BULLET TRAP COMPARISONS - Action Target

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.