How to Stop Ricochet in an Indoor Shooting Range

Guides / / Leave a Comment

Ricochet in an indoor range is stopped by covering every surface a bullet can reach with a material that holds it, and by proving that material under VPAM ARG: shots at 90°, 60°, 45° and 25° must be taken safely. In report ES-230403 (Royal Military Academy, Brussels) the BulletTrap Baltic 40 and 45 mm tiles held the projectile from 10.7–15.1°, depending on calibre and tile, beyond what ARG requires. In report ES-240131 the 200 mm block gave no ricochet in 28 perpendicular (90°) shots.

90° · 60° · 45° · 25°VPAM ARG test angles (Fassung 3, point 4.2)
10.7–15.1°angle from which the projectile stayed in the tile, report ES-230403
0 ricochetsin 28 shots at 90° on the 200 mm block, report ES-240131
1.2 cmminimum non-ricocheting wall lining in Estonia (Regulation No. 39, § 12(2))

What causes ricochet in an indoor shooting range?

A ricochet is a bullet that changes direction by up to 90° after impact; above 90° it is a rebound back towards the shooter (VPAM ARG, points 3.1 and 3.2).

Hard surfaces cause both. Estonian Regulation No. 39 defines a non-ricocheting material as one that deforms or breaks on impact and does not send the bullet back towards the shooter (§ 2 p. 12). RKIK Annex 2 asks that no protruding part made of a ricocheting material is left unprotected in the hall (point 7). The German Schießstandrichtlinien name the usual sources: concrete, masonry and steel surfaces facing the shooter, such as raised screens (Hochblenden), columns and light housings. They must be clad with softwood at least 2.4 cm thick on battens at least 2.0 cm deep, without gaps, for 15 m from the firing line at 30–200 J, 20 m at 200–1,500 J and 30 m at 1,500–7,000 J (point 2.5.3).

How does VPAM ARG test anti-ricochet lining?

VPAM ARG fires 3 shots per cartridge and angle at 90°, 60°, 45° and 25°; no bullet, bullet fragment or detached part of the sample may perforate the indicator (points 4.2, 6.4, 7.2).

VPAM ARG is the test guideline of the association of independent ballistic test laboratories for floor, wall and ceiling materials of shooting ranges, tested comparatively for ricochet and rebound to protect shooters, observers and spectators (point 1). The current edition is Fassung 3, Stand 01.10.2024. The indicator is 100 g/m² wrapping paper; from the 200–1,500 J class an aluminium sheet 0.5 mm thick also catches fragments thrown forward, at no more than 2 m from the sample (point 5.3). The sample sits in front of a 500 HBW steel plate: at least 6 mm up to 1,500 J, at least 10 mm from 1,500 J (point 3.5). That plate is the test background; the thickness to install on site is covered on steel backing plate thickness.

VPAM ARG energy classExample test cartridges (table 1)
up to 7.5 JAir guns
7.5–30 J—
30–200 J.22 LR, 2.6 g at 360 m/s
200–1,500 J9 mm Luger DM 41, 8.0 g at 415 m/s; .38 Special; .44 Rem. Mag.; for authority use also .223 at 860 m/s
1,500–7,000 J.223 at 950 m/s; .308 DM 111, 9.55 g at 830 m/s; 8×68 S; for authority use also .338 Lapua

Three rules decide what a VPAM ARG document is worth to a buyer:

  • One class does not cover another. A sample that passes one class does not automatically pass another, including a lower-energy one (VPAM ARG, point 4.1).
  • Certificate or test report. A certificate is issued only if the cartridge is in table 1 or in the VPAM AND-SoM list; otherwise the result is a test report (point 6.3).
  • Not a range acceptance. Final acceptance takes place on site by the range expert, the Schießstandsachverständiger (introduction; point 3.5).

The German guideline asks for the same 25–90° window: linings must be smooth and rebound-proof, bullets arriving at 25–90° must be taken and must not fly back to the shooter, and test certificates for the rebound protection of the materials must be available (Schießstandrichtlinien 5.1.4.2).

At what angle do anti-ricochet tiles stop ricochet?

In report ES-230403 the BulletTrap Baltic 40 mm tile held the projectile from impact angles of 10.7–13.3° and the 45 mm tile from 13.8–15.1°, depending on calibre.

Calibre40 mm tile BRT-4045 mm tile BRT-45
5.56×45 mm SS10913.3°13.8°
.223 Rem13.3°13.8°
7.62×39 mm M4310.7°13.8°
7.62×51 mm NATO13.3°15.1°
9×19 mm10.7°13.8°

Angle from which the projectile stayed in the tile. Report ES-230403, 03.04.2023: 39 shots, 24 on the 45 mm tile and 15 on the 40 mm tile. Royal Military Academy (Brussels), Department of Weapon Systems and Ballistics, an ISO 17025 laboratory (BELAC 273-TEST). High-speed footage: 7.62×51 NATO at 831 m/s stayed in the 45 mm tile at 15.1°.

VPAM ARG requires safe capture only at 25° and steeper; below 15° it allows the bullet to leave along the line of fire, and an optional test at such angles is recorded without a certificate (point 4.2). The 10.7–15.1° results are therefore beyond what ARG requires, not an ARG requirement. They matter where a bullet meets a surface at a grazing angle: the floor in front of the firing line, side walls and the faces of baffles. The block was tested separately in report ES-240131 of 02.02.2024, with perpendicular (90°) shots and VPAM ARG Fassung 3 (Stand 15.03.2021) as the reference: 9×19 DM41, 7.62×39 M43, 5.56×45 SS109 and 7.62×51 DM111, 28 shots in total, and no ricochet in any shot. The other ARG angles were not part of that test. Shot-by-shot data is on ballistic rubber blocks and anti-ricochet tiles.

How should walls, ceiling and floor be lined against ricochet?

Each document names the surfaces differently; most cover walls, ceiling and floor, and Estonia sets a minimum wall lining of 1.2 cm.

DocumentWallsCeilingFloor
Estonia, Regulation No. 39 (in force 10.10.2026)Bullet-resistant; at least 1.2 cm of non-ricocheting material, or hits excluded by deflector plates (§ 12(1)–(2))Bullet-resistant (§ 12(1))Bullet-resistant (§ 12(1))
RKIK Annex 2, 05.11.2025Sound insulation with timber boards or equivalent on top, to catch a deflected bullet and reduce ricochet (35); recommended masonry or concrete clad with timber (38 a)Bullet-resistant forward of the firing position; stone and concrete parts clad with timber (39–42)Ricochet-resistant construction over the whole length of the range (48); no carpets or porous materials (53)
Germany, SchießstandrichtlinienSmooth, rebound-proof lining, 25–90° taken, test certificates required (5.1.4.2)As walls (5.1.4.2)Rebound-proof covering where needed; sand, carpet and concrete not permitted as the floor; with a test certificate for at least 2.00 m from the firing line in multi-distance ranges (5.1.4.1, 5.2.1)
Latvia, Regulation No. 494Bullet-proof for the weapons and ammunition permitted (7.10)As walls (7.10)As walls (7.10); even floor at the firing line (7.11)
Poland, Dz.U. 2022/848 (police ranges)Cladding limits ricochet and is at least hardly flammable; unclad wall must not be reachable by a direct shot (§ 7(2))As walls (§ 7(2))Lower protection with safety factor of at least 1.2 and limited ricochet (§ 16)
United Kingdom, JSP 403 (2012 edition, military ranges, outside the EU)Softwood cladding against ricochet and backsplash, held off the hard surface on battens: rimfire 25 mm board on 25 mm battens; centrefire 50 mm on 50 mm (Ch 2, 0298 c)—Thick rubber, thermoplastic, vinyl or wood preferred (Ch 3, 0340); pistol without bench: 2 m in front of the shooter in rubber tiles or sheet, or timber in a trench (0356)

The German guideline allows ballistically equivalent materials in place of softwood, for example for fire protection, in agreement with the range expert (2.5.3). How baffles fit into this scheme is on shooting range baffles; the full zone list is on indoor shooting range equipment in Europe.

Does anti-ricochet lining make a wall bullet-proof?

No: VPAM ARG measures ricochet and rebound, not penetration, so the wall behind the lining still has to be bullet-resistant on its own (Estonia, Regulation No. 39, § 12(1)).

Penetration is tested under other documents, such as VPAM APR and its PM levels for panels and walls. Polish police ranges add a safety factor of at least 2 on wall and ceiling thickness (§ 7(1)). Which standard applies to which part of the building is on EN 1522, EN 1063, VPAM and NIJ standards.

Do lead-free bullets ricochet differently?

The German guideline states that there is not enough established knowledge on the rebound behaviour of lead-free bullets (Schießstandrichtlinien 2.5.3, note).

Test data for the lining should therefore name the cartridges fired. The BulletTrap Baltic reports list them by type: 9×19 DM41, 7.62×39 M43, 5.56×45 SS109 and 7.62×51 DM111 for the block, and the five tile calibres in the table above. Lead in the air of the range is covered on lead dust in an indoor shooting range.

Questions about ricochet protection

What is the difference between ricochet and rebound?

VPAM ARG calls a bullet that changes direction by up to 90° a ricochet (abprallend, point 3.1) and one that turns by more than 90° a rebound (rückprallend, point 3.2). A rebound comes back towards the firing line; VPAM ARG detects it with a paper indicator on the shooter’s side (point 5.3).

At which angles does VPAM ARG test a lining?

At 90°, 60°, 45° and 25° to the surface, with 3 shots per cartridge and angle. Every bullet must be taken safely at 90° to 25° (VPAM ARG Fassung 3, points 4.2 and 6.4).

Does a VPAM ARG certificate approve my range?

No. VPAM ARG tests the material; the final acceptance of the installed lining takes place on site by the range expert (VPAM ARG, introduction and point 3.5). In Germany the range expert also takes part in the official acceptance (Schießstandrichtlinien 1.5).

At what angle do BulletTrap Baltic tiles stop ricochet?

In report ES-230403 the BulletTrap Baltic 40 mm tile held the projectile from impact angles of 10.7–13.3° and the 45 mm tile from 13.8–15.1°, depending on calibre; 7.62×39 and 9×19 stayed in the 40 mm tile from 10.7°. The steepest angle needed was 15.1°, for 7.62×51 NATO on the 45 mm tile. This is beyond what VPAM ARG requires, which tests down to 25°.

Does a pistol-calibre certificate cover rifle calibres?

No. Under VPAM ARG a sample that passes one energy class does not automatically pass another, not even a lower one (point 4.1). Ask for the class that matches the cartridges fired on your range.

How thick must anti-ricochet wall lining be in Estonia?

At least 1.2 cm of non-ricocheting material on the walls of an indoor range, unless hits on the wall are excluded by deflector plates (Regulation No. 39 of the Minister of the Interior, § 12(2), in force since 10.10.2026). BulletTrap Baltic tiles are 40 and 45 mm thick. Whether a given material counts as non-ricocheting is for the range expert and the authority to decide.

Which fire class do anti-ricochet tiles need?

The German guideline asks for acoustic linings of class B 1 (DIN 4102-1) or C-s1,d0 (EN 13501-1) and floors of Cfl-s1 (Schießstandrichtlinien 5.1.9). BulletTrap Baltic tiles are Efl as standard and Cfl with a special binder on request; both are floor-covering classes under EN 13501-1. More on fire risk of rubber bullet traps.

Do the rubber blocks stop bullets on their own?

No. In report ES-240131 the 200 mm block without steel was perforated; with a 500 HB armoured plate behind it every projectile was stopped and the plate stayed intact. BulletTrap Baltic supplies the block as the front layer of a trap, see bullet traps.

Sources

Send us your range geometry

Send the calibres fired, the distances and a section of the hall. BulletTrap Baltic returns the tile areas for walls, ceiling, baffles and floor, the tile thickness for your calibres and the quantity and weight, with reports ES-230403 and ES-240131 for your file.

Request a Quote
Supplier: MB Murakana (BulletTrap Baltic), Sudervės g. 12-3, Avižienių k., LT-14192 Vilniaus r., Lithuania
Email: info@bullettrapbaltic.com · Phone: +370 682 38746

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *