Indoor Range Ideas

I'm getting ready to build my shop and am toying with the idea of an indoor range (handguns only). I was planning on doing 3/16 plate on the purlin, 2 sheets of 3/4 ply on top of that, and a layer of sandbags in front of that. I'm planning on making it 8 x 8 and I'll be shooting from 50'. I know the sandbags will have to be replaced regularly- other than that, what would you do differently or would you do it at all? I have an outdoor range for rifles, but I want a place to shoot after dark and in the rain.

What type bullet are you wanting to use? Our indoor range is lead/plated for handgun and 22 rifle. One thing that works is belting from elevator augers hung like a curtain. The back wall is set at an angle with steel plate and covered with concrete on the exterior.

I'd skip the 3/16" plate, and plywood layer, and install some AR 400. It'll never go bad, and you won't have plywood shards to deal with. I would also have some mild steel projecting toward the shower on each side of the armor steel, and the top. When the bullets hit the armor they splatter in 360°. That will keep those bullet pieces in the bullet trap.

I think I'd copy a commercial bullet trap concept. Have someone weld up one for you using the appropriate steel, make it about thirty inches by thirty inches, and mount it to a wheeled cart. Thats just me, though.

Ventilation to clear lead dust in the air is extremely important. Lead dust settling from the air onto the floor is a serious health risk.

Search for NIOSH articles on the subject.

Here are a couple for starters:

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/ranges/

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/wp-solutions/2010-113/pdfs/2010-113.pdf

As jeffbird says, the problem and expense with an indoor range isn't stopping the bullets, it's ventilation.

Many welders will say AR 400, 500 can't be welded, which is hogwash.

Excellent point. Or limit your indoor shooting to lead free ammo only.

That's why I was thinking either sand or square bales. Most handgun rounds will stop in the sand, so no dust/splatter to deal with.