BULLET TRAP COMPARISONS - Action Target

BULLET
TRAP
COMPARISONS
For many years, bullet trap technology has been mired in confusion, misunderstanding, and
misinformation. The various approaches to bullet containment and disposal have become as diverse as they
are numerous. The purpose of this presentation is to provide accurate information and valuable education
by examining various bullet trap theories, technologies, and applications in an objective manner.
The following information represents the views and opinions of Action Target based on our experience and
observations. You are encouraged to conduct your own research and speak with other users about their
experiences with the various bullet trap technologies presented.
Sand Berm
The sand or dirt berm is the oldest and most basic type of bullet trap. It uses the mass of the berm itself to
stop and store bullets, and on outdoor ranges it can literally be the side of a mountain. On indoor ranges
however, some type of structure or barricade is used to support the berm and hold back the sand.
On ranges where qualification or other events where tightly grouped shooting patterns are common,
concentrations of lead called hot spots can form behind the targets causing subsequent shots to ricochet and
bounce back towards the shooter. In order to recover spend bullets, the berm must be mined and the lead
separated out. A certain amount of the sand will be contaminated and must be replenished each time the
trap is cleaned. Sand and dirt berms are coming under increasingly harsh environmental scrutiny due to
high lead levels in the ground around the trap, and the tendency of the lead to seep into surrounding ground
water.
The benefits of a sand berm include low cost, relatively low maintenance, and the ability to use any kind of
ammunition.
Weaknesses include potential environmental hazard, expensive mining, and hot spot ricochet.
Pit and Plate Trap
With this application, a steel plate is used to redirect bullets into a bed of sand. The steel is often called a
"smash" plate because the acute angle - in this case, anything greater than 25 degrees - causes bullets to
smash into small pieces on impact before they are scattered on the sand below. Because the lead fragments
rest mostly on top of the sand, this trap must be cleaned frequently by mining the lead from the sand and

disposing of it properly. Under moderate to heavy use, a thick lead build-up can develop in the back corner
of the trap causing bullets to be deflected back towards the shooter.
The benefits of a pit and plate trap include lower initial cost and simple installation.
Weaknesses include bullet fragmentation on impact, lead build-up, ricochet, and high maintenance.
Water and Plate Trap
The water and plate trap is similar to the pit and plate trap, except the sand is replaced by a large trough of
water. Bullets still fragment into small pieces after impacting the smash plate, but now they splash into the
water and sink to the bottom of the trough. To retrieve the lead, you must shovel or scoop it from the water
and dispose of it properly. The water in the trough must be replenished due to evaporation, and the
evaporation can cause increased humidity on your range and problems with your ventilation system.
The benefits of a water and plate trap include lower lead dust levels and no ricochet off other bullets.
Weaknesses include bullet fragmentation on impact, maintenance of the water, and the limitation to indoor
use only.
Venetian Blind Trap
This older application uses a series of angled steel smash plates to redirect bullets to the back and bottom of
the trap. Some versions of this trap have the smash plates mounted loosely to help absorb some of the
bullets' energy, but the acute angle of the plates can still cause significant fragmentation.

To keep bullet splatter from bouncing back at the shooter, rubber curtains are often mounted across the
entire face of the trap. Because rubber is destroyed every time you shoot into it, these curtains must be
replaced or patched frequently to maintain their effectiveness.
The benefits of a venetian blind trap include the durability of steel, no sand or granules, and a small floor
space requirement.
Weaknesses include bullet fragmentation on impact, splatter & ricochet, no close-range shooting, and
maintenance of the rubber curtains.
Escalator Trap
This is another old-fashioned steel trap that uses steeply angled smash plates to stop bullets and direct the
fragments to an open collection area.
Some manufacturers recommend that the impact plates be coated with oil to provide lubrication and reduce
fragmentation. This oil can be washed away into the surrounding soil if the trap is not protected from the
elements in outdoor applications.
The same system of protective rubber curtains may also be necessary with this trap due to the acute angle
of its steel smash plates.
The benefits of an escalator trap include the durability of steel and no sand or rubber granules.
Weaknesses include bullet fragmentation on impact, no close-range shooting, maintenance of the rubber
curtains, and poor lead storage and collection.

Rubber Lamella Trap
With this trap, tightly grouped rubber curtains or lamellas 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 until
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. Because rubber is destroyed every time you shoot into it, the rubber strips are quickly shredded
under any kind of moderate to heavy use. One of the most quoted features of rubber traps is that bullets
don't fragment on impact like they do on steel. This is true until bullets start impacting other bullets already
embedded in the rubber. Regardless of the application, the use of a rubber bullet trap introduces a very real
fire hazard that must be considered and dealt with appropriately
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 restriction of low
volume shooting only.
Vertical Rubber Granule Trap
Another European design uses a large steel chamber filled with chopped rubber and a penetrable rubber
sheet across the front the keep the rubber granules in place.
The trap works the same way a sand berm works, except the sand is replaced by granules of chopped
rubber and the face of the trap is vertical. Like the rubber lamella trap, the front skin of the rubber granule
trap is permanently damaged each time a bullet is fired into it.
As larger and larger holes are created in the front skin, rubber granules can spill out and large bulges can
develop as the structural integrity of the trap is compromised. Regular patching and repair is often required
to keep the granules in the chamber.
As the granules settle, areas of dangerously low density can form at the top of the trap causing rounds to
pass through the rubber and escape out the back. To clean the trap, bullets must be mined and separated
from the rubber then disposed of properly.
The benefits of a vertical 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, fire hazard, and the restriction of low
volume shooting only.

Rubber Block Trap
The rubber block trap is similar in concept to the rubber granule trap, except the rubber granules are
molded together with a latex glue to form a solid object. The rubber blocks are then 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. Like all rubber traps, the blocks are damaged with every shot and large holes
quickly develop, severely limiting 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.
The benefits of a rubber block trap include its small floor space requirement and the ability to capture some
bullets whole.
Weaknesses include UV breakdown, significant ongoing maintenance, fire hazard, and structural collapse.
Wet Funnel Trap
The wet funnel trap incorporates gently sloping steel plates that reduce bullet fragmentation on impact. As
bullets hit the plates, they are directed to the narrow end of the funnel and enter a deceleration 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 continually 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.
On indoor ranges, some wet trap owners report that the increased humidity can leave an oily film on the
rest of the range and may cause HEPA filters in the ventilation system to clog. They have also discovered
that frangible ammunition can cause problems because the powder created by disintegrating bullets mixes

with the water and hardens into a cement-like substance that requires an extremely difficult cleaning
process.
It has been recommended to treat the water with chlorine to prevent algae in warm climates, and antifreeze
to prevent freezing in colder climates. These substances combine with the water, oil, and lead, and can
create a significant hazardous waste problem.
The benefits of a wet funnel trap include the durability of steel, reduced bullet fragmentation, 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 ammunition, maintenance of the electric pumps and filters, and its nonmodular
construction.
Vertical Funnel Trap
Instead of a continuous horizontal funnel, this trap uses a series vertically oriented funnel boxes to gather
the bullets. As with a horizontal funnel, bullets are deflected by the impact plates into a deceleration
chamber at the back of the trap where they are collected and stored.
The angles of the impact plates are not as severe as a venetian blind or escalator type trap, but they are
more severe than other modern steel traps so bullet fragmentation on impact can still be an issue.
As individual chambers are mounted next to each other, vertical edges that run from the top to the bottom
of the trap are created. These edges can pose a significant ricochet hazard. Additionally, the individual
chamber design prohibits any cross-lane shooting and greatly limits the flexibility and functionality of the
trap as a whole.
The benefits of a vertical funnel trap include the durability of steel, easier lead collection, and a smaller
floor space requirement.
Weaknesses include bullet fragmentation, no close-range shooting, and no cross-lane shooting.