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My Rendition Of A Portable Target/Pellet Trap (lots of pics)

I've been thinking about how to build a quiet, larger, and easy to service target. I also wanted it to be portable to mow under and move to different yardage. So what I wanted to do was make it portable and serviceable. When the target is tipped down it acts as a wheelbarrow of sort. This also makes it parallel to the ground to lift off the top to add without spilling rubber mulch. Perhaps overkill but I placed a steel plate it the back that would stop any pellet that made it though the rubber mulch. I wanted it to stand off so it would dent and not punch against the wood. For the inset edge that I attach the face, I used inserts that will have wing bolts screwed into. On the top I added a handle to aid in tipping it upright. I also added a long eye bolt to attach a wind ribbon. The background shows a set of wheels turned inward to protect them from stray pellets. For the face of the target I used a 2'X2' rubber outdoor tile. As you can see the wing bolts can be used to attach it. I have a wingnut driver for my drill that makes quick work of it. I'm am pleased with the results. Just using thumb tacks to hold the targets. It is very easy to roll to the correct yardage. I just drive tent pegs into the ground to keep my correct yardage. The tile used on the face is almost self healing. Very impressed how well it holds up. From the picture above It was shot with a .25 (right) vs. .22 (left) at 50 yards. All in all it works well for what I'm doing. I want to say, I spent about a $100 on the project. The rubber mulch was a little spendy at 3X $10.00.
 
Nice job! 
I especially like the "almost" self healing tile. That was a great idea and something I'll have to look into! I don't think the steel plate is overkill. However, the wind ribbon holder looks to be a bit stronger than necessary. lol :)
It looks like your mulch is quite deep. You could probably run some test shots with firearms. 
I would caution you about shooting near the top of the box. In fact, I'd recommend marking your tile a few inches from the top as a no-shoot-zone. That mulch will settle and it looks like you didn't fill it all the way (pic5). So, the top won't have any mulch to stop the pellet. 
Do the pellets blow out the back of the rubber tile?
Tom
 
"Tominco"Nice job! 
I especially like the "almost" self healing tile. That was a great idea and something I'll have to look into! I don't think the steel plate is overkill. However, the wind ribbon holder looks to be a bit stronger than necessary. lol :)
It looks like your mulch is quite deep. You could probably run some test shots with firearms. 
I would caution you about shooting near the top of the box. In fact, I'd recommend marking your tile a few inches from the top as a no-shoot-zone. That mulch will settle and it looks like you didn't fill it all the way (pic5). So, the top won't have any mulch to stop the pellet. 
Do the pellets blow out the back of the rubber tile?
Tom
Thanks! HAHA Your right about the eye bolt..... It was the only long one Home Depot had. I use it more to tip the box upright than the purposed handle. The picture is with two bags of mulch. I did run back over and get another two bags. I added one and kept one for settling. The tile was penetrated with 900fps at 50 yards. I got the tile at Home Depot also for $10 each. I will have to buy a couple extra in case they quit carrying it.
 
"Ravenred"Very nice! Dose anyone have a good idea for cheap DIY wind flags? 

Well if you want to go the really cheap way. Get two tee posts and use a nylon string between them. And tie survey tape every 5 ft on the string down the side of your shooting lane. I got that idea when I put up a new electric fence and put tape on it so the horses would notice the new fence. Its amazing how many directions wind can be moving in 50 to 100 yards. It takes just a min to cut the string between shooting sessions and just leave the green posts.


 
Dirte, I bet it would work fine even without the mulch. I couldn't tell how thick the steel plate was but 1/4" should be thick enough to be quiet when hit with soft pellet especially when coupled with the sealing rubber face matt. Did you by chance try it without the mulch? Great job though regardless. I'd need about 5 when you get time..
Jimmy
 
"jking"Dirte, I bet it would work fine even without the mulch. I couldn't tell how thick the steel plate was but 1/4" should be thick enough to be quiet when hit with soft pellet especially when coupled with the sealing rubber face matt. Did you by chance try it without the mulch? Great job though regardless. I'd need about 5 when you get time..
Jimmy
I think using a couple tiles in the back would be sufficient. The rubber does slow the pellet.