Alrighty guys,

I have perhaps a silly question. I no longer live out in the country but in a small country town. I need to try my .45acp with some newly reloaded rounds to see if the gun will digest them. I don't want to drive out to the range 20 miles away with a handful of bullets. Is there anyway I can make a contraption that will safely catch my bullets in my basement? I have heard everything from a large cardboard box stuffed with old jeans to a 55 gallon drum filled with water to catch my lead. I am not worried about the noise as I will be in my basement. I just want it to be safe and reliable. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Sid

First and foremost, I'd suggest finding out your local laws regarding discharge of a firearm in town. Someone will eventually hear it and you may have an unwanted visit by the boys in blue.

I take it your single, or about to be when your wife heards a 45 going off in the basemant repeadly, I must say it is one way to get rid of the girlfriend that will not leave though... :)

I take it your single, or about to be when your wife heards a 45 going off in the basemant repeadly, I must say it is one way to get rid of the girlfriend that will not leave though... :)


I am married and my wife shoots as well. The boys in blue are not a concern as there is an interstate real close by and backfires from vehicles are common. I am just looking for an easy safe way to discharge my .45 into something so I can check my rounds.

4 or 5 large phone books, taped together with duct tape (about 12" thick) will stop a 45 acp no problem. Untill it gets worn out that is. Also make sure you dont miss, as that would be very bad.

A gunsmith friend used a 55 gallon drum, mounted at an angle of about 45 degrees, with a removeable top. In the top was a hole about 4" in diameter, and a piece of rolled sheet metal (or exhaust pipe) about 18" long affixed there so as to make a "spout", or receptacle for whatever he was shooting. He used rubber sheets (often cut from inner tubes) on the inside of the top to keep sand, etc, from splashing back up the spout, and on the top to kill the report of whatever he was shooting. In the drum was a couple of feet of sand, kept moist so as to offer more resistance, and a steel plate on the bottom, about 3/8" thick. He would insert the muzzle of whatever he wanted to shoot in the "spout" thru a slot cut in the upper rubber, and fire. The rubber generally kept the report captive, and it was surprisingly quiet.

A gunsmith friend used a 55 gallon drum, mounted at an angle of about 45 degrees, with a removeable top. In the top was a hole about 4" in diameter, and a piece of rolled sheet metal (or exhaust pipe) about 18" long affixed there so as to make a "spout", or receptacle for whatever he was shooting. He used rubber sheets (often cut from inner tubes) on the inside of the top to keep sand, etc, from splashing back up the spout, and on the top to kill the report of whatever he was shooting. In the drum was a couple of feet of sand, kept moist so as to offer more resistance, and a steel plate on the bottom, about 3/8" thick. He would insert the muzzle of whatever he wanted to shoot in the "spout" thru a slot cut in the upper rubber, and fire. The rubber generally kept the report captive, and it was surprisingly quiet.


Thank you very much my friend. Have a good weekend.

Sid

Back in the mid 70's we used to have a barrel of sand in the basement of city hall where we, the police dept., checked our shotguns in case of an accidental discharge. They stopped this practice when there was a report of a barrel coming apart (read shrapnel) when a shotgun discharged into it. It has been far too long ago and I can't remember the cause but I know we just started checking them outside so if it went off it would be into the ground.