Although shooting ranges tend to use bullet traps that are specially designed to stop and collect fired bullets, note that there are other methods they use to stop bullets.
Indeed, bullets are not easy to stop as they tend to travel at such high velocities. Keep in mind that once a bullet is projected from a firearm, it carries a high amount of energy due to its mass and motion, which is described by experts as kinetic energy.
To successfully stop it, the kinetic energy will have to be absorbed and transferred from the bullet into another thing, and that is where bullet traps come in.
Note that immediately a bullet hits the bullet trap, the materials and design of the bullet trap will work to absorb the kinetic energy of the bullet. If the bullet trap is made of steel, the steel plates will be properly aligned to achieve a deflection into a bullet trap.
Methods Shooting Ranges Use to Stop Bullets
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Backstops
Shooting ranges are known to have backstops, which are properly crafted or designed to catch and stop bullets. Most often, you will find that these backstops are made of materials such as sand, rubber, or even carefully designed ballistic material.
In the United States, the most commonly used materials are sand berms. For ages, they have remained a traditional choice and this can be attributed to their ability to absorb and slow down bullets effectively.
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Bullet Traps
These well-known and carefully built devices capture bullets effectively. You will mostly find them within indoor ranges and they are most often built as steel traps or granular traps.
Keep in mind that steel traps leverage angled plates to redirect bullets into a collection area, whereas granular traps are known to leverage a dense rubber or synthetic material to slow down as well as stop bullets.
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Baffles and Deflectors
In this modern age, a good number of shooting ranges also inculcate baffles and deflectors particularly to ensure that they can satisfactorily control the trajectory of bullets.
The essence of these devices is to prevent bullets from traveling too far or hitting unintended targets. Keep in mind that these devices are usually installed on the ceiling of indoor ranges, redirecting bullets downwards into the backstop.
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Steel Plates and Armor
You will find that a good number of shooting ranges make use of steel plates or armored barriers to slow down or even stop bullets.
According to industry reports, steel plates are particularly or popularly used in outdoor ranges especially since they are known to have the capacity to deal with repeated impacts.
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Concrete Structures
Note that concrete walls or structures have proven to be very effective bullet stops and this can be attributed to the fact that reinforced concrete has the ability to absorb and contain the energy of a bullet, and this will stop the bullet from penetrating further.
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Deceleration Chambers
These chambers work to direct projectiles into a helical or circular chamber. It simply means that the bullet slides against the curved chamber wall and gradually loses velocity until it drops to the bottom of the chamber.
Note that a good number of shooting ranges, particularly indoor ranges, might put in place deceleration chambers to gradually slow down bullets right before they get to the backstop. This will reduce or drastically drop the impact force.
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Lead Collection Systems
A good number of modern shooting ranges make use of lead collection systems to retrieve spent bullets from backstops. Aside from the fact that it works to guarantee environmental protection, keep in mind that it ensures that accumulated lead does not interfere with the range’s safety mechanisms.
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Regular Maintenance
Although not outrightly a bullet-stopping mechanism, note that it works to help the range stay on top of its safety needs.
In this line of business, keep in mind that steady and ongoing maintenance is very necessary to ensure the effectiveness of these safety measures. Indeed, shooting ranges will need to regularly inspect backstops, bullet traps, as well as any other safety features to deal with any wear or damage.