The plan is becoming a reality, finally...

Jump to latest Follow Reply
Bigragu

Bigragu

Member
Jul 8, 2018
4,886
2,360
CA, United States
Awhile back, actually a long while back, I posted up this pic of my plan to make portable pellet traps using rubber mulch. My plan is to set these starting at 50 yards and in 10 yard increments out to 100.

if I leave them out and it rains, no big deal. Come time to grab them to either put away or haul off to another “range”, it would be easy enough. 



609EC121-8681-4248-8385-5231CA69D684.1599185653.jpeg




Well, the buckets and mulch are easy enough to round up, and I was going to make the sheet metal saddles myself, but being without access to metal, and having a few ex students who worked in a shop that I could call on for a favor, I measured it up and sent them the design and the amounts I needed.

my son was in the Bay Area taking the exam to get into law enforcement and the testing facility was in the same neighborhood as my student that made these, Perfect! My son met with him for a pick up, and now they are at home awaiting for me to finish getting them built. 

I got a sneaking feeling these will turn out sweet. Purpose built, easy to set out and gather up when done. All I need to do is do my 5 weeks in a sling(recent rotator cuff surgery)then I’ll tackle this project.

Heres a sneak peek-



68F4867F-8623-4FAD-9357-17D1B3746A5B.1599186094.jpeg
EF1B7E74-4140-47D2-8363-E9B116BCCC18.1599186094.jpeg
D9269065-DA7A-43DC-B88E-112006FEDCB9.1599186094.jpeg




Targets will magnetize to the sheet metal saddle’s outer flange. Before I fasten the sheet metal saddle to the bucket I will lay a square of wired 1/4” bird screen mesh to keep the mulch from pouring out the opening I cut out on the bucket. The wired mesh will be a constant change out as I puncture thru the mesh over time.

I will drill 3/8” weep holes in the bottom of the bucket to allow any water that gets in to drain out. 

I may set these buckets up on cinder blocks to give it the height I think they’ll need. Can’t wait till they’re done. 
 
Looks like when finished, it will be a sweet setup. 

Now from a fellow member who had his own shoulder surgery back the end of February (I wish I'd torn just the rotator...lol), a bit of helpful advice and the same advice I was given when I was about to have mine. 

Don't rush it, don't push it and do exactly what both your surgeon and physical therapist tell you to. Real easy to re-tear what you just got fixed if you do. Also have a friend from another forum who had his rotator cuff fixed a month after I had my surgery and he's still in PT. It's a slow process so take things slow and easy. 
 
Upvote 0
That looks like a great way to do it. But I am far to lazy I just fill the bucket, put a piece of cardboard over it, cut a hole in the top and put it on then lay the bucket on it's side. But since I can no longer legally shoot in my yard any traps are just a mute point. Although I will be moving out of the state, that I lived in my whole life, and far away from Portland soon, so they can keep it weird, things will be better then. He says while biting his lip so the evil words don't spew out and stream onto the computer screen.

Nice that you can use your new traps to shoot though.
 
Upvote 0
Looks like when finished, it will be a sweet setup. 

Now from a fellow member who had his own shoulder surgery back the end of February (I wish I'd torn just the rotator...lol), a bit of helpful advice and the same advice I was given when I was about to have mine. 

Don't rush it, don't push it and do exactly what both your surgeon and physical therapist tell you to. Real easy to re-tear what you just got fixed if you do. Also have a friend from another forum who had his rotator cuff fixed a month after I had my surgery and he's still in PT. It's a slow process so take things slow and easy.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah, my surgeon put the fear in me at my pre op visit about not raising my arm up. I’ve had it in a sling 24/7 except when showering, and even at that I keep that arm glued to my side. 

He told me at the mri reading my tears on the rotator cuff are very extensive, and he had a feeling it’s gone to the bicep tendon attachment as well. I know for sure it did, as it hurt to do any dumbbell curls.

in 6 months he’s doing the right, and being right handed, I think I’m gonna invest in a bidet(check spelling, but a @$$ washer is what I’m getting).



This should be it for me with surgeries knock on wood. Feeling like Steve Austin(Lee Majors)
 
Upvote 0
Looks like when finished, it will be a sweet setup. 

Now from a fellow member who had his own shoulder surgery back the end of February (I wish I'd torn just the rotator...lol), a bit of helpful advice and the same advice I was given when I was about to have mine. 

Don't rush it, don't push it and do exactly what both your surgeon and physical therapist tell you to. Real easy to re-tear what you just got fixed if you do. Also have a friend from another forum who had his rotator cuff fixed a month after I had my surgery and he's still in PT. It's a slow process so take things slow and easy.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah, my surgeon put the fear in me at my pre op visit about not raising my arm up. I’ve had it in a sling 24/7 except when showering, and even at that I keep that arm glued to my side. 

He told me at the mri reading my tears on the rotator cuff are very extensive, and he had a feeling it’s gone to the bicep tendon attachment as well. I know for sure it did, as it hurt to do any dumbbell curls.

in 6 months he’s doing the right, and being right handed, I think I’m gonna invest in a bidet(check spelling, but a @$$ washer is what I’m getting).



This should be it for me with surgeries knock on wood. Feeling like Steve Austin(Lee Majors)
Click to expand...


Yes, I remember the rotator cuff warnings from my doctor as well. I tore my cuff off of the bone and so my arm was in a sling for two months both night and day. I was told not to take it out of the sling or try to move it. When I went to my first check up there was a man who had the same surgery and was told the same. He said he reached down to pic up his hat and tore his cuff off the bone again and was there to make arrangements for another surgery. I was good after that and did exactly as the DR said. 

A slow recovery is a good recovery so take it easy. Kind of embarrassing to have to have your daughters help dress you though but I got over it.
 
Upvote 0
Nice Augie! You have my address, right? I’ll take 5! Ha, just joking. I do like them though, especially the portability, pretty cool.

Have a great weekend buddy!

Stoti
Click to expand...

I’ll bring them down for you to check out if and when we hook up at your range.
Click to expand...

Anytime! You’re always welcome. Have a great weekend!

Stoti
 
Upvote 0
Dear Ragu...

Make that bucket metal, put a wire tray in the top, about six inches under the perforated lid, put charcoal and wood chips in the duct, and you've got a very nice meat smoker for when you are not shooting!!!



Regards,

Hoot





thsts funny, hoot, but heat from flames and galvanized don’t work out too well, lol. And a glass of milk won’t cure galvanized poisoning!’ Big time myth!

years ago when I was an apprentice working on the Sacramento Kings Stadium, these landscapers, the crew, approached me and asked if I had a piece of flat sheet metal about 30” square. I foundvthem a piece and handed it to them.



at lunchtime I walked by them and saw them heating up their tortilla wraps on the sheet of metal, over a fire. 

Tell me I didn’t learn Spanglish like really quick-

HEY!! That’s nooo good!! NADA!!! As I held both my hands over my throat to show a motion of choking, lol!!!



Click to expand...


 
Upvote 0
I do, Gerry, but on my heavy duty traps I use both earth magnets in disc form for target straight to metal, and if I use a cardboard backer I use the clamp style, that I inserted and epoxied the same earth magnets onto. I’ve never knocked them off, unless I accidentally shoot them, lol



6E92C44F-4F7A-48ED-AA54-A0FCED56C83F.1599236339.jpeg
you can see both my square pellet traps in flat dark earth at the bottom right of my pcp cart. The one to the right is made out of 1/4” plate, welded thru out and weighs in at around 65 lbs. that’s for shooting thru a chronograph at 36” away. The one to the left of it is a NEMA electrical pull box. It weighs in st around 20-25 lbs and is used for 40-60 yard target shooting out my front lawn. 



These bucket ones are going out in this 60 yard x 130 yard field at the opposite end of my property, for the long range stuff
 
Upvote 0
Why not fold the side & bottom flanges back on themselves so you can mount target on a piece of cardboard or such and "insert" into the folds? Only proposed that question because I'm not sure if magnets would hold targets rigid after numerous shots. (Hope you understand my explanation)
Click to expand...

I had been wondering about the magnets' ability to hold stuff too, and your solution sounds good and easy to implement.
 
Upvote 0
Bigragu: Check out Michael's post "The quietest full size backstop ever!" He used some type screen that looked like it would not need to be replaced.





Click to expand...

F3FF4C8A-6F01-479C-982C-C27ED100D562.1599237875.jpeg


@ SHOOT44- Michael used expanded metal. That’s when a machine puts slits on a sheet of metal and then the metal is pulled at the sides to expand out to the oval holes you see. 



Good stuff, pricey stuff, but also very ridgid. I only need a piece like 12” x 12”, and to try and hand role expanded metal to form to the radius of that bucket will be a pain in the arse.



plus, it’ll still need replacing, as Michael made mention like every 3 years.



if I had access to it, the best for this application is cane metal, and the next time your out and about and you’re in a commercial building, look up at the A/C supply registers. You may see a flat face with like a bunch of 3/16” holes on the metal face. Perforated metal it can be called, but cane metal is the proper trade term. 



If shot thru, the pellet hole will blend in with the rest of the holes, lol
 
Upvote 0
I think these animals are truly smart to recognize an object that means danger, I have a good friend whose got such an immaculate pond that he’s put a lot of sweat into. He’s a fishing fool but stocked his pond and doesn’t fish out of it, as he just loves fish! He’s a catch and release guy and dies most of fishing out of state as a planned fishing vacation with other fishing buddies of his.

Anyway, the freaking river otters found his pond and pretty much chomped up all his fish. Over the years he’s been able to pop a few with his 22LR, and now it’s to the point when they even see the back door open that leads to the pond they disappear. They just know as soon as that door opens, out comes the guy with the bang stick.

feel bad for him, as the beavers have come in and cut down a few of his trees surrounding the pond, too.
 
Upvote 0
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back
Home
Forums
Resources
Menu