Quiet backstop

[The BB Bandito]

I'm wanting to setup a little squirrel feeding station. The backstop is where I'm running into a problem. I've had a few ideas in my head to decrease noise due to neighbors. I've read about people using rubber stall mats, gym floor mats, duct seal, old clothes, and rubber mulch. What would be the easiest and most cost effective? I want to make 3 small feeders to attract the squirrels to an area that is safe to shoot. I definitely don't want the THWACK sound. I will probably use wood for the feeder and backstop but I want to put a dampening material in front of the wood. I read the squirrel feeder thread and saw some interesting designs. What are your thoughts?

 

[TMH]

Ya know, you are gonna get the THWACK sound when the pellet hits the squirrel's noggin.

Just saying...

Likely the softest sound of a pellet hitting a backstop would be multiple layers of towels or old clothes suspended from wires and free-swinging. That way the pellet's energy is reduced to elimination by moving the backstop(s), and not penetrating them. Punching its way through anything is what creates the noise. (And, of course, hitting anything hard).

 

[bfloyd1095]

Get you a couple of these and pack it in your feeder/backstop,
Been using the stuff for years, it wirks very well and very quiet,
The problem with the rubber mulch and such is you will need at least a 3/16" piece of steel as a backstop to keep the pellets from going through even on a medium power .
I have a 27-gallon tote filled with 4 bags and my .22 guns went through it untill I installed a 1/4" steel plate in the tote.

My other target box is a 30"wide x 24" tall x 6" deep, it has a 1/4" plate and about 40 lbs of duct seal, Just a slight thump when shooting up to .25 cal @ 50+ ft/lb and has been shot with a .30 cal cranked, every now and then if you stack 10 or so .30 rounds in the same hole you will hear it clank off the steel plate.

Hope this helps

1 lb plug https://www.homedepot.com/p/Gardner-Bender-1-lb-Plug-Duct-Seal-Compound-DS-110/100212441

5 lb brick https://www.homedepot.com/p/Gardner-Bender-5-lbs-Plug-Duct-Seal-Compound-DS-530/310616351

 

[6gun]

I'm wanting to setup a little squirrel feeding station. The backstop is where I'm running into a problem. I've had a few ideas in my head to decrease noise due to neighbors. I've read about people using rubber stall mats, gym floor mats, duct seal, old clothes, and rubber mulch. What would be the easiest and most cost effective? I want to make 3 small feeders to attract the squirrels to an area that is safe to shoot. I definitely don't want the THWACK sound. I will probably use wood for the feeder and backstop but I want to put a dampening material in front of the wood. I read the squirrel feeder thread and saw some interesting designs. What are your thoughts?

It's often overlooked, but a fiber taped box full of sand, or a sand bag is an ez one. Crossbow targets work too, Mines filled with black yard trash bags compressed really tight. If your fpe is low a dartboard stopped 14 fpe 177 from 12 yards last weekend in my backyard.

 

[Frank in Fairfield]

I agree with the duct seal…
In the box, made by one 4”x1”x8’ wood, is about 10 pounds of the stuff.
Behind the duct seal (It looks like C4) is a 16 gauge steel panel.
It stops all pellets and some slugs from .25 Marauder (which I no longer have).
The box it is sitting in catches some of the pellets that bounce off of the central clump that will occur.

 

[The BB Bandito]

Get you a couple of these and pack it in your feeder/backstop,
Been using the stuff for years, it wirks very well and very quiet,
The problem with the rubber mulch and such is you will need at least a 3/16" piece of steel as a backstop to keep the pellets from going through even on a medium power .
I have a 27-gallon tote filled with 4 bags and my .22 guns went through it untill I installed a 1/4" steel plate in the tote.

My other target box is a 30"wide x 24" tall x 6" deep, it has a 1/4" plate and about 40 lbs of duct seal, Just a slight thump when shooting up to .25 cal @ 50+ ft/lb and has been shot with a .30 cal cranked, every now and then if you stack 10 or so .30 rounds in the same hole you will hear it clank off the steel plate.

Hope this helps

1 lb plug https://www.homedepot.com/p/Gardner-Bender-1-lb-Plug-Duct-Seal-Compound-DS-110/100212441

5 lb brick https://www.homedepot.com/p/Gardner-Bender-5-lbs-Plug-Duct-Seal-Compound-DS-530/310616351

I have 4lbs of this ordered already. I just didn’t know if anyone

Ya know, you are gonna get the THWACK sound when the pellet hits the squirrel's noggin.

Just saying...

Likely the softest sound of a pellet hitting a backstop would be multiple layers of towels or old clothes suspended from wires and free-swinging. That way the pellet's energy is reduced to elimination by moving the backstop(s), and not penetrating them. Punching its way through anything is what creates the noise. (And, of course, hitting anything hard).

yeah you’re right, honestly I didn’t think about that part. I’m just trying to be cautious of my noise since they feed them really close next door. I guess if I do get a THWACK it will be a kill haha

 

[Dorky 1]

I modified this with a 1/4" thick steel plate & 12" x 12" x 1/2" Felt tile that fits exactly inside. All I needed to do is drill 4 holes to mount the steel plate & felt tile behind the plate as a sound absorber. I wanted something that I could experiment with that I could try with different 12" x 12" materials to absorb and deaden the sound. When shooting my Notos with CPHP at 940 fps at 10 meters it's barely louder that my rubber mulch trap. I barely hear a thud on impact. I hear mostly the paper rip sound. The rifle sound is definitely louder than the impact sound. My Wife says from inside the house it sounds like I'm using a staple gun outside. It's works OK for me I haven't tried the carpet tile I bought. It's easier to clean and collect the used pellets than mulch or putty target traps. I can just use a shop vac to clean it. Downside is that it cost me $100 to build. It also might be big enough to fill it up with seed to make an all in one for you.

Amazon.com

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MC8K235?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

Amazon.com

 

[The BB Bandito]

I modified this with a 1/4" thick steel plate & 12" x 12" x 1/2" Felt tile that fits exactly inside. All I needed to do is drill 4 holes to mount the steel plate & felt tile behind the plate as a sound absorber. I wanted something that I could experiment with that I could try with different 12" x 12" materials to absorb and deaden the sound. When shooting my Notos with CPHP at 940 fps at 10 meters it's barely louder that my rubber mulch trap. I barely hear a thud on impact. I hear mostly the paper rip sound. The rifle sound is definitely louder than the impact sound. My Wife says from inside the house it sounds like I'm using a staple gun outside. It's works OK for me I haven't tried the carpet tile I bought. It's easier to clean and collect the used pellets than mulch or putty target traps. I can just use a shop vac to clean it. Downside is that it cost me $100 to build. It also might be big enough to fill it up with seed to make an all in one for you.

Amazon.com

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MC8K235?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

Amazon.com

This cork/foam board is what I had in mind when I started this. I know some guys who can get some heavy duty felt from a paper mill. I think that might just do the trick.