My target backer is steel-belted radial over 2 sheets of ¾ plywood. I live in a Virginia where state law says: 1) Pellet guns owners may shoot on their own property as long as they take reasonable precautions that pellets not leave their property. 2) Local governments may not modify this rule. My Hatsan 0.177 PCP at 900+ FPS can easily punch through a single sheet of ¾ ply, so: Go to your local tire place and ask for a steel-belted radial that is being junked. They gave me mine for free. Butcher the the tire by cutting off the rims. Then cut it into 3 equal pieces – each will be about 3 feet long. Note: this is easier said than done. The steel belts are hard to get through, which should reassure you. I used a hacksaw blade on my saber saw. Attach (screw) the tire pieces to 3’x3’x ¾” ply. I then doubled the ply for safety’s sake. I have yet to put a pellet through the steel belts. Outside, I don’t use a pellet trap, just pin/tape targets to the tire. Also, I try to offset the aim point from the seam between the tire pieces. So far, the steel belts stop the pellets and the rubber prevents ricochets and bounce back.
