Bullet Trap

[sjfcontrol]

Is there a procedure for the removal of the lead and the other that goes "downrange" ?

I remember years ago trap and skeet ranges had equipment come in and scrape the ground, seperate the shot and re-establish the soil downrange.

Well, ranges "mine" the lead and sell it to recyclers. It's a revenue stream for them. Procedures vary depending on what technology the backstop uses to stop the round. With a dirt backstop you just dig a few inches down and sieve the dirt. "Total Containment" traps spin the bullets around a swirl chamber, and they fall out the bottom into a bucket, or onto a conveyor belt into a barrel. Shredded rubber backstops must be spread out and separated from the lead -- a messy process.

[C-dub]

Interesting! Do outdoor ranges have this problem. I would think not, but it might just be not nearly as critical because of the open environment as opposed to a closed one.

[C-dub]

Is there a procedure for the removal of the lead and the other that goes "downrange" ?

I remember years ago trap and skeet ranges had equipment come in and scrape the ground, seperate the shot and re-establish the soil downrange.

Well, ranges "mine" the lead and sell it to recyclers. It's a revenue stream for them. Procedures vary depending on what technology the backstop uses to stop the round. With a dirt backstop you just dig a few inches down and sieve the dirt. "Total Containment" traps spin the bullets around a swirl chamber, and they fall out the bottom into a bucket, or onto a conveyor belt into a barrel. Shredded rubber backstops must be spread out and separated from the lead -- a messy process.

BassPro has a shredded rubber backstop. So, messy, but is it cheaper?

[sjfcontrol]

Is there a procedure for the removal of the lead and the other that goes "downrange" ?

I remember years ago trap and skeet ranges had equipment come in and scrape the ground, seperate the shot and re-establish the soil downrange.

Well, ranges "mine" the lead and sell it to recyclers. It's a revenue stream for them. Procedures vary depending on what technology the backstop uses to stop the round. With a dirt backstop you just dig a few inches down and sieve the dirt. "Total Containment" traps spin the bullets around a swirl chamber, and they fall out the bottom into a bucket, or onto a conveyor belt into a barrel. Shredded rubber backstops must be spread out and separated from the lead -- a messy process.

BassPro has a shredded rubber backstop. So, messy, but is it cheaper?

The backstop is much cheaper to buy, but much more expensive to mine than a total containment trap. TC traps continuously process the lead, so there is no mining expense persay. The lead is just deposited into buckets or barrels on a continuous basis. With a shredded rubber backstop the range need to be shut down ( or done overnight) the rubber spread across the floor, a leaf blowers used to separate the rubber from the lead. For obvious reasons, the people doing this need to wear protective gear and adequate air filters. The rubber is then returned to the backstop and the lead collected for recycling.

[C-dub]

The backstop is much cheaper to buy, but much more expensive to mine than a total containment trap. TC traps continuously process the lead, so there is no mining expense persay. The lead is just deposited into buckets or barrels on a continuous basis. With a shredded rubber backstop the range need to be shut down ( or done overnight) the rubber spread across the floor, a leaf blowers used to separate the rubber from the lead. For obvious reasons, the people doing this need to wear protective gear and adequate air filters. The rubber is then returned to the backstop and the lead collected for recycling.

Huh, they do close their range down for several days to a week about twice a year for cleaning.

[sjfcontrol]

Interesting! Do outdoor ranges have this problem. I would think not, but it might just be not nearly as critical because of the open environment as opposed to a closed one.

I missed this post. Yes, outdoor ranges also need to periodically mine the lead. Just like indoor ranges, if they don't, the lead builds up and starts to clump together as the rounds hit other rounds instead of dirt. Eventually they'll have problems with ricochets, spatter, etc. Not to mention erosion and slumping of the backstop itself. Of course, with both types of ranges, the required frequency depends on the amount of usage, and the quality of the management staff.

Also, this has to be done if the range is ever permanently shut down, prior to any other use.

[03Lightningrocks]

Interesting! Do outdoor ranges have this problem. I would think not, but it might just be not nearly as critical because of the open environment as opposed to a closed one.

I missed this post. Yes, outdoor ranges also need to periodically mine the lead. Just like indoor ranges, if they don't, the lead builds up and starts to clump together as the rounds hit other rounds instead of dirt. Eventually they'll have problems with ricochets, spatter, etc. Not to mention erosion and slumping of the backstop itself. Of course, with both types of ranges, the required frequency depends on the amount of usage, and the quality of the management staff.

Also, this has to be done if the range is ever permanently shut down, prior to any other use.

Sjfcontrol...

I shoot at the BT quite often and have even taken my family there. After about an hour or so we start feeling like we all took up smoking and have to leave. The ventilation system appears to be holding all the smoke at the firing line. Next time I am there I plan to look for the exhaust to see if it is near the intake air. The air vents behind the range feel like they are putting out air at a pretty good velocity but the smoke just hangs on the line. On busy days it is almost unbearable.

Is it possibly more hazardous to our health there than I may have realized?

[sjfcontrol]

Sjfcontrol...

I shoot at the BT quite often and have even taken my family there. After about an hour or so we start feeling like we all took up smoking and have to leave. The ventilation system appears to be holding all the smoke at the firing line. Next time I am there I plan to look for the exhaust to see if it is near the intake air. The air vents behind the range feel like they are putting out air at a pretty good velocity but the smoke just hangs on the line. On busy days it is almost unbearable.

Is it possibly more hazardous to our health there than I may have realized?

Well, I hesitate to comment on specific systems that I have no knowledge of other than what I observed there. I know others have complained about the same thing in this thread and elsewhere. They don't seem to have functional heating or A/C, if they've disabled those, who knows what kind of maintenance they're doing with their filters. (It sounded earlier in this thread that somebody was claiming they didn't have any )

Keep in mind that there are two locations that tend to collect the most lead dust: in front of the backstop (from when the bullet hits it), and just beyond the shooting line (from being fired). The backstop is too far from the shooter to be of concern, but the shooting line dust IS a concern. A properly designed airflow system will have a continuous stream of air flowing from behind the shooter, downrange. This carries any lead dust away from the shooter. How efficiently that is done depends on the system design, filter maintenance, and the number of shooters at any one time. Also, it is my understanding that even a HEPA filter will not filter out odors, so recycled air *MAY* be safe, even if it is unpleasant. Note that ventilation health problems are more of a problem for employees, than customers, as its an accumulation-over-time issue. And it is generally a good idea for management to keep their employees healthy. Otherwise OSHA and/or state health/disability people become involved.

The only real way to answer your question would be to take air samples during heavy use and have them analyzed. Probably something they wouldn't appreciate a customer doing -- just say'n.

[03Lightningrocks]

Yeah... those fellers see me as a friend, not a foe. I would feel like a jerk carrying test equipment in there. I have known some of those guys in there for years.

[super8neon]

Sjfcontrol...

I shoot at the BT quite often and have even taken my family there. After about an hour or so we start feeling like we all took up smoking and have to leave. The ventilation system appears to be holding all the smoke at the firing line. Next time I am there I plan to look for the exhaust to see if it is near the intake air. The air vents behind the range feel like they are putting out air at a pretty good velocity but the smoke just hangs on the line. On busy days it is almost unbearable.

Is it possibly more hazardous to our health there than I may have realized?

Read the 2009 International Mechanical Code... and there are several Ashrae Journals written on the subject of Indoor Ventilation with regards to Indoor Shooting Ranges.

If you read all that stuff.... you may never go back to any Indoor Shooting Range.

[BSB]

I took my son there today to practice for cowboy action this weakend. The kid says do you have any exposed lead? I said lead semi wadcutters. He says no lead. I said your crazy and left. I shot the same stuff there a few weaks ago. All I shoot is lead. I guess I have no use for that place.

BSB

[03Lightningrocks]

I took my son there today to practice for cowboy action this weakend. The kid says do you have any exposed lead? I said lead semi wadcutters. He says no lead. I said your crazy and left. I shot the same stuff there a few weaks ago. All I shoot is lead. I guess I have no use for that place.

BSB

Oh my!!! I am surprised to hear this. They never ask me that question. Thanks for the heads up.

[urnoodle]

I've been to Bullet Trap several times and I've noticed that what I'm asked is highly dependent on who's helping me. I'm always asked for my TXDL to hold the lane. On one or two occasions I was asked about steel cases, on another whether I'm using bullets with exposed lead but for the most part I'm only asked what caliber I'm shooting and whether I have enough ammo. I've been there when it's been really busy and not so busy. I haven't noticed a difference in air quality on either day. I'ts always seemed heavy with smoke. I'm excited about the 2 new ranges in Frisco and Lewisville that will be closer to me so by fall I won't be making the trek out to BT any longer. Hopefully their ventilation will be better than BT.

[03Lightningrocks]

I've been to Bullet Trap several times and I've noticed that what I'm asked is highly dependent on who's helping me. I'm always asked for my TXDL to hold the lane. On one or two occasions I was asked about steel cases, on another whether I'm using bullets with exposed lead but for the most part I'm only asked what caliber I'm shooting and whether I have enough ammo. I've been there when it's been really busy and not so busy. I haven't noticed a difference in air quality on either day. I'ts always seemed heavy with smoke. I'm excited about the 2 new ranges in Frisco and Lewisville that will be closer to me so by fall I won't be making the trek out to BT any longer. Hopefully their ventilation will be better than BT.

I agree about the air at bt. It is pretty bad at times. My lungs feel like i have smoked a pack of Kools after a couple hours. I am looking forward to the new range in Frisco. That one is a little further than bt but, because of traffic, will be quicker for me.

[fannypacker]

I worked at Bullet Trap part-time until summer in 1996. When I worked there an older couple owned it. They sold it to their daughter and son in law. They made a ton of money and now have sold it so I do not know the new owner. The range was not air conditioned. I shot there free but not much. Sunday night was clean up night. We wore paper suits that zipped up, rubber boots, masks and we sqeeged the brass into a box for shipment to a reloader. 3 D in GA. It was hosed down and the water/lead dust went down a sewer. A local lead recycler took the lead out every once in a while. The 2 bay rifle range had a shredded rubber backstop. I know nothing of the operation today. Plano has an ordinance that forbids more ranges so it is a money machine as there will never be another in this city of 270,000.