Safe Indoor pellet trap??

I use a cardboard box that is filled with overlapping old magazines and catalogs. It works well at distance in addition to close range. The pellets and fragments stay in the box embedded in the magazines. You just have to be sure to move the bullseye of your target or else you eventually shoot through the trap. When one side gets filled up, just use duct tape to keep the pellets from falling out and turn the box around to the other side. You can use the target trap for hundreds of shots with no bounce back. The boxes I use are typically the size of your average magazine and junk mail flyer. Lead dust also becomes a near non issue.

I have used a Cardboard box filled with Levis or rubber mulch. To build my mulch target I used several usps boxes that were about 1 1/2" thick then taped them together. to see what depth my pellet would stop. I was surprised I played around shooting even firearms 22lr 9mm 357 I think it was only 6" that would stop a 9mm handgun. I had 12 taped together then would take them apart to check depth. For Pellets I just throw old jeans in a box. I also have duct seal but it was more work



I thought I better say bullet type makes a difference and when testing have a safe background or stop

Rubber mulch or duct seal are two good options, I would recommend however that you put a steel plate at the back which will absolutely ensure a stop on the projectiles and also wear eye protection. 

Rubber mulch is the cheapest and most effective for me. Works every time.

I use a cardboard box with rubber playground mulch in it. When the front is tore up by pellets I put another layer of duct tape or cardboard on it. It is easy enough to pour the contents into a new box when needed. Experimented and shot a 2x2 box of mulch with a 5.56 rifle. It bulged the back of the box at the exit point, but it didn’t escape. I have confidence in it stopping any of my air rifles up to .30 cal.

I use a 5gal bucket with folded Jean's inside and pillow stuffings then cut cardboard around the opening and tape on targets for easy transportable silent trap

Empty laundry soap container packed with old rags/clothes. Can stop even the .30 at full trot and lead is easily recoverable if wanted. Quiet too.

My favorite beer comes in a 12 bottle box. I keep the box and collect the junk mail catalogs in it. By the time I need a new pellet trap, the box is full of junk mail. I cover both sides with duct tape, and it absorbs an amazing number of pellets before retiring. And if I shoot more, I just drink more beer, it's a nice synergy. 

I'd go with a 12" diameter × 18" long pipe (packed with media) at the least for indoor dwelling use. Reason being, holding over or under with a high mounted scope, at such a small diameter target like the 6" pipe that you are describing at short range distances is cause for concerns. A little off in your elevation holdover equals a lot of error in the point of impact, and a wayward projectile missing that 6" target. 

I bought one of these unit's to shoot at and love it. Well worth the money, and this eBay seller makes a new one for sale every week. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bullet-trap-12-for-use-with-22-thru-44-magnum/293417334846?hash=item445109383e:g:5uIAAMXQbcRQ74vC

I have used many things for my target traps cardboard, phone books and carpet remnants to name a few. But it's really hard to beat the Duct Seal or rubber mulch for indoor/outdoor shooting. If your target space is confined the duct seal is probly the best as it takes up less room. I use three 5lb bricks and although I bought more one can use the same bricks for a decade or more. Pulling the pellets out which I do once every year or two is a chore but for the amount of shooting and the stopping capacity, it just stops my 100fpe 9mm carbine pellets with no problem although I would not shoot it at that power level more than once in the same spot, it's definitely the good stuff.

Just type in "bullet trap" in eBay.

Get an archery based, foam target (or animal..!). You can get them in many different outside dimensions (and thicknesses).

I shoot both my crossbows and now my air guns indoors. Standing at the back door (could be closer, could be standing outdoors!), I shoot across the living room and down to the end of the hall, where a 16" thick, 18" x 18" square foam target, as it sits on a box for good height.

Stops ALL pellets (.177, and .22 anyway), no bouncing back on the floor, quiet, no ping when it hits (sorry if you like the extra noise !) It will easily catch .25 cal. pellets, and probably .30 cal, but probably not anything larger.

When the target face is full of holes, you turn it around to the new face and start over. The foam is "sort of" self healing. It will mostly close up around the pellets. Until you get several in the same location, then the hole will be a...hole. I've had this same target for years, with crossbow arrow holes in it, now pellet holes...and no sign of slowing down.

The actual target is paper with various targets printed from various places on the net. I just use an Allen wrench to hold the target to the foam. Punch the paper full of holes, install a fresh "target".

Simple, clean, not some nasty looking, made up backyard thing. 

Mike

P.s. - This isn't the one that I have, but this is a good idea of what I have. Mine is thick like this to stop 400fps arrows. My next one will be thinner to stop just pellets

I made a 8.5x11"box so I can print my own targets . Then line the back with duct seal which makes it quiet and safe. I also have about a 2" thick wooden back just incase. https://www.amazon.com/Gardner-Bender-DS-130-Duct-Compound/dp/B000GAUTW8/ref=pd_sbs_60_t_2/135-5766329-2345045?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B000GAUTW8&pd_rd_r=06b61d06-63b9-4f6a-9c22-66ff9c06f662&pd_rd_w=UIC0q&pd_rd_wg=KWDXN&pf_rd_p=5cfcfe89-300f-47d2-b1ad-a4e27203a02a&pf_rd_r=C7KRTDZBCX6DRP1R8A2F&psc=1&refRID=C7KRTDZBCX6DRP1R8A2F

I have one of the old style brown fire proof document boxes, Has a carry handle and a single key lock.

I removed the lock, Fill it with old catalogs. Set it down so the lid lays flat, facing you. (Its about 8 x 11,so the 11 will be length ways .

A couple of wide magnetic clips (walmart) will hold a target across the the front. Being fireproof,all the walls are extra thick. I shoot .177 and .22, indoors, and although I've dented the back insides, once in a while, nothing goes through.

not that this is indoors but I repurposed the chicken coop to a pellet gun trap and hung up a series of old rugs and rubber mats. Pellets are well behaved but BB's will bounce back out once in a while. Mats just swing in the "wind" mounted from up top.

so, what is everyone's indoor range distance? I've been contemplating doing something in the garage but the longest distance I got is 22 feet. I remember shooting BB guns with my dad in the garage (1960's power levels) at around 25 feet into a homemade canted 1/2 inch plywood trap. Plywood was better back then... This would probably be okay for 300fps BB's, Now at 850fps with pellets I see we need to beef things up quite a bit. Thanks, Dean

so, the 3 , 5 pound duct seal bricks are lined up in a row? This stuff is in the big box stores right? Hmm, I got a bag of rubber mulch left over from the front flower box. Time to make a trap. hopefully this reply is attached to a post as that's what I did reply to the post. If not hey I'm pretty new here so bear with me.

so, what is everyone's indoor range distance? I've been contemplating doing something in the garage but the longest distance I got is 22 feet.

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Is your garage attached? If so can you sit in the house & extend that distance? 

If nobody else is home I can sit at the end of a hallway & shoot into my garage for a total distance of about 27 yards. 

I remodeled my house years ago & moved the entry door from the garage slightly & also expanded it to a 42" wide door. I was already shooting airguns in the garage back then but had no plans to shoot that far. Just got lucky that it worked out like that. 

If other people are home I can sit at the base of my stairs & shoot around 21 yards.

Or if my boys are shooting too we can sit right at the doorway to the garage & shoot 40', which is what they prefer. 

Right now I shoot into a 6x6 square of duct seal. I pulled my scrap plywood down today & plan to build a rubber mulch trap slightly bigger that all of the game size paper targets. I think my boys will prefer that. 

so, what is everyone's indoor range distance? Thanks, Dean

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I'm at ten yards. A really cool trick with shooting short range is to adjust the size of your target to make it look a certain size through the scope. So if you are shooting a regulation target size at a specific distance, say a 10" target at 100 yards, you just shrink the size in relation to the distance that you are shooting. It works really well with animal silhouettes too.