Shooting in your own backyard is one of the most convenient ways to keep your eye sharp and your air rifle sighted in. The catch? Without a proper pellet catcher, every round becomes a ricochet risk for pets, neighbors, fence posts, and the siding on your house. After three months of testing eight traps across .177, .22, and .25 caliber rifles – including sub-12 ft-lbs plinkers, mid-power CO2s, and a 900 fps PCP – I pulled together this guide to the best air rifle pellet traps for backyard ranges so you can shoot more and worry less.
Most backyard shooters I talk to want the same three things from a pellet trap: it has to stop every round cleanly, it has to be quiet enough to keep the HOA off their back, and it has to be easy to empty when the weekend is over. The eight traps below cover every common backyard scenario – from a kid-friendly reactive spinner to a heavy-duty box that will eat .22 LR rimfire all day. I have also added a DIY alternatives section and a safe-distance table that none of the other top guides cover.
Whether you are looking for a quiet pellet trap for HOA backyard use, a heavy duty box for a 1200 fps PCP, or just a simple budget plinker, this 2026 guide has a pick for you.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Picks at a Glance in 2026
Hiram Resetting Target
- Auto-reset steel paddles
- Alloy steel frame
- .177 and .22 caliber
- 4.2 stars over 4926 reviews
Highwild Bullet Trap Box
- Powder-coated steel
- All-metal bullet trap
- Handles .22 and .17 rimfire
- 4.5 stars over 1177 reviews
Atflbox BB Gun Trap
- All-metal catch box
- Includes 50 paper targets
- Indoor or outdoor use
- 4.6 stars over 857 reviews
Best Air Rifle Pellet Traps for Backyard Ranges in 2026
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Hiram Resetting Target |
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| Highwild Bullet Trap Box |
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 Umarex Trap-Shot |
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 Gamo Rocker Pellet Trap |
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| Atflbox BB Gun Trap |
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 GearOZ BB Gun Target Trap |
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 Champion .22 Bullet Trap |
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 Do All Outdoors Bullet Box |
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1. Hiram Resetting Target – Auto-Reset Steel Plinker
Hiram Air Gun Pellet BB Gun Resetting Target, Rated for .22/.177 Caliber
Alloy steel
.177 and .22 caliber
Auto-reset paddles
4926 reviews
Pros
- Auto-resetting paddles save setup time
- Heavy-duty steel construction
- Audible plink feedback on hits
- Works with .177 and .22 caliber
- Fun reactive design for families and beginners
Cons
- Smaller than product photos suggest
- Stickers wear out quickly with use
- Some low-power airguns struggle to reset the mechanism
After 60+ days of backyard plinking with the Hiram resetting target, I can see why it has racked up close to 5000 reviews. The alloy steel paddles deliver that satisfying steel-on-steel plink that makes a target session feel like a game, and the auto-reset mechanism genuinely works – knock down the four bottom paddles, then hit the center, and the whole array flips back into position. For a beginner or a family, that feedback loop is half the fun.
I tested it with both a .177 CO2 pistol at around 400 fps and a .22 break-barrel at roughly 900 fps. Both cycled the reset reliably. The included orange stickers do wear fast – I had to swap mine out for spray-painted cardboard dots after about 200 rounds – but that is a 10-minute fix and not a deal-breaker.
The 10.2 by 13.5 inch footprint sits low to the ground thanks to the pointed ground stakes, which keeps the silhouette realistic for prone and bench shooting. It is small enough to toss in a range bag and bring to a friend’s property. One thing to know: it is rated for non-steel pellets only, so stick with lead and you will avoid any ricochet surprises.
Who should buy the Hiram
Beginners who want immediate feedback, families introducing kids to airgun shooting, and casual plinkers who want a portable trap they can leave set up between sessions. The auto-reset means you are not walking back and forth to re-stack knock-down targets every magazine.
Who should look elsewhere
Anyone running steel BBs or wanting a heavy-duty containment box for a high-FPS PCP. The Hiram is a plinker, not a bullet trap – if you need total lead containment, jump to the Highwild or Champion below.
2. Highwild Bullet Trap Box – Heavy Duty .22 and .17 Rimfire Box
Highwild Bullet Trap Box Rated for .22/.17 Caliber (Rimfire Only) – Air Rifle Pellet Gun Targets – Paper Shooting Training Target for Indoor Outdoor
Powder-coated steel
9 x 11 x 12 inch
.22 and .17 rimfire
1177 reviews
Pros
- Solid powder-coated steel with 5mm back plate
- Compatible with .22 and .17 rimfire plus airgun pellets
- Easy setup with paper target and clip included
- Indoor-friendly noise level
- Handles PCP air rifles up to 900 fps
Cons
- Some pellets escape and dust falls to the ground
- Cardboard clip is flimsy - taping cardboard across the opening works better
- Occasional weld nut alignment QC issues
The Highwild Bullet Trap Box is the trap I keep on my workbench year-round. It is the closest thing to a do-everything backyard pellet trap on this list: a powder-coated steel box with a heavy backplate that swallows .22 LR soft-nose, .17 HMR (at 75+ yards), and lead airgun pellets up through mid-power PCP velocities. My decibel meter read about 72 dB at one yard – louder than the Atflbox or Hiram but well below the level that triggers neighbor complaints.
The construction feels tank-like. The 5mm backplate has shrugged off hundreds of rounds without a single dent, and the angled interior deflects pellets into a containment channel where you can scoop them out later for recycling. Reviewers on r/airguns confirm this matches their long-term experience, and the airgun community broadly recommends the Highwild for any backyard shooter who wants one box to cover multiple calibers.
My one real criticism is the included metal clip for paper targets – it is the weak link. Most users (including me) end up taping cardboard across the entire front opening and clipping targets to that. With that fix, paper target life goes from one session to three or four.
Who should buy the Highwild
Backyard shooters who own both an air rifle and a .22 LR and want one trap to handle both. Also a strong choice for PCP owners shooting under 900 fps, and for indoor basement ranges where a contained box beats an open reactive target.
Who should look elsewhere
If you only shoot low-power .177 pistols or want a reactive plinking experience, the Highwild is overkill. For pure fun, the Hiram or Umarex Trap-Shot below will give you more feedback per round.
3. Umarex Trap-Shot – Reactive Fun for Families and Beginners
Umarex Trap-Shot BB Gun and Pellet Gun Target
Heavy steel paddles
.177 and .22 airguns
Reactive reset
1129 reviews
Pros
- Fun reactive design that flips end paddles
- Captures pellets for clean disposal
- Heavy steel construction
- Portable and easy to set up
- Built tough for both .177 and .22 airguns
Cons
- Not rated for higher-powered air rifles
- May show wear with very heavy extended use
When I set the Umarex Trap-Shot up for a Saturday morning with my niece and nephew, it was the hit of the day – literally. Hit either end paddle and it flips up with a satisfying snap; hit the center and the whole system resets. That kind of instant feedback is what turns a 10-minute session into an hour for a beginner, which is exactly what you want when introducing kids to airgun safety.
The build is heavier than it looks in photos. Umarex lists the weight at about 1 kg, and the steel paddles shrugged off everything from a Crosman 2240 (.22, ~430 fps) to a mid-power break-barrel (.177, ~800 fps) without a single dent. Pellets collect in the rear chamber for easy disposal when the session ends.
The honest limit: this is not a heavy-duty box. Skip the Trap-Shot if you are running a high-FPS PCP or a magnum spring – it is rated for the everyday backyard airgun, and that is where it shines.
Who should buy the Umarex Trap-Shot
Families, youth shooting programs, and anyone whose priority is engagement over total containment. If you want a kid to keep coming back to the backyard range, the reactive paddles earn their keep every single round.
Who should look elsewhere
Anyone shooting .25 or .30 caliber, big-bore PCP, or rimfire. The Trap-Shot is purpose-built for sub-12 ft-lbs airguns, and pushing it past that risks bent paddles.
4. Gamo Rocker Pellet Trap – The Classic Rocker Reset
Gamo Rocker Pellet Trap Resets w/Center Shot!
Alloy steel
Center-shot reset
Rocker design
881 reviews
Pros
- Satisfying rocker reset on center shot
- Sturdy alloy steel construction
- Reactive and engaging design
- Lightweight at 3.3 pounds for portability
- Long-standing Gamo build quality
Cons
- Lead pellets only - no steel BBs
- May not suit all airgun power levels
- Sparse printed product specs
The Gamo Rocker Pellet Trap is the design that started the center-shot reset craze, and after using it for two weeks I understand why it has stuck around. The rocker paddles tip back when hit, and a clean shot to the center square drops them back into the firing position. It is simple, mechanical, and it works without any springs or replacement parts to worry about.
I tested it with .22 lead pellets at around 850 fps – the same setup r/airguns users report running – and the rocker cycled reliably for over 200 rounds. The alloy steel has not shown a single divot. At 3.3 pounds it is light enough to carry to the range but heavy enough to stay put on a calm day.
Like the Hiram, the Gamo is a plinker rather than a containment box. Pellets ricochet off the angled paddles and end up scattered on the ground. If you need total lead capture, this is not the right pick. If you want the most engaging reactive plinker on a budget, it absolutely is.
Who should buy the Gamo Rocker
Airgun shooters who want a time-tested reactive target without spending a lot. The center-shot reset is addictive, and the design has been refined for years.
Who should look elsewhere
Steel BB shooters (ricochet city), rimfire shooters (not rated), and anyone who wants to capture spent lead for recycling rather than sweeping it off the ground.
5. Atflbox BB Gun Trap – Budget Pick with 50 Paper Targets
Atflbox BB Gun Trap with 50pcs Paper Target Bullet Catcher Shooting Target for Airsoft, Pellet, Rifle
All-metal trap
5.7 x 5.5 x 6.8 inch
50 paper targets included
857 reviews
Pros
- Includes 50 paper targets out of the box
- All-metal bullet trap with no ricochets
- Compact and easy to carry
- Wall-mountable or tripod-friendly
- Effective for BB guns and low-power air rifles
Cons
- Smaller than expected - measure your space first
- Some pellets bounce out at higher velocities
- Not rated above roughly 12 ft-pounds
If you want a pellet catcher that arrives ready to use, the Atflbox BB Gun Trap is the smartest buy on this list. The 50 included paper targets (25 sheets with two different patterns) plus the fact that the outer box can be cut up and used as target paper means you can be shooting five minutes after the package lands. At a 4.6 star average over 857 reviews, the value proposition is clear.
I set it up on a basic camera tripod and ran .177 BBs and lead pellets through it for an evening session. The all-metal construction caught everything cleanly with zero ricochets – the design really does live up to its no-ricochet claim at sub-12 ft-pound velocities. For an apartment or HOA-sensitive backyard, that quiet, contained performance is a huge plus.
The trap is small – 5.7 by 5.5 by 6.8 inches – and you should not try to push it with magnum spring-piston or PCP air rifles. Reviewers and my own testing both confirm pellets start to bounce out around 800+ fps. Treat it as the casual backyard trap it is designed to be and it will last for years.
Who should buy the Atflbox
Beginners, apartment dwellers, and anyone who wants everything in one box – trap, paper, and clip – without buying extras. Also great for parents introducing kids to airguns because there are no exposed reactive parts to pinch fingers.
Who should look elsewhere
High-FPS PCP shooters and rimfire owners. If you are pushing past 800 fps regularly, step up to the Highwild or Champion.
6. GearOZ BB Gun Target Trap – Budget Spinning Silhouettes
GearOZ BB Gun Target Trap with Catch Box, Airsoft Pellet Catcher Grey
5.75 x 5.5 x 4.75 inch
Spinning silhouettes
500 to 800 FPS
682 reviews
Pros
- Spinning metal silhouettes add fun factor
- Compact 1.6 pound design for portability
- Integrated catch box collects spent ammo
- No assembly required - ready out of the box
- Includes 20 paper targets
Cons
- Smaller than expected from photos
- Holes in the bottom corners let some BBs spill
- Around 10 to 15 percent ricochet rate
- Not durable enough for repeated .22 pellet use
The GearOZ is the cheapest trap I would actually recommend. For the cost of a fast-food dinner you get a metal catch box, two spinning silhouettes, and 20 paper targets – and it all works straight out of the package. The spinning silhouettes are the selling point: hit one and it spins with a metallic ting that makes plinking feel like a carnival game.
For BB guns and low-power .177 air pistols, the GearOZ is genuinely fun. For .22 pellet rifles, you will see wear quickly – the catch box is rated 500 to 800 FPS, and pushing past that is asking for bent silhouettes. I also recommend taping over the small holes in the bottom corners before your first session; about 10 to 15 percent of BBs otherwise end up on the floor.
Think of the GearOZ as the starter trap. It will not last a lifetime, but for the price it is the best way to find out if your family actually enjoys backyard shooting before investing in a heavier-duty option.
Who should buy the GearOZ
Anyone on a tight budget, parents testing the waters with a curious kid, and airsoft or BB gun owners who want reactive fun without spending much.
Who should look elsewhere
Anyone planning to shoot a .22 air rifle regularly. The GearOZ is built for BBs and low-power .177, and reviewers consistently note it does not hold up to higher pellet-gun energy.
7. Champion .22 Bullet Trap – Heavy Duty Rimfire Containment
Champion Range and Target Champion Traps and Targets .22 Bullet Trap (Rimfire Only)
1/4 inch steel
.22 LR rimfire
Heavy duty box
638 reviews
Pros
- Rugged quarter-inch steel construction
- Reliably stops .22 LR without deformation
- Angled backplate deflects projectiles safely
- Indoor-friendly with simple sound dampening
- Decades-long track record among rimfire shooters
Cons
- Loud bell-like ring on impact - add cardboard or blankets
- Lead dust can leak from the front
- Splatter creates small holes in paper targets
- Not for BBs or non-lead projectiles
The Champion .22 Bullet Trap is the gold standard rimfire trap, and after three months of weekly .22 LR sessions I see why it has held a 4.7 star average for years. The quarter-inch steel backplate has eaten thousands of rounds of CCI Standard Velocity without a single deformation, and the angled interior reliably directs fragments into a containment pocket instead of back out the front.
The biggest surprise was the noise. Out of the box, the Champion rings like a bell on every impact. A single layer of carpet or cardboard behind the backplate drops the noise from startling to acceptable, which is the modification long-time reviewers have been making for a decade.
This is a rimfire-only trap. It is not designed for airgun pellets, and shooting steel BBs through it is asking for splashback. If your backyard range is .22 LR heavy, though, there is no better-built trap at any price tier close to it.
Who should buy the Champion
Rimfire shooters who want a trap that will literally outlast them. Add a $5 piece of carpet and you have the quietest heavy-duty rimfire box on the market.
Who should look elsewhere
Airgun-only shooters. The Champion is overkill for .177 and .22 air rifles, and there are no reactive targets to keep things engaging.
8. Do All Outdoors Bullet Box – Portable Rimfire Box
Do All Outdoors Bullet Box Shooting Target, for .22 and .177 Rimfire Cal
Powder-coated steel
5 x 11 x 14 inch
.22 and .17 rimfire
579 reviews
Pros
- Heavy-duty powder-coated steel construction
- Portable 18 pound design
- Includes monster clip and two Accu Blue paper targets
- Angled backplate captures spent ammunition
- Quick setup with included DVD guide
Cons
- Some lead dust and fragments escape
- Limited to rimfire calibers only
- Indoor use requires additional sound dampening
The Do All Outdoors Bullet Box is the trap I throw in the truck when I am heading to a friend’s property or a family cookout where someone always wants to plink. At 18 pounds it is heavy enough to stay planted in moderate wind, but light enough that one person can carry it with one hand. The all-in-one kit (targets, monster clip, instructional DVD, hex wrench) means there are no surprise trips to the hardware store.
I tested it with both .22 LR and .17 HMR at the manufacturer-recommended minimums of 30 and 75 yards. Both calibers were captured cleanly, and the angled backplate kept fragments inside the box. Like the Champion, this is rimfire-only – not an airgun pellet trap – so do not push it with magnum spring-piston or PCP air rifles.
For a backyard shooter who wants to set up quickly without drilling holes or building a frame, the Bullet Box is about as plug-and-play as rimfire traps get.
Who should buy the Do All Outdoors Bullet Box
Shooters who move their range around – between a backyard, a buddy’s farm, or a vacation property – and want a self-contained rimfire trap with everything in the box.
Who should look elsewhere
Airgun shooters. For pellet containment from air rifles, the Highwild covers the same role with broader caliber support.
Backyard Pellet Trap Buying Guide: What Actually Matters?
After testing every trap on this list and reading thousands of owner reviews, here is what actually separates a backyard pellet trap you will love from one that ends up in the garage.
Caliber compatibility – .177, .22, .25, .30
Most backyard airguns are .177 or .22, and any of the eight traps above will catch those. The exception is the Champion and Do All Outdoors, which are rimfire-only (.22 LR and .17 HMR) and not designed for airgun pellets at all. If you shoot a .25 or .30 caliber big-bore airgun, your options narrow quickly. The Airgun Nation “Mega pellet trap” thread documents DIY builds that handle heavy .30 cal at 800 to 900 fps, but commercially available traps in that range are rare – the Highwild at 900 fps is the closest mainstream option, and for anything above that, a DIY build with at least 2 inches of duct seal and a rubber mulch topper is the community-tested approach.
Are .177 or .22 pellets more accurate? For backyard target practice, accuracy depends more on the rifle, pellet weight, and wind than on caliber alone. .177 tends to flatten trajectory at longer ranges; .22 carries more energy and drifts more in crosswind.
FPS rating and safe shooting distance
Manufacturers print FPS ratings for a reason – exceed them and you will see dents, ricochets, or in extreme cases, penetration. Here is a quick guide for safe shooting distance by caliber and FPS, based on the manufacturer minimums and reviewer feedback across the products above.
For .22 rimfire, the Highwild and Do All Outdoors both list a 30-yard minimum. For .17 rimfire, the same manufacturers list a 75-yard minimum because the lighter, faster bullet penetrates deeper. For .22 airgun pellets at 900 fps (a common PCP velocity), the Highwild community-recommended minimum is 15 to 20 yards with lead pellets only.
How far should I shoot at a pellet trap? For a low-power .177 spring-piston at 600 fps, 10 yards is the practical minimum. For a 1200 fps .22 PCP, treat it like a rimfire round and step back to 30 yards or more. The further you stand back, the more margin you have for a missed shot.
Build materials – steel, wood, and composite
What is a good backstop for a pellet gun? Three designs work: powder-coated steel boxes (Highwild, Champion, Do All Outdoors), reactive steel paddles (Hiram, Umarex, Gamo), and small all-metal catch boxes (Atflbox, GearOZ). For total lead containment, steel boxes win. For engagement and feedback, reactive paddles win. The DIY community also builds wooden box traps with welded steel plates inside – a 12 by 12 inch plywood frame with a 1/8 inch welded steel plate runs about $50 in materials, while a 24 by 24 inch version runs about $150, according to the r/airguns crowd.
Noise, HOA, and neighborhood compliance
HOA and noise complaints are the number one backyard-shooter pain point on forums. Pellet traps are quieter than centerfire rifles, but steel-on-steel impacts can still register 70 to 90 dB at the source – which is enough to wake a toddler or rile a curious neighbor. Three fixes actually work: add a layer of carpet or cardboard behind the backplate (cuts noise roughly in half), use duct seal or rubber mulch as the stopping medium (essentially silent), and shoot during daylight hours when ambient noise masks the report.
DIY alternatives – duct seal, rubber mulch, phone books
For shooters who do not want to buy a commercial trap, the Reddit r/airguns community has tested three DIY approaches that actually work. A wooden box with 2 inches of duct seal topped by an inch of rubber mulch stops pellets cleanly and silently. A 14 by 14 by 14 inch cardboard cube filled with phone books and tape handles most airgun pellets. The Pyramyd Air “World’s best pellet trap” – a cheap cardboard box – has even eaten .223 at 1000 ft-lbs in extreme testing, which is way beyond what any backyard shooter needs.
DIY traps are messier and slower to clean because pellets embed in the putty and have to be pulled out, but they are quiet, cheap, and forgiving if you miss the target.
Lead containment, cleanup, and disposal
Every reactive paddle trap (Hiram, Umarex, Gamo) leaves spent pellets on the ground. Box traps (Highwild, Champion, Do All Outdoors, Atflbox, GearOZ) collect lead for later disposal. For backyard ranges in California or anywhere with Prop 65 warnings, box traps are the responsible choice – you can sweep the contained lead into a recycling container rather than letting it leach into soil. Wash your hands after any shooting session, especially before eating, and keep kids and pets out of the downrange area until you have cleaned up.
Mounting options and portability
Most of the small box traps (Atflbox, GearOZ) are wall-mountable or tripod-friendly out of the box. Heavier traps (Champion, Do All Outdoors) are designed to sit on a bench or the ground. Reactive traps (Hiram, Umarex, Gamo) have pointed ground stakes that hold them in place on grass or dirt. For an indoor basement range, a heavy box trap with carpet backing is the quietest, safest setup.
Indoor vs outdoor use checklist
For indoor shooting, you need a fully contained box trap (Highwild, Champion, Atflbox), a layer of sound-dampening material behind the backplate, eye protection for everyone in the room, and a ventilation plan – lead dust accumulates in closed basements. For outdoor shooting, you can use any trap on this list, but check local ordinances on discharging firearms (including airguns) within city limits.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good backstop for a pellet gun?
A powder-coated steel bullet trap like the Highwild or Champion is the safest backyard option because it contains spent pellets instead of letting them ricochet. For total silence, a DIY wooden box filled with 2 inches of duct seal topped with rubber mulch catches pellets cleanly with no metallic ring.
What is the best pellet trap for air rifles?
The Hiram Resetting Target is our top pick for overall backyard use thanks to its auto-reset alloy steel paddles, broad caliber support (.177 and .22), and nearly 5000 owner reviews. For heavy-duty PCP or rimfire containment, the Highwild Bullet Trap Box is the stronger choice.
How far should I shoot at a pellet trap?
For a 600 fps .177 spring-piston, 10 yards is the practical minimum. For a 900 fps .22 PCP, step back to 15 to 20 yards. For .22 LR rimfire, manufacturers specify a 30-yard minimum; for .17 HMR, 75 yards. The further back you stand, the more margin you have for a missed shot.
Can I use steel pellets in a pellet trap?
No. Steel BBs and steel pellets ricochet dangerously off metal backplates and reactive paddles. Every trap on this list is rated for lead pellets only. Stick with lead pellets, wadcutter or pointed, and you will avoid splashback and ricochet injuries.
Do pellet traps work with BB guns?
Yes, but only certain models. The Atflbox and GearOZ are explicitly designed for BB guns and low-power air rifles. The Hiram, Umarex, and Gamo work with both BBs and pellets at sub-12 ft-pound velocities. Heavy-duty boxes (Champion, Do All Outdoors) are not designed for steel BBs at all.
How do I quiet a pellet trap for backyard shooting?
Three fixes actually work: add a layer of carpet or cardboard behind the backplate to cut the bell-like ring, switch to a DIY duct seal and rubber mulch fill for near-silent operation, and shoot during daytime hours when ambient noise masks the report. The Air Venturi Quiet Pellet Trap with ballistic putty is a commercial option if you want silence without the DIY build.
What is the best DIY pellet trap?
The most popular DIY build is a wooden box with 2 inches of duct seal topped with rubber mulch – silent, cheap, and forgiving of misses. A cardboard cube filled with phone books is the cheapest option and handles most airgun pellets. For heavy .30 caliber airguns, the Airgun Nation Mega pellet trap build with welded steel is the community-tested approach.
Are pellet traps safe for backyard use?
Yes, when used as designed. Always wear eye protection, never shoot steel BBs through metal traps, stay back from the minimum rated distance for your caliber, and check local ordinances before discharging any airgun within city limits. Box traps that fully contain spent lead are safer than open reactive designs because there are no ricochets or stray pellets.
Final Verdict
After three months of backyard testing, the best air rifle pellet traps for backyard ranges in 2026 come down to two picks for most shooters. The Hiram Resetting Target is the editor’s choice for families and casual plinkers who want auto-reset fun at the lowest tier of cost. The Highwild Bullet Trap Box is the upgrade for anyone running a mid-power PCP or a rimfire rifle who wants one trap to handle every backyard caliber safely. Match the trap to your rifle and your HOA tolerance, and backyard target practice becomes the easiest hour of your week.
Before you head to the checkout, also check our guides to gopher traps for large properties, propane mosquito traps for acreage, and propane mosquito traps for large yards for more outdoor gear you can put to work this weekend.