30-6 Posted September 3, 2020 Report Share Posted September 3, 2020 (edited) Last time I zeroed my .223 I had a sloping field and behind it a 5 bar metal gate leading into a second field with a steep bank. But one of the bullets somehow must have instead of burying itself into the ground bounced up and left a nice dent in the top bar of the gate. At least it certainly looks like I was the culprit. There is no hole or lead residue, but looks like a dent that could have come from a bullet strike. I did when I had the gun new try a few target rounds but now only use v max. There is no 100 % proof that I done it but I am assuming that I did. I might add that the ground in that area is wet and should absorb a bullet impact easily, so just shows how careful one needs to be. So, I know a simple backstop can be made with cardboard box and carpet for say an air rifle, but is there same type of thing that would accomadate a .223 zeroing session ? Would need to be portable and light to move. Or I was thinking of digging a hole, using the earth as a stop and then backfilling the hole. I do not have the luxury of a purpose made set up, and need to go and use fields as cattle, sheep and farmer dictates. Edit to add - the gate was about 30 yds behind my target, and like mentioned dent might not even be down to me, but a portable solid backstop I think would be an asset for zeroing sessions. Edited September 3, 2020 by 30-6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old'un Posted September 3, 2020 Report Share Posted September 3, 2020 Only use a .22lr so have no idea what you need to stop the .223 bullet, I sometimes use a foot square x ¼ inch thick steel plate angled at 45 degrees to deflect the bullet into the ground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hafod Posted September 3, 2020 Report Share Posted September 3, 2020 Any chance you could get your farmer friend to put an old round bale of silage as a backstop a round bale is 4ft thick that.ll stop a bullet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oowee Posted September 3, 2020 Report Share Posted September 3, 2020 3 minutes ago, hafod said: Any chance you could get your farmer friend to put an old round bale of silage as a backstop a round bale is 4ft thick that.ll stop a bullet Yep they are easily portable Whatever you have it needs to be substantial and fairly large so unlikely to be easily portable. If it's just for zeroing is there no where else? Can you get some elevation? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hammertime Posted September 3, 2020 Report Share Posted September 3, 2020 Just use a piece of chopped dry log 18inches by 18inches preferably oak and change point of aim as it wears.It stops my 243 no problem. You can staple a target to it easy peasy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hafod Posted September 3, 2020 Report Share Posted September 3, 2020 Umm its ok to take the mick its a hell of a lot safer than a steel plate and ricochets hitting and killing livestock take it from me I'm a farmer I know rather be safe than sorry I'd rather put up a bale of silage for someone's backstop any day of the week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob85 Posted September 3, 2020 Report Share Posted September 3, 2020 Depending on how much weight you could carry you could try a steel plate and line it with a few layers of thick rubber. Conveyor belt rubber is good for it. Apparently the SAS killing house was done like this at the start to prevent ricochet in the rooms when you had 4 guys rattling live 9mm off inches from each other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted September 3, 2020 Report Share Posted September 3, 2020 I don’t think you can count 100% on a round bale. Would you stand behind it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30-6 Posted September 3, 2020 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2020 I do try to get as much elevation as I can, and to be honest as all my zeroing is done on my friends farm, he is very accommodating and I have the run of the place. We are good friends, and I hold the position of " Senior Vermin Control Officer ", or " Only Vermin Control Officer ". But as you can imagine, stock has more priority than me. I'll run it past him and see if he can think of anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbrowning2 Posted September 4, 2020 Report Share Posted September 4, 2020 Just get a AR500 type steel target and angle it downwards. or park your vehicle their and use that as the backstop 😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snow white Posted September 4, 2020 Report Share Posted September 4, 2020 Cut the end of 45 gallon steel drum fill it with sand then lay it down sand side to you top up what’s come out and you have a solid back stop and if you miss that I would take up knitting or something like that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hafod Posted September 4, 2020 Report Share Posted September 4, 2020 17 hours ago, London Best said: I don’t think you can count 100% on a round bale. Would you stand behind it? starsky and hutch used to hide behind 45 gallon drums mun Lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted September 4, 2020 Report Share Posted September 4, 2020 (edited) Don’t forget that different bullet types will penetrate differently. Greener stated that he penetration of the then comparatively new .303 round was 36 inches of English oak or 48 inches of soft Pine. This was, of course, with FMJ bullets. I find that soft point deer calibres will not usually penetrate a Silver Birch tree about 15 inches diameter. But I have fired solids in .416 Rigby and .470 NE through very substantial trees. Edited September 4, 2020 by London Best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aister Posted September 5, 2020 Report Share Posted September 5, 2020 This is what I use for a back stop for my rifle shooting. I have 3 set up at different places, I can shoot from any side, just move the target. If there is livestock at one I can just use another one. It's not portable by any means but works 100%. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted September 5, 2020 Report Share Posted September 5, 2020 Most farmers I know are using tyres with less tread than that on their tractors! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver fox 1 Posted September 5, 2020 Report Share Posted September 5, 2020 On 04/09/2020 at 11:13, rbrowning2 said: Just get a AR500 type steel target and angle it downwards. or park your vehicle their and use that as the backstop 😂 Yes a piece of AR 500 will stop your bullet Dead but it needs to be hung from some chains so when the bullet strikes the plate it angles The pieces down to the floor The bullets disintegrate on impact As Ar 500 is bullet- Proof And will last you years I zero my 223 at 100 yards using this, no messing about with expensive targets just a can of spray paint, have a look at best Fox call UK website Tom’s targets hope this helps regards Silverfox ps it will be cheaper than your car 😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuke Posted September 5, 2020 Report Share Posted September 5, 2020 Why do you need to zero it in the field? I go to the range once a year, before I shoot the moose test, and that's it for the whole season for me. /Markus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rewulf Posted September 5, 2020 Report Share Posted September 5, 2020 2 hours ago, Nuke said: Why do you need to zero it in the field? I go to the range once a year, before I shoot the moose test, and that's it for the whole season for me. /Markus Not everyone has a range/club. Plus , are you confident your setup will hold zero for a year of use ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doggone Posted September 5, 2020 Report Share Posted September 5, 2020 Just find a place on your ground where you would feel totally confident of a safe shot at a rabbit or fox, and place your target there. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuke Posted September 5, 2020 Report Share Posted September 5, 2020 3 hours ago, Rewulf said: Plus , are you confident your setup will hold zero for a year of use ? Yes, no problem. /Markus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.