[2866]

I am shooting my 10/22 into a target mounted on a steel trap designed for .22 ammo. Besides the shot itself, the trap makes an infernall sound when hit with a bullet.

How would I go about minimising the noise? Would it help if I glue some kind of material outside the steel trap to absorb sound and vibrations? Any other ways to reduce sound?

Would 10/22 cycle properly with subsonic ammo? If not, what is the quietest ammo I could use?

V.

 

[106]

Illegal

Voruzon,

I am shooting my 10/22 into a target mounted on a steel trap designed for .22 ammo.

I strongly suspect that what you are doing is illegal, as the discharge of a firearm in NYC is illegal, unless it is at a licensed range facility......! !

 

[2810]

I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV, so I won't give any legal advise. I only shoot air pistols indoors when at home. No smoke, less noise, cheaper, no airborne lead to breath. The pellet trap I use still goes clang when it gets hit, but some scrap carpet pieces helped a tiny bit. Evenyually i just got a membership at the indoor shooting range that is 3 miles from my house. That was really the best solution to my need to shoot frequently. Now the pellet pistol is dusty and the 22 pistol gets alot more time in my hands.

 

[Elkein]

There's at least three things right off I can think of to reduce your trap's noise.
1. A carpet over the front.
2. Sand in the trap area.
3. Sound deadening stuff glued to the outside, like more carpetting, or foam.

 

[050]

Buy a sheet of 1" styrofoam and glue a couple layers to the outside using silicone or a flexible adhesive. You more than likely will be amazed at the difference, plus the silicone is flexible, so it should stick even with deformations to the trap.

Ron

 

[Kent Owens]

You can glue some of the rubber backed commercial carpet tiles to the outside of the unit. I've done this before on steel wheel chair lift doors that really made a noise when the clanged closed. It was amazing on how the rubber backed carpet silenced the noise--and it looked good too!! Works similar to the silencer on a bow string by absorbing the vibrations. I have no idea of the legality of shooting in your city--but I wouldn't think it'd be illegal to glue carpet to a bullet trap? Still you may want to check--it's legal in sticksville, where I prefer to live.

 

[2665]

I would glue ruber floor mat material to the backside. The type of floormat material they make for the floor infront of work benches that is more of a cushion than floor material. it is supposed to reduce fatigue from standing long periods of time - it is about an inch thick. I bet it would make a huge difference.

Where can these traps be bought ? Anyone have plans on building one ? I would love to do some indoor shooting at my shop (big polebarn)

Bob

 

[050]

BigMike
You noticed that he never answered your question about where he was shooting.

 

[dean]

I imagine that he didn't answer the question about how legal he was because his question was about noise levels and not his address.

 

[willscary]

why not fill the trap with ballistic putty? Three or four inches thick should pretty much stop the bullet before it hits the back. If you use subsonic ammo besides, the noise should be minimal.

 

[2415]

They make this stuff called "Dynamat" for car audio people that you can stick to surfaces to deaden noise. More expensive than a rubber mat on the outside, but more effective too.

 

[myredchevy]

clemsonphysics, you took the words out of my fingers, I used the stuff in my truck and it made a big difference in road noise. I actually bought some generic stuff, but its basically the same. Also if you know a carpender I hear they use a roofing product (ice and snow shield?) thats asphalt based, that should work too. Oh ya phone books stop .22 bullets (tried it back it the day).

 

[2866]

BigMike,
I appreciate your concern. I've known that already and I am certainly not going to do anything illegal or irresponcibe when it comes to firearms use/ownership.

REDTIP17: BigMike,
You noticed that he never answered your question about where he was shooting.

First, BigMike has not posted a question to but just a helpfull caution - appreciated but unnecessary in my case.

Second, I posted it 4:19 on Thursday - just before leaving the office. This is not a live chat but a bulletin board, so even if a reply from me were expected, you should have allowed me at least a whole business day to do so before you started implying ANYTHING. Not everyone has a full-time wireless internet connection or any usable connection outside the office.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As Dean correctly noted, this question is about a technical issue, not my address or whatever it might imply. At the same time I've made my address available in my profile and I would appreciate and welcome any advice as long as it does not contain unwarranted assumptions or implied accusations.
If the conversation is civil, I would expain my statements even though I have no obligation to do so.

I bought a trap for about $60 in a gun shop along with my rifles. I am certainly not planning to shoot a firerarm in my appartment or 25x30 feet backyard even if it were legal.

There are few ranges in NYC and I will probably not get there often but my friends outside the city allow me to shoot on their property. I'd like to use a trap because I want to be sure where my bullets end up and because I'd like to prevent unnecessary led contamination.
The extra noise offends my nature as does any sloppiness and besides it is inconsiderate.

I am not planning to hunt or compete with my 10/22 but use it for target practice and to accusom my son to being around the firearms - for a few years while he is too small to handle them.
I'd like to use the quietest ammo that would still cycle the action on 10/22 and get the bullet to a target 50 yards away. The primary consideration is safety - the lower energy the bullet has, the less chance of damage if it goes somewhere it is not expected to go and the less the led splashes into dust when the bullet hits the trap. The secondary is noise. Besides being considerate, I want reduce need for the hearing protectors or at least make the plug-in type sufficient.
I'd like to involve more of my friends in firearms ownership and I do not feel like stocking the cups for all of the possible spectators.

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el solo: I only shoot air pistols indoors when at home.

I believe owning an airguns is not legal in NYC.

Elkein: 1. A carpet over the front.

That is a good idea - especially since it would stop most of the led dust spraying outside and easily penetrating the paper target.

Bob Adams: Anyone have plans on building one ? I would love to do some indoor shooting at my shop (big polebarn)

I would not recommend building a bullet trap unless you really know what you are doing - the one for sale is guaranteed to stop 22lr bullets and its shape is calcualted to deflect bullet pieces into the bottom compartment.

Pdwight: they said to use 4 or 5 old tires in a row to absorb the noise

That would not work for me since I need an arrangement that would fit in a trunk of my car but in case someome allows me to keep a bunch of old tires at their property, how does one use them to lower the noise?

willscary: why not fill the trap with ballistic putty?

What's a ballistic putty? The trap is mostly an inclined steel plate reflecting the bullets down into the base. Would the ballistic putty stay in it?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now, what kind of flexible adhesive do I use to glue stuff to the painted metal? Would regular kitchen/bath silicone do? Any brands anyone could suggest that I'd find at Home Depot?

Thanks for your input,
V.

 

[106]

Misc. & Glue

Voruzon,

Thank you for your formal and thorough reply.....! !

We are a little more 'relaxed' here on RFC, and will not hold you 'delinquent' if you do not respond within 24 hours......! !

Consider getting a Blackberry....! !

Your response sounds like you are either a Lawyer, or in contract administration....! !
[Note: this is NOT a question...! ]

Glue:
Whatever glue or adhesive you may use, it will only be as good as the 'bond' of the paint to the steel that is already on the trap....! !

And, some glues and adhesives contain solvents that will attack the paint, further complicating the issue....! !

Go with the silicone adhesive, and if it fails [paint comes off], reglue it....! !

I'd like to use the quietest ammo that would still cycle the action on 10/22 and get the bullet to a target 50 yards away.

After your 10/22 is thoroughly broken in [500 - 1000 rounds of Hi Vel ammo], you can try some of the standard velocity ammo; it will cycle the action, not jam, and does not have the sonic crack of the Hi Vel ammo; most "target" .22LR ammo is standard velocity. Dynapoints from K-Mart [exclusive] are quite popular with many RFC'rs, although not truly sub sonic. CCI CB Longs are very quiet, but, they most probably will NOT cycle your action.

I will let the others respond to their issues.......

Hope this helps....! !

 

[willscary]

Ballistic putty is like modeling clay. It is a semi-soft material that I have used to stop pellets from my airgun in my basement. I am sure that it would both slow the .22 bullet enough to lessen the impact on the rear of the trap, and it would bond to the back of the trap, also helping to deaden the sound by increasing mass. When the putty is full of bullets, you simplyremove them and reshape the substance and put it back in the trap. It is also very cheap. Iwould bet modeling clay works just as well.

Hope this helps.

 

[106]

Duct Seal

Voruzon,

Ballistic putty is also generically called "duct seal", used by heating and ventilating contractors to plug small gaps in sheet metal duct work. It would be availanle at your local Home Depot, BUT, the latest terrorist scare has probably cleaned them out...! !

 

[2866]

I am a programmer, not a laywer. I do participate in some other forums and so developed a certain style I use in on-line discussions - where people often misinterpret statements because of varying backgrounds, etc. and becasue they forget there is some context beyong what's actually typed and rush with judgements rather than asking for clarifications.

On paint - I don't know what it is but it seems to've survived a few bullet strikes, so it must be good.

willscary: When the putty is full of bullets, you simplyremove them...

It would probably involve more handling of led than one may find reasonable. Discarding may be a safer option.

V.

 

[willscary]

Actually, handling lead has never bothered me. If it bothers you, however, just wear some thin rubber gloves when removing the bullets.

 

[1478]

Vorusons

I like your online ettiqite and manner of presenting yourself, very professional and concise! I may need to hire ya for consultation!

I suspect you may frequent The Well~



Chuck

 

[MultimediaMan]

Lead Exposure

Having worked at an indoor range that allowed the use of unplated cast lead bullets for many years, I can say safely that most lead exposure comes from poor hygiene rather than air inhalation, given proper ventilation. Most Indoor ranges have a STRONG current of air blowing downrange limiting exposure. Newer indoor ranges have blowers above each firing point that reduce exposure even further.

Most Lead is ingested or auto-introduced: Drinking beverages without first washing your hands after handling lead bullets or cleaning a firearm (Most Priming compounds use Lead Styphnate); food or open containers on the firing line are a Bad Idea. Smoking on the firing line is another way to get lead from your hands introduced into your system - smokers are many times more likely to have elevated lead levels within their bodies. Another area where ingestion is common is rubbing the skin around your eyes, nose and mouth (Poor weather conditions can aggravate this - runny noses at a cold range are no fun).

Simply washing your hands BEFORE you handle lead and dabbing your hands dry lightly, leaving a little soap on your skin to dry will reduce the risk of lead exposure. Washing your hands afterward is a given. If you have any open wounds or irritated fingernail cuticles, consider rubber gloves instead.

Lead exposure is 99% common sense and 1% Chemistry...and we don't want to get into the Chemistry.