Need Advice on indoor range backstop

[Cyclops]

My house is a ranch with a full basement that is 50 feet long. The basement walls are cinderblock. I want to build an indoor range for practicing with my Ruger LC9. I expect to shoot from 50 feet, 25 feet, and 15 feet from the target. My research indicates that I can use sand or wood for a backstop. During my active time in the Corps, we knew that a foot or more of sand would stop an AK-47 FMJ round fired from as close as 25 yards. So I am confident that I could use sand in a container. Problem is that I don't savor either lugging the sand to fill a container or patching the holes to stop the sand from leaking.

So I am thinking of using wood as a backstop. I'd use 3 layers of 4x4 overlaid so that the seams between the posts would be covered by the a layer of 4x4. I was wondering, no make that hoping, that someone could provide some advice. Am I nuts? Is there a better way? Any suggestions? Thanks in advance for any help offered.

[jkm]

All indoor ranges I've shot at, used a steel backstop set at about a 45* angle to direct the bullets down into sand. Good luck....

[Dcboyz4eva]

i use wood outside but im not sure i would trust it in the basement, ive seen some traps made with rubber and different layers like strips of tires inside a metal box or something like this http://www.rubbermulchisus.com/ballistic-media/

[Mango]

what are you going to do with the smoke, fumes, etc. Air quality would be my main concern indoors

[BobGun]

Be sure not to use lead bullets what ever you set up.

[Brick]

If the wood is too hard (think creosoted timber or even CCA) you'll have the bullets bouncing back at you! At 25 or 50 feet that won't be pleasant! I observed this happen at the pistol range built at Camp Bonifas. You might be better off using sand as your trap material, but use a 2' thickness and maybe use wood to build a box to contain the sand.

[Mango]

forgot to mention that I have seem shops use rubber curtains. think tire material but flat like a curtain

[WVneighbor]

forgot to mention that I have seem shops use rubber curtains. think tire material but flat like a curtain

Mining belt

[c45man]

In your asking exclusively about a range backstop, did you plan for a ventilation system already?

[Remington788]

I'd worry about:
Ventilation
Backstop
Backsplatter (bounce back)
Noise abatement (neighbors may file complaints).

What about the ceiling? Who or what is upstairs and what is there to stop ricochets or oops shots? Are there ducts or water pipes in the ceiling?
Same question about the side walls.

Probably be easier and cheaper to join a club with an indoor range, though not as convenient. Good luck with the project.