Rubber Mulch Trap (Re-posting)

Some of the lumber built traps are very nice but this is simple, light, inexpensive, and easy to refill/replace as needed. I've used cardboard boxes filled with various stuff for years but have recently switched to this method and it works very well. Thanks for reposting.

This is just what I need. I was planning build one out of wood but this is much simpler. I already have a plastic bin not being used along with the rubber mulch. Just need to cut the hole and I'll be ready. Hope it will stop a 58 gr slug out of a Sumatra. That thing is cranking 95 ftlbs of energy.

Great trap, very fast and simple, I'm kind of a little different, to me It would be interesting to see how far the pellets go into the mulch, I'm thinking put a two inch layer of mulch then a sheet of paper then two more inch of mulch etc... etc... like making a lasagna ;~) lol 

Thanks for the ideas and take care guys John C 

A bail of straw and a piece of plywood cut just a bit larger than the bail makes a excellent and inexpensive pellet trap indoors or out. You can use more than one bail depending on your rifles power. But one will usually stop a .22 rimfire at 50 yards. Use it small end facing you gives you about a 2 foot square for your target. I use the 3 string bail.

A quick easy test to check penetration is get several thin boxes like the USPS priority boxes. Fill them with mulch, tape them together. Then shoot it and in tape. I even shot with a 9mm 140gr it stopped sooner than I would have thought

There are a lot of you tube videos about rubber mulch bullet traps.

I have angled metal traps that deflect into sand. Flat plates, boxes filled with rags, Junction boxes filled with duct seal. A variety of swingers. and A big 36"x36" 1/4" steel box with 9" of mulch on wheels. I think I like making them more than shooting anyway. Each has strong points. Simplicity to Heavy. The mulch traps are silent if shooting a quiet gun. The metal targets angled or flat can get loud. I know Im not telling anything new. Oh I almost forgot the steel knock down targets, if a ricochet is a consideration beware of how you place steel targets. I feel like I just talked in circles.

When I first saw these rubber mulch traps I had one of those why didn’t I think of that moments. Simple, inexpensive, effective, and quiet. 

I have a DoAll Outdoors rimfire bullet trap and got tired of the clanging noise so I took a cue from these rubber mulch traps and I stuffed it full of rubber mulch and just tape cardboard over the front to hold it in. It’s heavier for sure but durable and a solid backstop. But more importantly, it’s quiet. I fold the cardboard over on itself so I shoot through two layers, which seems to help with rigidity of the target face and helps keeping the mulch in better as you shot out a hole in the cardboard. The metal piece you hang you targets from helps hold the cardboard in place. I fold the cardboard and tape it to the bottom as well to keep the mulch from falling out the bottom as the cardboard loses rigidity from getting perforated. I just tape up the hole as I shoot it out and replace as needed. I like the blue painters tape better than duct tape because it doesn’t leave sticky residue on the trap especially when it’s left out baking in the sun.

that's a nice simple effective target. I like it

I gotta say, Christian is the man that planted the seed in my head with this whole mulch trap thing. I thought I was good with the two duct seal traps I had(pics recently posted on another tread), but one thing Christians trap has over mine big time is weight, and because it is lighter, it’s more portable. 

It has inspired me to come up with this idea, and it is in the works. My plan is to make about 5 of these, and set them out at various distances from 50 yards on, and stagger them, out to 100. 

Im not ready just yet to be going past 55 yards, not till I master it and get the 1/4” groups consistently that I seek. 

What im predicting is, at the end of the day, these will be so much easier to pick up and put away, easier to maintain, and inexpensive to make. The longest part will be me making the sheet metal duct fitting to house the target. Piece of cake, really.

I use a combination back to front. Sand ,rubber mulch and then I used Spay foam expanding insulation trimmed to flush in a large cat litter box. In my indoor range I use 1/4in ar 500 steel plate bec it was free. Sprayed with flex seal then rubber mulch then foam insulation with duct seal to tack targets to in a wooden box. This should my .223 .... for a bit any way