WSSA Special Indoor Range Committee

Indoor Range Testing

February 19, 2007

 

 

Committee Members Present:

Ray Brown

John Bennick

Hersh Gooden

Ken O’Donnell

Steve Silverman

Dave Sisca

 

Board of Directors member present:

Phil Dodson

 

Committee Member Absent:

Jim Sollenberger

 

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Preparation of range prior to testing:

 

The surface of the backstop steel was sanded clean of lead buildup in 4 areas. These areas were then marked with spray paint.

 

A check of the remainder of the backstop showed indentations/dimples at the bullseye target locations. Weld repair porosity evident. Small indentations were seen elsewhere on the steel.  There were two locations where deeper indentations/craters were observed. These appear to have been fired from a centerfire rifle.

 

 

Test Protocol:

 

Mats were placed in the trap to catch the bullet debris. The floor was swept to assist in determining if bullet debris was leaving the trap and if so, how far. The existing rubber curtain was removed and at the time of the test, there was no curtain system in place.

 

Various centerfire handgun rounds were fired at the steel backstop from a distance of 30 feet. The handgun rounds fired included lead, full metal jacketed and jacketed hollowpoint bullets. The .22LR and .45Colt rounds were fired from a distance of 50 feet. Some were fired at the sanded areas of the steel, while others were fired at un-sanded areas of the steel. After each different round was fired (in groups of 2 to 8 shots), the impact area on the steel was examined for cratering and/or lead buildup and the  bullet fragments were collected and their locations noted.

 

When each round was fired, the individuals present (other than the one shooting) were watching to see what the bullet did after impacting the steel and the observations below represent a consensus of those committee members. The rounds were fired by different members of the committee, so that all those present were able to observe a majority of the results.

 

 

Test Shots

 

Sanded steel

 

9x19 – Winchester 147gr. JHP – 4.25” barrel. 3 rounds were fired. No damage visible on backstop. It was visibly obvious that the majority of the bullet fragment impact into the trap was close to the rear of the trap – within 12 inches. No pieces of bullet debris were found on the floor outside the trap.

 

9x19 – Winchester 115gr FMJ (White Box) – 4.25” barrel. 3 rounds were fired. No damage visible on backstop. Impact into trap was at rear of the mat. Bullet debris found on mat between 9-13” from rear of trap. No pieces of bullet debris were found on the floor outside the trap.

 

9x19 – Winchester 115gr FMJ (White Box) – 4.25” barrel. 2 rounds were fired. No damage visible on backstop. Impact into trap was at rear of the mat. No pieces of bullet debris were found on the floor outside the trap.

 

9x23 – Winchester 125gr SilverTip – 4.25” barrel. Three rounds were fired. Second round struck the same place one of the 9x19 impacts. No damage was visible, even at the location where two bullets had hit the same spot. Two small fragments were found outside of the trap.

 

.45acp – PMC 230gr FMJ-RN – 5” barrel. 6 rounds were fired. No damage visible on backstop. Bullet debris struck rear of mat. One small piece of bullet debris was found on the floor outside the trap.

 

 

.45acp – 200gr RN Lead (900fps) – 5” barrel. 8 rounds were fired. No damage visible on backstop. It appeared that the bullet debris went down the steel, hit the mat and “bounced back up.” Small pieces of lead were located on the floor outside the trap out to a maximum of 14 feet. There was a small piece of lead found “soldered” to the backstop.

 

In comparing the impacts made by the two different .45acp bullets, it was noticed that the FMJ left a noticeable mark where it slid down the steel, whereas the lead bullet made an impact on the steel that was wider and only showed lead “tracks” in the downward direction.

 

.40S&W – Winchester 165gr FMJ – TC (White Box) – 4” barrel. 3 rounds were fired. No damage visible on backstop. The impact on the mat was at the rear of the trap. The “smear effect” was between that of the .45acp FMJ and the .45acp RNL. Small pieces of debris were found on the floor outside the trap.

 

.45Colt – 300gr Linotype (1500fps) – 14” barrel. 4 rounds fired. 2 of the rounds impacted the steel at the same spot. No damage visible on backstop. Observed a wide dispersal of the lead when it hit the backstop. 2 gas checks were located.

 

Un-sanded steel

 

.45acp – FMJ-RN – 5” barrel and .45acp – 200gr RN Lead (900fps) – 5” barrel (both same as used on sanded steel as listed above). Results were the same as when fired at the sanded steel.

 

.22LR – Thunderbolt – Marlin Target Rifle. No damage visible on backstop. A small amount of lead was visible “soldered” to the backstop. Spatter was witnessed hitting the mat about 12 inches from the base of the steel.

 

.22LR - .40gr SubSonic – Marlin Target Rifle. No damage visible on backstop. Lead dust cloud was observed hitting the mat 12-24 inches from base of the steel.

 

.22LR – Thunderbolt – Ruger Pistol - 5.5” barrel. No damage visible on backstop. A small amount of lead was visible “soldered” to the backstop. Spatter was witnessed hitting the mat about 12 inches from the base of the steel.

 

The .22 rifle rounds were fired from the bench to increase the angle of the shot. No difference in impact of the spatter on the mat was noticed.

           

We also noticed that whether the point of impact was high or low on the steel, the impact of the spatter into the trap was in the same general location (12” or closer from base of steel).

 

 

Group Observations – Post Test (February 19, 2007 – 1:00pm)

 

  1. The backstop has been in place for approximately 40 years and appears to be in good condition.

 

  1. The build-up of lead in the traps is not a non-cohesive accumulation, as would be expected, but rather a fairly solid, cohesive mass that presents a hard surface in the trap. 

 

  1. No deformation, cratering, or damage to steel was detected by bullets fired from any of the test guns.

 

  1. Centerfire bullets caused no detectable cratering from any of the rounds fired – lead, FMJ, TMJ or HP with calibers ranging from 9x19 to 300gr. .45Colt.

 

  1. 2 rounds of 300gr .45Colt hit in the same spot – no marking or deformation of steel noticed.

 

  1. The more rounded profile bullets gave a better downward movement of the bullet and particles into the trap.

 

  1. Jacketed bullets stayed together better than lead. They were also much better directed into the trap.

 

  1. Nothing was observed coming back from the steel. After the bullet spatter hit the trap, debris from the base was impacted.

 

  1. .22LRs “bounced more” – farther out from the pit.

 

  1. Back spatter needs to be contained. A better curtain system would help with this. This system needs to be easier to replace and allow easier access to the backstop.

 

  1. A separate, second curtain section can be situated directly in line with the bullseye target impact areas. These second curtains need to be checked after each bullseye match and replaced if necessary for the good of the membership.

 

  1.  Lead bullets “solder” themselves to the backstop and to the debris in the trap.

 

  1. We saw vertical bounce off of the mats in the trap. It has been FOUR years since we’re sure that the trap has been maintained and/or cleaned.

 

  1. ALL bullets fired during the test went down into the trap.

 

  1. The “cone” of the spatter was lateral, not back toward the shooter.

 

  1. The lead debris observed after the bullet struck the backstop was an oblong, narrow band of lead that went into the trap within about 12 inches from the back of the trap.

 

  1. The debris in the trap is more dense at the rear of the trap, causing a 90deg. Angle where it meets the base of the backstop.

 

 

Recommendations of the Committee to the Board of Directors

 

  1. Clean all the lead out of the trap and replace bed of material in trap with sand.

 

  1. Maintain trap regularly.

 

  1. Appoint a range committee to inspect the range regularly. We suggest quarterly to start, until we have a baseline established.

 

  1. The backstop is sound and stopped everything that we shot.

 

  1. The use of jacketed ammunition would lessen the buildup of lead deposits on the face of the backstop.

 

  1. Pock marks made by rifle rounds need to be filled and then ground smooth, not covered with new steel plates.

 

  1. Stick weld and smooth edges of the existing patch plates.

 

  1. As an alternative to #1-#7, remove steel and replace with dirt. Raise roof by 3-4 feet and add more dirt or add baffles to top edge of new dirt backstop. We would need to re-engineer the target system, if we go with the dirt backstop.

 

  1. Visit Harrisburg Hunters and Anglers to see their indoor range.

 

  1. Visit Freedom Armory to see their new indoor range.

 

  1. Exhaust fans MUST be used at all times when there is powder propelled projectiles being shot.

 

  1. FMJ will lessen lead in the air.

 

  1. We NEED portable pellet traps for air gun shooting. They must always be utilized when shooting air guns on the indoor range. We need more supervision at youth air gun activities.

 

  1. We need to replace the carpeting that is on top of the shooting benches.

 

  1. Contact the NRA for information on alternate target systems for the bullseye shooters.

 

  1. The committee would like to acknowledge that there was a condition on the indoor range that warranted the closing of the range. It is clear that the current Board of Directors were not aware of any issues relating to the indoor range, prior to the January 2007 monthly meeting.   

 

  1. The committee does not oppose the amendment to the Constitution and Bylaws to allow jacketed ammunition to be fired on the indoor range, because the firing of jacketed ammunition displayed no evidence of damage to the backstop during our testing. The only modification that we suggest is to disallow the firing of air guns without the use of pellet traps.

 

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Options to be Proposed to the Membership

 

1.      Keep the indoor range closed to everything but force on force, classroom activities and archery.

 

2.      Keep the existing steel backstop.

a.       Clean all the lead out of the trap and replace bed of material with sand.

b.      Replace/re-design the curtain.

c.       Add a second curtain at each of the bullseye shooting positions.

d.      Fix damage to steel.

e.       Create Range Committee to monitor the indoor range and its maintenance.

 

3.      Remove the steel backstop.

a.       Remove steel and replace with dirt.

b.      Install a baffle system.

c.       Consider raising the roof or moving/removing the rear wall.

d.      Need cost estimate.    

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