Shoothouse cleanouts

Abstract

A shoothouse with a shoothouse cleanout with the shoothouse having an upper bullet retaining member that can remain on the shoothouse wall and a lower shoothouse cleanout that can be quickly removed from the shoothouse wall to enable one to remove accumulated bullet residue from a bullet collection chamber behind the shoothouse cleanout.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to assault courses and, more specifically, a shoothouse cleanout that allows one to periodically remove bullet residue from the shoothouse

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

None

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

None

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Assault courses for training combat personnel are known as shoothouses. The shoothouses generally comprise an open top walled structure, which is laid out in a floor plan of a typical house or building that may be found in enemy territory. The purpose of the assault course is to simulate combat field conditions for a trainee who might eventually have to find and capture enemy personal hiding within a building. Since training of the personnel can require the personnel to quickly fire their weapon as they enter a room it is necessary to have the walls of the assault course able to withstand the impact of multiple rounds of ammunition as well as to retain the bullets that impact against the wall in order to prevent ricocheting bullets from injuring the trainees. An example of a shoothouse is shown and described in my U.S. Pat. No. 7,246,471.

In order to build a permanent assault course or shoothouse, a concrete foundation is first laid in the terrain. Next, concrete walls are poured to form the external perimeter walls as well as any interior walls of the assault course. In the final step the walls are covered with material to absorb and capture any bullets or fragments that might ricochet off the walls.

While such systems function well for permanent assault course training facilities it is difficult to erect such assault courses in the field where the potential special forces need field training on how to capture enemy personal hiding in local buildings. For example, if military forces are quickly brought into an area there may be an urgent need to quickly train the military forces under field conditions that includes the types of buildings that enemy forces might be hiding in. Oftentimes environment conditions can preclude the quick erecting of an assault course. For example, the weather may be to cold to pour concrete or the soil may be difficult to lay a foundation. A further drawback is that once the concrete assault course is built it becomes a permanent part of the landscape and cannot be moved to another location.

In other situations one may construct a shoothouse from a set of modular panels that can quickly be erected and assembled to form an assault course with the use of simple mechanical tools. If the panels are large military personal can use a mobile crane to position the panels in an upright condition to form the assault course. Once positioned, each of the panels is secured to a base through removable fasteners such as bolts and nuts. On the other hand if the panels are small military personal can lift and position both the base member and the panels without the aid of a crane; however, for larger panels cranes can be used to hoist the panels into position. An example of a shoothouse made with modular panels is further shown and described in my U.S. Pat. No. 7,246,471.

Both the permanent or temporary shoothouses described above require walls that cannot be penetrated by a bullet as well as some type of bullet retaining member to prevent bullets from ricocheting and injuring the personnel. In a typical shoothouse the bullet retaining member runs from the floor to the top of the wall. The bullet retaining bullet retaining members are also positioned in a side-to-side condition so that the adjacent bullet-retaining bullet retaining members extend into abutting engagement so as not to form a gap therebetween.

In order to permit the bullet retaining members to be secured to the shoothouse wall under adverse environmental condition a support such as spikes or hooks extend from the wall. In order to retain bullets and prevent ricocheting an elastomer bullet-retaining mat may be removable secured to the wall by forcing the spikes into the back of the elastomer mat to hold the elastomer mat in position during field training in the assault course.

If a bullet retaining bullet retaining member in a shoothouse becomes significantly damaged by repeated firings the bullet retaining bullet retaining member may need to be replaced. In addition to replacing damage bullet retaining member one must periodically remove bullet residue that collects behind the bullet retaining bullet retaining member. Typically, to remove the bullet residue the bullet retaining bullet retaining member are removed from the shoothouse walls and the accumulated bullet residue located behind the bullet retaining member is removed. The bullet retaining bullet retaining members are then rehung.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, the present invention comprises a shoothouse for training personnel with the shoothouse wall having a bullet retaining member and a shoothouse cleanout with the shoothouse cleanout removable from a shoothouse wall without having to remove the bullet retaining member from the wall. Once the shoothouse cleanout is removed one can clean bullet residue from a bullet collection chamber located proximate the wall and the floor. After cleaning out the bullet residue the shoothouse cleanout may be quickly replaced allowing the shoothouse to again be used to train personnel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a modular panel for constructing an assault course;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a portion of a modular panel positioned between two bullet retaining members;

FIG. 3 is a back view of a perimeter modular panel;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the perimeter modular panel of FIG. 3;

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a bullet retaining bullet retaining member and a shoothouse cleanout:

FIG. 4B is a side view of a bullet retaining bullet retaining member and a shoothouse cleanout located proximate a wall.

FIG. 4C is a front view of a set of bullet retaining bullet retaining member each having a shoothouse cleanout;

FIG. 4D is a perspective view of a shoothouse cleanout;

FIG. 5 is a partial view of the panel of FIG. 3 showing the lateral flange;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the lateral flange of FIG. 5 showing the hole in the flange to permit securement to another panel;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a right angle perimeter panel forming a corner support on an assault course;

FIG. 8 is a front view of an interior modular panel having a window opening therein;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a base member for supporting the modular panels;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a top securement member for securing adjacent modular panels to each other;

FIG. 11 is a top view of a partially assembled assault course showing a floor plane of the assault course.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1-4 and FIGS. 5-11 show the components of a shoothouse which is shown and described in my U.S. Pat. No. 7,246,471 which issued Jul. 24, 2007. FIG. 4 shows a one-piece bullet retaining member 50 that extends from the floor to the top of the wall and FIGS. 4A-4D show the bullet retaining member 110 that forms part of the novel shoothouse cleanout described herein. The shoothouse cleanout shown herein may be used with the modular assault course shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,246,471 as well as with other types shoothouse that may use members to prevent ricocheting of bullets back to the shooter.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a modular flat perimeter panel 10 for constructing an assault course. Modular panel 10 has a front side 10a and a back side 10b. Located on the lower end of panel 10 is a first locating member 13 and a second locating member 13a. Locating members 13 and 13a each have a wedge shape end to assist in guiding modular panel 10 into an assembled condition on a base member. Located on the top end of panel 10 is a first threaded recess 10c and a second threaded recess 10d. The threaded recesses provide a dual function. The threaded recesses can be used to secure a hook or eye bolt thereto to enable the panel to be lifted into position using the hook or eye bolt. Once in position the hook or eye bolt is removed and a top securement member can be secured to the top end of the panels to hold the panels in top alignment with each other.

Located on the front face of modular panel 10 is a set of retaining spikes 14 for holding a bullet-retaining member thereon. In the embodiment shown retaining spikes 14 are welded to face 10a and extend perpendicularly therefrom in a condition for receiving and holding a bullet retaining member thereon.

In the embodiment shown modular perimeter panel 10 comprises a rectangular 4 foot by 8 foot steel plate having a thickness of ⅜ of an inch. Panel 10 has a Brinell hardness of 500. The size and hardness of the steel panel is selected based on the type of assault course that is to be built as well as the type of weapons used in training. That is, in general the thickness and hardness of the steel plate is dependent on the caliber of the weapon as well as the type of bullet with the panel and needs to be sufficiently hard so as to prevent penetration of a bullet fired at the panel. As described above a ⅜ inch steel panel having a Brinell hardness of 500 prevents a steel cased 7.62 caliber bullet from penetrating therethrough. The thickness and hardness of metal plates to withstand other types of ammunition can be experimentally determined by firing rounds at a metal plate to determine if the metal plate has sufficient thickness and hardness to prevent bullet penetration.

FIG. 2 shows a partial side view of an interior modular panel 20 having a first face 20a and a second face 20b. Located on face 20a is a retaining spike 21 that is held on panel 20 by a weld 22. Retaining spike 21 includes a shank 23, a set of concentric circular retaining shoulders 24 and a conical tip 25. Located on the opposite face 20b is an identical retaining spike that is held on panel 20 by a weld 28. Since the spikes of the present invention are identical only one of them is described herein.

Interior modular panel 20 differs from perimeter modular panel 10 in that interior modular panel 20 includes retaining spikes on opposite faces so that a bullet retaining member can be secured to each face of panel 20.

In order to illustrate how bullet retaining members are held in position on interior modular panel 20 a first bullet retaining member 30 is shown partial in section and proximate spike 27 and a second bullet retaining member 31 is shown is shown partial in section and proximate spike 21 on the opposite side of interior modular panel 20.

Bullet retaining member 30 includes a preformed pilot hole 30a for receiving spike 27, which has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the retaining shoulders on the retaining spike 27. Similarly, bullet-retaining member 31 includes a preformed pilot hole 31a for receiving spike 25, which has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the retaining shoulders on the retaining spike 21.

In assembling of the assault course the bullet retaining member 30 is deformably forced onto spike 27 and is held in place by the retaining shoulders thereon. Similarly, the bullet-retaining member 31 is deformably forced onto spike 21 and is held in place by retaining shoulders thereon. Thus the spikes can provide the sole support for holding the bullet retaining material in place.

In the embodiment shown the length of the retaining spike is indicated by x and T indicates the thickness of the bullet-retaining member. In order not to have the end of the retaining spike extend beyond the bullet-retaining member 31 or 30 the thickness of the bullet retaining members should exceed the length L of the bullet retaining spikes.

In the embodiment shown the bullet retaining material comprises a high density recycled rubber material that retains the bullets that penetrate therethrough and are stopped by the metal panel. Such material is commercially available and is sometimes referred to as ballistic tile.

A feature of the bullet retaining members is that an individual bullet-retaining member is replaceable if it should deteriorate due to repeated firings. That is, to replace a bullet-retaining member one only needs to pull the bullet-retaining member free of the retaining spikes and replace the deteriorated bullet-retaining member with a new bullet-retaining member. A benefit of the mechanical engagement between the bullet-retaining member and the spikes is that the bullet retaining panels can be quickly detached or attached under any type of environmental conditions since cure times are not involved in securing the bullet retaining member to the panel.

FIG. 3 shows a back view of perimeter panel 10 revealing a first lateral flange 40 located proximate edge 10b and a second lateral flange 41 located proximate edge 10c. Located proximate bottom edge 10d is a first base flange 43 and a second base flange 44. Perimeter panel 10 has a width designated 2L₁.

FIG. 4 is a side view of panel 10 showing a bullet retaining member 50 secured thereto. For illustrating the assembly process the perimeter modular panel 10 is positioned above an elongated base comprising a channel member 51 and the bullet retaining member extending from the floor to the top of the wall.

In contrast, FIG. 4A shows a perspective and exploded view of a two part bullet retaining member 110 comprising an upper bullet retaining member, which may be a mat 111, and a lower removable shoothouse cleanout 112. Shoothouse cleanout may be a removable and reattachable bullet retaining member that can be placed end to end with the upper bullet retaining mat 111 to form a bullet retaining member 110 that extends from the floor to the top of the wall. Bullet retaining member 11, which may be a mat, and shoothouse cleanout 112 may be made from the same materials as one piece bullet retaining member 50, however they may be made from different materials without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In the present invention the upper bullet retaining member 111 and the shoothouse cleanout 112 are used in place of the one piece bullet retaining member 50, which is shown in FIG. 4. Upper bullet retaining member 111 has a generally rectangular shape although other shapes may be used without departing from the scope of the invention. Bullet retaining member 111 includes a lower end having a lip 119 formed by end surfaces 11a, 11b and 11c. Shoothouse cleanout 112 also has a generally rectangular shape although other shapes may be used without departing from the scope of the invention. Similarly, shoothouse cleanout 112 includes an upper end having a lip 120 formed by end surfaces 112a, 112b and 112c to enable forming an overlapping or interlapping joint with the bullet retaining member 111.

FIG. 4B shows a partial side view of shoothouse wall or panel 10 having a plurality of spikes extending perpendicular therefrom to form a support 14 that extends inward into the bullet retaining mat 111 to thereby vertically support the bullet retaining mat 111. While spikes are shown other supports may be used, for examples hooks or straps may be used to support the bullet retaining mat 111 without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

FIG. 4B shows bullet retaining member 111 and shoothouse cleanout 112 hung on panel 10 with the ends of bullet retaining member 111 and shoothouse cleanout 112 interlapping with each other when the lip 120 and lip 119 are in face to face contact with each other with both mat 111 and shoothouse cleanout 112 spaced from panel 10 to form an elongated chamber 115 bounded by panel surface 10a and the backside 111d of bullet retaining member t 111. The purpose of interlapping or overlapping the bullet retaining member is to reduce the chances of a bullet ricocheting through the joint between the two bullet retaining members although one may also abut the bullet retaining members in an end to end relationship without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The spacing of mat a distance “t” from the wall is to ensure that chamber is sufficiently wide so that impacted bullets which have penetrating through the bullet retaining member 111 and impacted on wall 10 can under the influence of gravity fall down through the chamber 115. That is, as bullets are shot into bullet retaining member 111 the bullets may penetrate the bullet retaining member 111 but are stopped from further penetration by wall 10 and from ricocheting by bullet retaining member 111. The bullets or some instance the bullet residue or bullet fragments can then fall through the chamber 115 to a bullet collection chamber 115a which is located between wall surface 10a and the back side surface 112d of shoothouse cleanout 112. While bullet retaining members are shown as flexible mats other types of bullet retaining members may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the bullet retaining member may be a second wall that is spaced from the bullet stopping wall to provide a chamber for bullet residue to fall downward under the influence of gravity.

During use a bullet retaining member or mat 111, which is secured to an upper face of the panel by a support 14, coacts with panel 10 to form a bullet chamber 115 between the face 10a of panel 10 and a back side 111d of bullet retaining mat 111. Similarly, during use the shoothouse cleanout which is removably securable to a lower face of the panel 10 by support 14 also coacts with panel 10 to form a bullet chamber comprising a bullet collection chamber 115a between the face 10a of panel 10 and a back side 112d of the shoothouse cleanout 112. As bullets penetrate through mat 111 or 112 gravity acting on the bullets causes the bullets to fall downward into the bullet collection chamber 115a. Because of extensive use of the shoothouse in training exercises the bullet fragments begin to collect at the bullet collection chamber. From time to time it may become necessary to remove the bullet retaining mats from the walls and remove the bullet residue. With the use of an upper bullet retaining member 110 and a lower shoothouse cleanout only the shoothouse cleanout 112 needs to be removed from wall 10 to rid the shoothouse of bullet residue thereby not only decreasing the time needed to remove the bullet residue but also eliminating removing and rehanging a typical bullet retaining mat which may be ten feet long. A further benefit is that the bullet retaining members may be made of different sizes, for example, an entire wall or the walls of an entire room may be covered by a single bullet retaining member.

FIG. 4C shows a front view of a shoothouse having a wall 129 on one side and a wall 130 on the opposite side with the wall 10 located therebetween. Hung in a side-by-side relationship on wall 10 are three upper bullet retaining mats 111, 121 and 123. Located below bullet retaining mat 123 is a shoothouse cleanout 124 and located below bullet retaining mat 121 is a shoothouse cleanout 112. The shoothouse cleanout 112, which is normal located below bullet retaining mat 111 has been removed to show the bullet collection chamber 115a and the bullet residue 116 that has collected at the bottom of bullet collection chamber 115a. Also shown is support 14, which comprises a set of spikes that can be inserted into the back side 112d of shoothouse cleanout 112 to retain the shoothouse cleanout 112 on the wall 10. The use of spikes allows one to attach or remove the shoothouse cleanout 112 from wall 10 without the aid of separate fasteners since the ends of spikes can penetrate into the shoothouse cleanout to support the shoothouse cleanout. Whether spikes or other types of supports are used one can space the bullet retaining members or the shoothouse cleanout from the shoothouse wall so that bullets and bullet residue can fall to the floor under the influence of gravity.

FIG. 4D shows that the shoothouse cleanout 112, which is normally located below bullet retaining pad 111, has been removed to permit bullet residue removal from the bullet collection chamber 115a without having to remove the bullet retaining member 111 from the panel 10. The size or height of the shoothouse cleanout 112 is such that it is high enough so that one can insert a tool into the bullet collection chamber 112a to remove the bullet residue therein. Conversely, the height of the shoothouse cleanout 112 is sufficiently small such that the shoothouse cleanout 112 can be removed and replaced by one person, whereas the single vertical hanging bullet retaining mat 50, which typically may be ten feet long and four feet wide may require not only two persons to remove the mat but also require a ladder to position the bullet retaining mat on the wall 10. In contrast, the shoothouse cleanout 112 which is substantially smaller than the bullet retaining mat 111 can be removed and replaced without the use of ladders or additional personal.

Thus the invention includes a method of preparing a shoot house for reuse by maintaining a bullet retaining mat 111 in a spaced condition from an upper portion of a shoothouse wall to form a bullet chamber 115 therebetween, maintaining a shoothouse cleanout 112 in a spaced condition from a lower portion of the shoothouse wall 10 to form a bullet collection chamber 115a below the bullet chamber 115 or on top of the shoothouse cleanout to allow bullets 116 to fall from the bullet chamber 115 into the bullet collection chamber 115a; removing the shoothouse cleanout 112 from the shoothouse wall while maintaining the first bullet retaining mat 111 on the shoothouse wall 10 to thereby expose the bullet collection chamber 115a; and removing any bullets 16 located in the bullet collection chamber 115a. While the shoothouse cleanout is shown spaced from the wall it is envisioned that the shoothouse cleanout may be in contact with the wall since bullet residue which falls on top of shoothouse cleanout 112 will fall to the area occupied by the shoothouse cleanout 112 when the shoothouse cleanout 112 is removed.

In order to understand the field erectability of the shoothouse reference should be made to FIG. 5 which shows a portion of panel 10 revealing a flange 41 that is secured to plate 10 by a weld 41c. Flange 41 comprises a right angle flange having a first leg 41a that is permanently attached to plate 10 and a second leg 41b that extends perpendicularly therefrom with leg 41b having an opening 41d for extending a fastener such as a bolt therethrough.

Similarly, FIG. 6 shows a side view of a portion of plate 10 with the flange 41 having an opening 41d for passing a removable fastener therethrough. In the preferred embodiment a fastener such as a bolt is extend through opening 41d in flange 41 and through a similar opening in a flange on an adjacent panel. A nut is then secured to the bolt and the adjacent panels are brought into a side by side relationship to each other where they are maintained by the fastener.

FIG. 7 shows a further component comprising a modular perimeter corner panel 60 having a first section 60a located at a right angle to a second section 60b. A set of lateral securement flanges 61 and 62 are located on panel 60a and similarly a set of securement flanges 63 and 64 are located on the opposite panel 60b. The purpose of having a panel with a preformed angle between adjacent sections is to enable one to quickly build a corner section of an assault course. That is, once the corner modular panel 60 is placed in position on a base the corner panel can form a reference for the remaining portion of the assault course. In order to secure the corner modular panel in position there are included a set of base flanges 65, 66, 67 and 68, which can be secured to a base member with a removable fastener such as a bolt. In the preferred embodiment the base includes a set of threaded recesses so a bolt can be extended through the openings in the flanges and rotated to bring the flange and the modular panel into a fixed upright condition on the base member. While the corner modular panel is shown with a right angle corner other angled corners can be formed by joining the edges of the panel to each other at an angle of 180 degrees or less. Preferably, the edges of the panel are welded to each other during the manufacturing process so that when taken to the field they can be quickly erected as a corner section for the assault course.

A further feature of the field erectable modular assault course is that special features can be incorporated into the panel. FIG. 8 shows such special feature, namely, a metal plate 70 having an opening 70a therein to resemble a window opening. Located on the face of plate 70 is a set of retaining spikes 73 for holding a bullet-retaining member thereon. In this embodiment retaining spikes 73 are also positioned on the edge face of plate 70 so that the edge face 70 can be covered with a bullet retaining material.

FIG. 9 shows a portion of an elongated base member for supporting the modular panels in an upright condition. Base member 80 comprise a U-shaped channel member having a first leg 80a and a second leg 80b with a smooth top surface 81 for placement of modular panels thereon. Located in top of base member 80 are a set of location holes 80c that are positioned to receive the locating members extending from the bottom of the modular panels. That is, in the assembling of the assault course one need only place the locating members on the bottom of the panels in the location holes in base member 80 in order to obtain proper alignment. Located along the opposite side of base member 80 is a set of threaded recesses for receiving a stud fastener. During assembly of the assault course the base flanges are positioned over the threaded recesses so that a stud bolt can be inserted through the hole in the base flange and then into a threaded recess where the stud bolt is rotated to hold the modular panel in position.

Base member 80 is shown comprising an elongated section that has an extension 81 with an opening 81a therein to permit the securement of the base member 80 to an adjacent base member. In order to provide a right angled corner with adjacent base members the end surface of the base member can be mitered at a 45 degree angle so as to mate with a similar mitered base member to create a right angle corner. Similarly, other corners can be precut with the proper corner angle before the base member is brought to the erection site.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a top securement member 85 for securing the top of adjacent modular panels to each other. Top securement member 85 comprises a rigid member such as a steel bar that has a set of spaced openings 85a located therein. The distance between holes is such that when the bar 85 is placed on the top end of a modular panel the openings are in alignment with the threaded recesses in the top of the modular panels. Once in alignment fasteners such as stud bolts are inserted through the top securement member and into the threaded recesses (see FIG. 1) on the top of the modular panels. By drawing the stud bolts into tight engagement with the modular panels the top of the panels are rigidly tied together to hold the modular panels in an erect condition. In addition, by extending the top securement member onto the corner modular panels one can tie the entire top of the modular panels together to provide an upright structure capable of withstanding the impact of multiple rounds.

FIG. 11 is a top view of a partially assembled assault course 90. Assault course 90 comprises a first elongated base member 91 that is joined on one end to elongated base member 92 and on the opposite end to base member 94. Similarly, a second elongated base member 93 is joined on one end to base member 92 and on the other end to base member 94 to complete the assault course. A set of flanges 98, which are shown on only one side for clarity, extend around each of the modular panels and are secured to base members to hold the modular panels in an upright condition.

In order to illustrate the securement of the top of the modular panels to each other FIG. 11 shows top securement members 99 and 100 holding the top of the panels to each other. In the embodiment shown a cap 96 can be attached to the modular panels to form a further top support for the panels.

As evident from FIG. 11 the interior panels, such as on wall 105, have a metal core 106 with a bullet retaining member 107 secured to one face and a bullet retaining member 108 secured to the opposite face. A third bullet retaining member 109 is secured to the end of the metal core to cover the exposed edge of meal core 106 to thereby prevent a bullet from ricocheting and injuring a trainee in the assault course.

In order provide for observing the trainees a platform or catwalk 101 can be placed around the peripheral region of the assault course and supported by the base and sidewall through braces extending therefrom.

Thus FIG. 11 shows a top view of a partially assembled modular assault course 90 having fastener joined elongated base members 91, 92, 93 and 94 with each of the base members having a top surface for panel support and a bottom surface for ground engagement with the top surface having locating holes therein as well as threaded recesses for receiving a stud bolt. Located on top of the base members are a plurality of panels 95 and 95a with each of the panels having a front side, a back side a first end and a second end. The first end or bottom end includes, a pair of locating members such as members 13 and 13a (see FIG. 1) thereon for engagement with the locating holes 80c (see FIG. 9) in the top surface of the base members to enable a plurality of panels to be positioned in an upright condition on the elongated base member. A set of base flanges 98 are secured to the back side of perimeter panels and have an opening therein (see FIG. 7) for extending a fastener through the base flange and into the base member to hold the panel in an upright condition. In addition to the base fasteners there are included lateral flanges (40, 41 see FIG. 3), that are secured to a first side of an adjacent panel, with each of the lateral flange having an opening therein for extending a fastener, such as a threaded bolt therethrough for engagement with a nut to secure each of the panels to an adjacent panel.

Each of the panels include a plurality of spikes extending from the panel (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) with the plurality of spikes having a conical point with a retaining shoulder thereon (see FIG. 2);

Removeably secured to the spikes is a bullet retaining member comprising a rubber mat having a thickness larger than a length of the plurality of spikes to enable penetrating securement of the rubber mat to the plurality of spikes (see FIG. 2) to thereby hold rubber mat on the front surface of panel.

The assault course can include a plurality of additional panels, each having a bullet retaining member comprising a rubber mat with the plurality of additional panels arranged in a side by side condition to form an interior wall with each of the additional interior panels having a bullet retaining member with a metal support plate or core that allows the bullet retaining member to penetratingly receive and hold a round of ammunition fired therein. Thus each of the mats on each of the panels coact with the metal core to prevent penetration thereof by the bullet. In addition, the bullet retaining members, while permitting penetration by a bullet are sufficiently dense so as to absorb a bullet that might ricochet off the panel.

Claims

1. A method of preparing a shoot house for reuse comprising:

maintaining a bullet retaining member in a spaced condition from an upper portion of a shoothouse wall to form a bullet chamber therebetween;

maintaining a shoothouse cleanout in a spaced condition from a lower portion of the shoothouse wall to form a bullet collection chamber below the bullet chamber to allow bullets to fall from the bullet chamber into the bullet collection chamber;

removing the shoothouse cleanout from the shoothouse wall while maintaining the bullet retaining member on the shoothouse wall to thereby expose the bullet collection chamber; and

removing any bullets located in the bullet collection chamber.

2. The method of claim 1 including the step of replacing the shoothouse cleanout on the shoothouse wall.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of replacing the shoothouse cleanout includes interlapping the bullet retaining member with the shoothouse cleanout.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of interlapping the bullet retaining member with the shoothouse cleanout comprises interlapping a lip of the bullet retaining member and a lip of the shoothouse cleanout.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of removing any bullets located in the bullet collection chamber comprises extending a tool into the bullet collection chamber.

6. The method of claim 1 including supporting the shoothouse cleanout with a set of supports extending from the shoothouse wall.

7. The method of claim 6 including the step of replacing the shoothouse cleanout comprises placing the shoothouse cleanout on the set of supports that the shoothouse cleanout was removed from.

8. The method of claim 5 including the step of removing the shoothouse cleanout member comprise pulling the shoothouse cleanout outward from a support on the shoothouse wall.

9. The method of claim 1 including the step of assembling a shoothouse from a set of panels and a set of bullet retaining members and maintaining the bullet retaining members and the shoothouse cleanout on a set of spikes extending from the shoothouse wall.

10. A shoothouse including;

a panel, positionable in an upright condition as part of the shoothouse;

a first support extending from said panel;

a bullet retaining member secured to an upper face of the panel by said first support, said bullet retaining member coacting with said panel to form a chamber between said face of said panel and a back side of said bullet retaining member;

a shoothouse cleanout located below said bullet retaining member, said shoothouse cleanout removably securable to a lower face of the panel and coacting with said panel to form a bullet collection chamber between said face of said panel and a back side of said shoothouse cleanout, said shoothouse cleanout spaceable from the panel to permit bullet removal from the bullet collection chamber without having to remove of the bullet retaining member from the panel.

11. The shoot house of claim 10 wherein the bullet retaining member and the shoothouse cleanout interlap with each other.

12. The shoot house of claim 10 wherein the first bullet retaining member and shoothouse cleanout comprise ballistic rubber.

13. The shoot house of claim 11 wherein the bullet retaining member has a lower edge with a lip and the shoothouse cleanout has an upper edge with a lip.

14. The shoot house of claim 10 wherein the first support comprises a set of spikes extending from said panel.

15. A shoothouse including;

a wall;

a bullet retaining member spaced from the wall to form a chamber therebetween; and

a shoothouse cleanout proximate the wall to permit bullet removal from the chamber without having to remove the bullet retaining member from the wall.

16. The shoothouse of claim 15 wherein the bullet retaining member comprises an elastomer mat.

17. The shoothouse of claim 15 wherein the shoothouse cleanout is located below the bullet retaining member and at floor level.

18. The shoothouse of claim 15 wherein the shoothouse cleanout comprise a further bullet retaining member.

19. The shoothouse of claim 15 wherein the shoothouse cleanout is spaced from the wall to form a bullet collection chamber therebetween.

20. The shoothouse of claim 15 wherein the shoothouse cleanout includes a lip for interlapping with the bullet retaining member.