mini balls (sp?). <g> Anonymous   Posted on Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - 06:28 pm:    its "minie" balls.