Steel pellet trap in a basement safety question?
- Thread starter DonC
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I have made my own steel traps. The first had the back plate at a 45 degree angle and produced a fair amount of lead splatter and dust. So I tried again and made the second trap with the two back plates 30 degrees from horizontal. With that shallower angle, I get very little splatter or dust from a 10 meter rifle or pistol shooting 450-600 fps. At higher velocities, I still get splatter and dust even with the plates at that 30 degree angle. I use it anyway since I usually shoot my 10 meter guns indoors, and am 33 feet away from the trap when the pellet hits. I try to control the damge by vacuuming the trap and surrounding area frequently. The advantage of the metal trap is that it only needs to be emptied once a year or so. I give the lead to a buddy who casts his own bullets.
Chuck
Chuck
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Steel bullet traps are made to shoot at longer ranges than most indoor ranges. Not recommended for less than 25 yards because of the possible rebound. Not all surfaces are at the 30 degree angle. Years ago, using a bullet trap, I had a pellet fragmen come back andt hit me in the face. Fortunately it missed my eye. If you are unhappy with the rubber mulch, ballistic putty is another much safer option.
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Yes, part of the pellet will turn to dust which can be bad if inhaled. I would not suggest a metal trap be used indoors I use a duct seal trap indoors for that reason.
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Ballistic putty stops dust and nice and quiet. But the putty at your Lowe’s in the electrical isle
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Depends on the velocity Don. We shot indoors w 10m guns on the old Olympic style traps that look like a 6 when viewed from the side . They worked quite well and generated very little dust. When I shoot in my commercially available 22 trap, you can see the dust flying if the light is just right. More velocity = more dust. I finally put mine in a large, low box so that the dust and lead particles that came out the front would be collected somewhere besides my floor. As an aside, we were shooting at night w flashlights on ft targets last month and it was AMAZING to see how the pellets vaporized at 20 ft/lb.
Bob
Bob
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I understood correctly, but figured, if the dust is an issue of concern, why even bother with the steel trap? Specially if you already have the mulch trap.
I guess you can always install a HEPA Filter Scrubber in the room.
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Keep in mind that lead dust is also produced by the pellet proceeding down the barrel. That's one of the reasons I've gone over to lead-free pellets in most cases. They're more expensive, but I've found that when firing them into rubber mulch at relatively low power (as you might when indoors), many of the lead free pellets can be recovered and reused, since they don't typically deform, unless they hit, or are hit by, other pellets. Just a thought.
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Try putting some dens from up just behind the targets or a few inch’s back in side trap that should stop or greatly stop and dust!!
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I use some steel traps indoors. Pellets just squish together and some fall on the floor. What's a little lead dust after I smoked for 42 years before I quit. Been lead in paint ect for many many years and lead has not killed me yet. 
Don't go outside as one may get hit by a car. LOL
Don't go outside as one may get hit by a car. LOLUpvote 0
My sense is that fondling the lead pellets when you reload is probably more harmful than any minute amount of dust generated by a steel trap. That said, I'm a fan of rubber mulch AND duct seal in the targets, which are used exclusively outdoors.
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If you’re really worried about it, I’d take a shop vac with a hepa filter and duct that into the rear of your trap, down low, like a slot for the vent. Some of you guys are wood workers with dust collection vac systems out in your shop. Tie that into your trap.
Just curious, and not challenging anyone, but do any of you know anyone that has passed from lead poisoning?
Just curious, and not challenging anyone, but do any of you know anyone that has passed from lead poisoning?
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You could also use rubber mats from a farm store for backing the target face.. They will slow the pellet enough not to splatter..
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Used conveyor belt material can be purchased on Amazon. Stops 78fpe .30 at 20yds without allowing penetration.
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