Capturing Bullets

[Two Flints]

Hello SSS,

Does anyone have a special outside target shooting setup for capturing fired rounds so that the bullets can be recovered and reused in casting?  I would appreciate any ideas you may have with details about what you use.

Two Flints

[Grapeshot]

Hello SSS,

Does anyone have a special outside target shooting setup for capturing fired rounds so that the bullets can be recovered and reused in casting?  I would appreciate any ideas you may have with details about what you use.

Two Flints

Don't know if you can get away with this, but, we used to set up a 2' x 3' x 10' box and stuff it full of sawdust we got from the local mill.  The Mills owner was part of the local Reenacting Artillery Unit and we could get it for nothing back then.  It would take a couple of pickup truck loads to get enough to pack into the box.

The box had an open top and front, rear, sides, and bottom were made from scrap plywood framed out with 1x1's.  As long as you kept your bullets centered in the front pannel, you could dig out your bullets to see what effect the impacts were having on the bullet.  Sometimes you'd see a spray of sawdust out the top when the velocity and mass caused things to move then the bullet made it to the target.

[Buffalow Red]

Online

Posts: 91


     Re: What Targets and Retrieving Bullets
« Reply #2 on: Yesterday at 11:40:15 PM »     

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MY GREAT UNCKLE MADE MINE BEFORE I WAS BORN as he was a pistol competer with the old contender
it looks like a 14"x 14" picture frame from the front. has 1/4 ply wood to staple paper to. behind that its made out of 1/4" steel , tapers back like 4 triangles welded together down to 2" heavy wall pipe just long enough to screw a heavy wall 90 degree elbow  turned down with removeable cap to get  LEAD OUT

[Crazeyiven]

Years ago I saw one that a guy had on his own range.  Looking back it was probably made of plate steel.  As I recall the front was more or less a rectangle, probably ~ 36 inches square.  The center was cut out leaving probably an inch or two around the edges, except the bottom edge, it was probably 4 or 5 inches wide (tall).  The side had been cut from top to bottom at a angle.  The top was slanted at maybe 45 degrees or so and came together at the back.  The bottom met the top.  As I recall there was a strip of steel 3 or 4 inches wide welded across the back ... attached to the top and bottom.  I would guess that it was to keep the bullets from pounding on the seam at the back.  He put targets on the front.  Paper over the hole.  Sometimes hung cans in the middle of the hole.

The few times I saw it he was shooting 22 rifles, a couple of big revolvers (one was a SSA) and a shotgun.  My dad was using a colt 45 auto and a colt SSA in 38-40.  Range was probably 25 -100 yards.  I remember one time they backed was off, using the pistols.  I asked how far it was and was told it was a foot ball field, goal to goal.

I have not thought of this in years.  Hope it helps.

David

[Backstrap Bill]

I tried using a decent white tail buck for a bullet last fall.  Darned bullet went on through.  I do know when I use the Spencer at Cowboy matches itis easy to tell which of the flattened bullets in front of the targets are from the 56-50.

[Oregon Bill]

Now dang it, Bill, there you go reminding us what a fine venison harvester the Spencer is, and me without one ...

[Grizzle Bear]

Hello SSS,

Does anyone have a special outside target shooting setup for capturing fired rounds so that the bullets can be recovered and reused in casting?  I would appreciate any ideas you may have with details about what you use.

Two Flints

The technical term for the device you want is:  TREE!



Grizzle Bear