A pellet trap catches lead pellets in a steel box so they do not bounce around the room or end up in the lawn. The one thing that matters is its power rating: every maker rates a trap for a maximum velocity in fps or a maximum muzzle energy in ft-lb, and a gun over that rating can punch through or wear the trap out.
Our picks at a glance
From published specs and our sizing rules. Not lab tested.
- 1
Best for 10 m and indoors
Air Venturi Quiet Pellet Trap with Ballistic Putty (20 ft-lb)
20 ft-lb max (maker rating)
Check price on AmazonPaid link
- 2
Most fun
Atflbox Resetting Pellet Trap (10 ft-lb)
10 ft-lb max (maker rating)
Check price on AmazonPaid link
- 3
Budget
Do-All Outdoors Air Strike Pellet Trap (800 fps)
800 fps max (maker rating)
Check price on AmazonPaid link
Work out your gun's energy from the pellet weight and velocity: grains x fps x fps / 450,240. A .177 pellet of 8.4 grains at 600 fps is about 6.7 ft-lb; at 900 fps it is about 15. A .22 pellet of 14.3 grains at 800 fps is about 20.
Then buy a trap rated above that number, put it in front of a wall that would stop a stray pellet, and have everyone in the room wear impact-rated glasses. Our home training range planner does the math and checks whether your room fits a 10 meter lane.
Top picks, and why
Air Venturi Quiet Pellet Trap with Ballistic Putty (20 ft-lb)
- Ballistic putty
- 10 ga steel backstop
- 13.5 x 12.5 in
Rated to 20 ft-lb, with ballistic putty that deadens each hit and a 10-gauge steel backstop. The maker says to shoot it from at least 10 m. $100 to $250.
- Rated to 20 ft-lb muzzle energy
- Putty deadens the sound of each hit
- Includes 3 NRA 10 m air rifle targets
- Maker says place it at least 10 m from the muzzle
- Putty needs topping up over time
$100 to $250, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Atflbox Resetting Pellet Trap (10 ft-lb)
- Auto reset
- All metal
- Indoor or outdoor
Five knockdown paddles that reset when you hit the center, rated to 10 ft-lb. under $100.
- Rated to 10 ft-lb
- Five paddles, center shot resets
- Wall or fence mount
- Not for high-power air rifles
- Not for BBs (they ricochet off steel)
Under $100, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Do-All Outdoors Air Strike Pellet Trap (800 fps)
- Steel
- Paper or spinner targets
A steel trap with spinners, rated for airguns up to 800 fps. under $100.
- Rated for airguns up to 800 fps
- Holds paper targets
- Spinning silhouettes included
- Not for magnum air rifles over 800 fps
Under $100, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Compare every pick
Paid links: we earn a commission if you buy, at no cost to you. Amazon prices change often, so we show a range and link to the live price.
Pellet traps by power rating
Match the trap to the gun by the maker's rating, not by the caliber on the box. A trap rated in fps assumes typical pellets; a trap rated in ft-lb covers any pellet weight up to that energy. If your gun shoots close to a rating, step up: heavy pellets at high velocity wear steel faster.
Magnum air rifles above 20 ft-lb need a trap rated for them. We only list traps whose makers publish a rating.
Do-All Outdoors Air Strike Pellet Trap (800 fps)
- Steel
- Paper or spinner targets
Steel construction, holds paper targets, with spinning silhouettes included. under $100.
- Rated for airguns up to 800 fps
- Holds paper targets
- Spinning silhouettes included
- Not for magnum air rifles over 800 fps
Under $100, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Atflbox Resetting Pellet Trap (10 ft-lb)
- Auto reset
- All metal
- Indoor or outdoor
Knock down four paddles, then hit the center to reset them. A trap box collects the pellets. under $100.
- Rated to 10 ft-lb
- Five paddles, center shot resets
- Wall or fence mount
- Not for high-power air rifles
- Not for BBs (they ricochet off steel)
Under $100, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Ideagle Pellet and BB Trap
- Foam anti-bounce inserts
- Steel box
- 11 x 11 in targets
A heavy steel box with foam inserts that stop pellets and BBs bouncing back, rated by the maker for BB guns and .177 or .22 pellet guns up to 1,000 fps at close range. under $100.
- Rated for steel BBs (maker)
- Foam cuts rebounds and noise
- Takes 11 x 11 in targets
- Air rifles over 1,000 fps need 40 yards or more (maker)
- Not for .22 rimfire
Under $100, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Air Venturi Quiet Pellet Trap with Ballistic Putty (20 ft-lb)
- Ballistic putty
- 10 ga steel backstop
- 13.5 x 12.5 in
Putty-filled wooden trap with a steel backstop, three NRA 10 m air rifle targets included. Place it at least 10 m from the muzzle. $100 to $250.
- Rated to 20 ft-lb muzzle energy
- Putty deadens the sound of each hit
- Includes 3 NRA 10 m air rifle targets
- Maker says place it at least 10 m from the muzzle
- Putty needs topping up over time
$100 to $250, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Targets for 10 meter practice
10 meter air rifle and air pistol are shot 10 m (32.8 ft) from the firing line. Official NRA targets have scoring rings sized for that distance; at a shorter distance they still work, your groups will just look tighter.
Official NRA AR-5/10 Air Rifle 10 Meter Targets (100)
- 12 bullseyes
- Air rifle, 10 m
NRA AR-5/10, 12 bullseyes per 10.5 x 12 in sheet, 100 sheets. under $100.
- 12 bulls per sheet
- 10.5 x 12 in
- Made in the USA
- Sized for 10 m
Under $100, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Daisy Official NRA 10-Meter Pellet Gun Targets (50)
- NRA official
- Heavy paper
Official NRA 10 m targets on heavy paper that tears clean holes, 50 per pad. under $100.
- Official NRA 10 m layout
- Heavy paper, clean holes
- 50 per pad
- Sized for 10 m; use smaller-scale targets for a shorter room
Under $100, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Eye and ear protection
Pellets can bounce off a trap's edge, a stand or a hard floor. Everyone in the room wears impact-rated shooting glasses, including people watching. Hearing protection is optional for low-powered pellet guns, but magnum spring rifles and unshrouded PCP rifles are loud indoors.
HTS HUNTERSKY S57 Ballistic Shooting Glasses (ANSI Z87+)
- Clear lens
- Anti-fog
ANSI Z87+ rated, clear anti-fog lens for indoor light. under $100.
- ANSI Z87+ impact rating
- Clear anti-fog lens for indoors
- Adjustable nose pads
- Fits medium to large faces
Under $100, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Walker's Sport Glasses with 4 Interchangeable Lenses
- Polycarbonate
- Case included
Four interchangeable lenses including clear, with a case. under $100.
- Four lenses for indoor and outdoor light
- Polycarbonate, high impact rated
- Case and pouch included
- Swapping lenses takes a minute
Under $100, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Howard Leight Impact Sport Electronic Earmuffs
- Sound amplification
- Folding
- 4 hour auto shutoff
NRR 22 electronic earmuffs that still let you hear conversation. under $100.
- NRR 22
- Amplifies conversation, cuts gunshots to 82 dB
- Slim cups clear a rifle stock
- Runs on 2 AAA batteries
Under $100, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Setting up an airgun range safely
Put the trap in front of a wall that would stop a stray pellet, such as concrete, brick or a thick plywood backer, and never in front of a window, a door, or a room someone could walk into. Light the target well and keep the area you stand in dimmer.
Shoot lead or lead-free pellets into a pellet trap. Steel BBs bounce off hard steel and can come straight back; shoot them only into a trap its maker rates for BBs, such as the Ideagle box with foam inserts. Wash your hands after handling lead pellets and emptying the trap.
Treat an airgun like a firearm: never point it at anyone, and check your state and local rules, since some cities regulate airguns.
The bottom line
From published specs and our sizing rules. Not lab tested.
- 1
Best for 10 m and indoors
Air Venturi Quiet Pellet Trap with Ballistic Putty (20 ft-lb)
20 ft-lb max (maker rating)
Check price on AmazonPaid link
- 2
Most fun
Atflbox Resetting Pellet Trap (10 ft-lb)
10 ft-lb max (maker rating)
Check price on AmazonPaid link
- 3
Budget
Do-All Outdoors Air Strike Pellet Trap (800 fps)
800 fps max (maker rating)
Check price on AmazonPaid link
Frequently asked questions
How do I know what pellet trap my airgun needs?
Work out muzzle energy: pellet grains x fps x fps / 450,240 = ft-lb. Then buy a trap the maker rates above it. If the trap is rated in fps, compare your gun's velocity with the pellets you shoot.
Can I use a pellet trap indoors?
Yes, with a trap rated for your gun, a solid wall behind it and nothing beyond that wall that a stray pellet could reach. Putty or curtain traps are quieter than bare steel indoors.
Can I shoot BBs into a pellet trap?
Only if its maker rates it for BBs. Steel BBs ricochet off bare steel, so a plain pellet trap can send them straight back. The Ideagle trap here is rated for BBs and uses foam inserts to stop rebounds; otherwise switch to pellets.
Can I shoot a .22 rimfire into a pellet trap?
No. Pellet traps are made for airguns. Firearms need bullet traps engineered for the caliber, used at a proper range.
How far should I stand from a pellet trap?
Follow the maker. Some putty traps state a minimum distance, such as 10 m for the 20 ft-lb Air Venturi trap. Standing farther back also reduces the chance of a pellet bouncing back to you.
How much room do I need for a 10 meter airgun range?
About 38 ft of length: 32.8 ft from the firing line to the target, about 3 ft to stand and 1.5 ft for the trap. Allow at least 1.0 m of width per shooter.
12 products are linked on this page. We have not lab-tested these products; picks are based on published specifications and our sizing rules. Amazon prices change, so we show a range and link to the live price. See our disclosure.
Size it for your home
Marcus Reed
Founder and Editor, CrunchYourDollars
Marcus Reed builds the sizing tools on CrunchYourDollars. He is a software engineer with a long-running PC hardware and power supply habit, which is where the watts, watt-hours and surge math on this site comes from. Product specs are pulled from manufacturer data sheets, electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, and water chemistry rules from the Water Quality Association. He is not a licensed electrician or plumber: the tools show the math and the matching models so you can make the call, and anything involving your electrical panel should be checked by a licensed pro.
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