"Building or upgrading a shooting range can be an overwhelming task, especially the process of choosing the right bullet trap to handle bullet containment. With a multitude of bullet containment methods and opposing voices about which trap is best, it is difficult to know what to do. For that reason, Action Target has put together this comprehensive guide explaining the pros and cons of each trap type, hoping to help range owners, investors, and planners in their important decision. Read the full article here (http://www.actiontarget.com/bullet-trap-comparisons-pt-2/) Related Keywords: bullet trap, shooting range, indoor shooting range, shooting range equiptment, Action Target"

1. BULLET TRAP COMPARISONS (PT. 2)
By:
Ac'on
Target

2. Without a doubt, bullet containment is the most
important aspect of every indoor and outdoor range.
Proper containment of fired rounds means safety for your
employees and customers, but with so many different
types of bullet traps available on the market that promise
to do this or that, choosing the right system can be hard.
The purpose of this article is to provide accurate
information and valuable education by examining various
bullet trap theories, technologies, and applications in an
objective manner.

3. TYPES OF BULLET TRAPS
•
Sand
Berm
Traps
•
Ver'cal
Rubber
Granule
Traps
•
Rubber
Block
Traps
•
Wet
Funnel
Traps
•
Ver'cal
Funnel
Traps

4. SAND BERM TRAPS
The
Sand
Berm
trap
consists
of
'ghtly
grouped
rubber
curtains
or
lamellas
which
are
hung
from
a
support
structure
to
create
a
bullet
stopping
barrier.
As
bullets
pass
through
the
layers
of
rubber
strips,
their
energy
is
dissipated
un'l
they
come
to
a
stop.
A
steel
plate
is
mounted
at
the
back
of
the
trap
to
block
rounds
that
make
it
through
the
lamellas.

5. SAND BERM TRAPS
Because
rubber
is
destroyed
every
'me
you
shoot
into
it,
the
rubber
strips
are
quickly
shredded
under
any
kind
of
moderate
to
heavy
use.

6. SAND BERM TRAPS
The
benefits
of
a
lamella
trap
include
its
small
floor
space
requirement,
and
the
ability
to
capture
some
bullets
whole.
Weaknesses
include
high
maintenance
costs,
fire
hazard,
messy
appearance,
and
the
restric'on
of
low
volume
shoo'ng
only.
Although
one
of
the
most
quoted
features
of
rubber
traps
is
that
bullets
don’t
fragment
on
impact
like
they
do
on
steel,
this
is
only
true
un'l
bullets
start
impac'ng
other
bullets
already
embedded
in
the
rubber.

7. VERTICAL RUBBER
GRANULE TRAPS
The
Ver'cal
Rubber
Granule
trap
is
a
European
design
that
uses
a
large
steel
chamber
filled
with
chopped
rubber
and
a
penetrable
rubber
sheet
across
the
front
the
keep
the
rubber
granules
in
place.

8. VERTICAL RUBBER
GRANULE TRAPS
The
benefits
of
a
ver'cal
rubber
granule
trap
include
its
small
floor
space
requirement,
the
ability
to
capture
some
bullets
whole,
and
reduced
lead
dust
levels.
Weaknesses
include
massive
ongoing
maintenance,
service
costs
(to
clean
the
trap,
bullets
must
be
mined
and
separated
from
the
rubber
then
disposed
of
properly),
fire
hazard,
and
the
restric'on
of
low
volume
shoo'ng
only.

9. VERTICAL RUBBER
GRANULE TRAPS
The
front
skin
of
the
rubber
granule
trap
is
permanently
damaged
each
'me
a
bullet
is
fired
into
it,
causing
rubber
granules
to
spill
out
as
larger
holes
are
created.
Regular
patching
and
repair
is
oNen
required
to
keep
the
granules
in
the
chamber
as
the
large
bulges
can
compromise
the
structural
integrity
of
the
trap.

10. RUBBER BLOCK TRAPS
The
rubber
block
trap
is
similar
in
concept
to
the
rubber
granule
trap,
except
the
rubber
granules
are
molded
together
to
form
a
solid
object.
The
rubber
blocks
are
stacked
on
top
of
each
other
to
create
a
wall
that
serves
as
the
bullet
trap.
When
a
bullet
is
fired
into
the
blocks,
it
is
stopped
and
stored
within
the
block
itself.

11. RUBBER BLOCK TRAPS
The
benefits
of
a
rubber
block
trap
include
its
small
floor
space
requirement
and
the
ability
to
capture
some
bullets
whole.
Like
all
rubber
traps,
the
blocks
are
damaged
with
every
shot
and
large
holes
can
quickly
develop,
severely
limi'ng
the
trap’s
ability
to
stop
bullets.
As
the
holes
get
larger,
the
blocks
get
weaker
and
the
whole
wall
tends
to
collapse
under
its
own
weight.
Weaknesses
include
UV
breakdown,
significant
ongoing
maintenance,
fire
hazard,
and
structural
collapse.

12. WET FUNNEL TRAPS
The
wet
funnel
trap
incorporates
gently
sloping
steel
plates
that
reduce
bullet
fragmenta'on
on
impact.
As
bullets
hit
the
plates,
they
are
directed
to
the
narrow
end
of
the
funnel
and
enter
a
decelera'on
chamber
where
their
energy
is
dissipated.
While
the
upper
impact
plates
remain
dry,
the
lower
plates
are
constantly
flooded
with
a
water
and
oil
mixture
that
is
intended
to
lubricate
the
steel.
The
water
is
con'nually
recycled
as
it
flows
down
the
plates
and
into
a
holding
tank
where
it
is
electrically
pumped
out
and
again
sprayed
on
to
the
plates.

13. WET FUNNEL TRAPS
On
indoor
ranges,
the
increased
humidity
can
leave
an
oily
film
on
the
rest
of
the
range
and
may
cause
HEPA
filters
in
the
ven'la'on
system
to
clog.
Frangible
ammuni'on
can
also
cause
problems
because
the
powder
created
by
disintegra'ng
bullets
mixes
with
the
water
and
hardens
into
a
cement-­‐like
substance
that
requires
an
extremely
difficult
cleaning
process.

14. WET FUNNEL TRAPS
The
benefits
of
a
wet
funnel
trap
include
the
durability
of
steel,
reduced
bullet
fragmenta'on,
reduced
lead
dust
levels,
and
the
ability
to
handle
larger
calibers.
Weaknesses
include
its
higher
cost,
large
floor
space
requirement,
water
treatment
chemicals,
increased
humidity,
problems
with
frangible
ammuni'on,
maintenance
of
the
electric
pumps
and
filters,
and
its
nonmodular
construc'on.

15. VERTICAL FUNNEL TRAPS
Instead
of
a
con'nuous
horizontal
funnel,
the
Ver'cal
Funnel
Trap
uses
a
series
ver'cally
oriented
funnel
boxes
to
gather
the
bullets.
As
with
a
horizontal
funnel,
bullets
are
deflected
by
the
impact
plates
into
a
decelera'on
chamber
at
the
back
of
the
trap
where
they
are
collected
and
stored.

16. VERTICAL FUNNEL TRAPS
As
individual
chambers
are
mounted
next
to
each
other,
ver'cal
edges
that
run
from
the
top
to
the
boYom
of
the
trap
are
created.
These
edges
can
pose
a
significant
ricochet
hazard.
Addi'onally,
the
individual
chamber
design
prohibits
any
cross-­‐lane
shoo'ng
and
greatly
limits
the
flexibility
and
func'onality
of
the
trap
as
a
whole.

17. VERTICAL FUNNEL TRAPS
The
benefits
of
a
ver'cal
funnel
trap
include
the
durability
of
steel,
easier
lead
collec'on,
and
a
smaller
floor
space
requirement.
Weaknesses
include
bullet
fragmenta'on,
no
close-­‐range
shoo'ng,
and
no
cross-­‐lane
shoo'ng.

18. There
are
hundreds
of
things
to
take
into
considera'on
when
building
a
shoo'ng
range,
with
each
bullet
trap
having
a
unique
set
of
benefits
and
weaknesses.
However,
every
range
owner
and
designer's
top
priority
should
always
be
safety
for
their
customers,
their
employees,
and
the
environment.
Anyone
planning
on
a
new
shoo:ng
range
build
or
upgrade
should
talk
to
an
Ac:on
Target
representa:ve
to
find
the
right
equipment
to
fit
their
needs
and
budget.

19. Read
more
and
comment
by
visi'ng
www.Ac'onTarget.com
and
click
on
“Ac'on
Target
Journal”
- OR -
Get
there
directly
at
www.Ac'onTarget.com/bullet-­‐trap-­‐comparisons-­‐pt-­‐1