Bullet recovery

[fordfarmboy]

I'm looking to build a bullet trap to caught /recover rifle bullets( 7.62x54r / 303) ,thinking about 4' long 8" dia. full of sand . What do you guys think or any ideals.

 

[flightsimmer]

Don't use PVC pipe, it will probably crack.
What is it that you want to accomplish with the recovered bullets?

 

[fordfarmboy]

Just size . I know you can slug the barrel but I have sand and yes I have pvc.

 

[VUPDblue]

So you’re wanting to recover just a couple of each so you can measure them? At first blush I presumed you were looking for a long term recovery device. If you want to recover a few to measure out, water is probably best. If you can get your hands on a tall trash can or 55gal drum you should be able to fire straight down into it without piercing the bottom. Your slugs will remain intact too, and clean.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

VUPD, does ISP lab still use water?

 

[VUPDblue]

VUPD, does ISP lab still use water?

I have never been to the ISP lab but our Marion County Crime Lab does.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Ok, just curious. Thanks.

 

[Mongo59]

For single use you can bind old magazines and newspaper into a "stack". Lots of stopping power and easy to retrieve. You can compare depth as well. It will make bullets into "flowers" just like the bullet bouquet. It won't interfere with the recycling value either...

 

[flightsimmer]

Your wanting to recover a fired bullet with no deformity?
The only way to do this at home is to fire a (much) reduced load into as deep a colum of water that can be made available and wear your rain suit.

 

[fordfarmboy]

I didn't think 55gal would stop a rifle bullet but if will work ,I have a barrel. Thanks

 

[VUPDblue]

When the myth busters did it, rifle bullets needed about 3’ of water to stop them.

 

[flightsimmer]

When the myth busters did it, rifle bullets needed about 3’ of water to stop them.

Nay, nay, even when they fired them underwater they went much further than that but then they were full stregth loads.

Reduced rifle loads fired straight down may not work well because of the distance between the powder and primer, maybe you could use a filler like cotton or polyester to keep the powder back by the primer.

 

[DeadeyeChrista'sdad]

My understanding was that they did use up almost all of their energy in the first 3 feet or so. So a 55 gallon drum full of water would be sufficient.
I am not a ballistics expert.
I am a cornfield kid with a degree from fruit jar tech in political science.
I did not stay at a Holiday Inn last night.
So, my advice and 10 dollars might get you a decent cup of coffee.

 

[Mgderf]

I've recovered the likes of a .308 bullet, and I believe I recovered a .303 British round with nothing more than a wooden box suroounding several milk jugs of water.
I believe I went 6 or 8 1 gallon jugs filled with water and capped with the caps that came with each jug.
Lined them up in a straight line and built an open-ended box along the sides to redirect the round if it decided to go sideways on me.

I got some pretty remarkably undamaged rounds. Almost looked like pull-downs.
These were all FMJ so no expansion.

The bad part about this method is that you only get one shot per 6-8 water jugs.

 

[fordfarmboy]

Hey ! Thanks that's a good ideal

 

[bobjones223]

Know anyone with a pool?...should be about time for them to start draining them for winter!

 

[ART338WM]

All else fails if you need to do a few say less than 5 save up gallon milk or water jugs and line them up and shoot.

 

[ART338WM]

When the myth busters did it, rifle bullets needed about 3’ of water to stop them.

I remember that episode. IIRC the faster the bullet went the worse it came apart. I was astonished how badly a .50 cal BMG round came apart. Also didn't one of the hosts Adam or the other guy made a comment about the legality of the .50 cal BMG as they were in Commyfonia?