Targets

[BigWaylon]

Couldn't figure out the best place to post this, as it's not long gun or handgun specific, so the DIY section is where it lands.

I've always used targets/stands provided by ranges or others when I've been out (except for paper targets I bought). Decided last year I needed some of my own. Finally finished everything else today, so I figured I'd post pics.

First up was the basic wooden frames for cardboard/paper targets. Found several plans online and knocked them out pretty quick sometime late last year. So far they've only been used for Nerf practice.

Total cost was a box of nails and the furring strips, which I think we're $.98/ea. All the 2x4 came from construction dumpsters.

 

[BigWaylon]

Next up was some steel targets. Found a local source for 1/2" AR500 and bought a 24"x48" piece. Found a member that volunteered to cut it with a plasma cutter...which was a lesson for both of us. He won't ever do that again.

Ended up with 14 targets, ranging from 4"x6" to 16"x18". Had the machinist I know volunteer to drill three holes in each one for way less than it would've cost me in drill bits.

Painted the backs white...

And painted the fronts flourescent...

Adopted the "aim small, miss small" theory and made some X stencils:

 

[BigWaylon]

Took a Sunday afternoon last year to turn a bunch of parts:

into a bunch cables:

made ~20 extra figuring somebody would eventually shoot the steel wire...

don't have a closeup, but used fender washers, bolts, nuts and square (wedge) washers...hoped those would give me a little back/down angle on the targets...guess we'll see how that theory works when they get shot the first time

 

[BigWaylon]

Finally got out and finished the stands today. 2x4s and the DIY sawhorse brackets. Here's what I have for now.

hung the big one by itself, then the next two biggest and a slightly smaller one on a second frame..
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and then two identical setups with the smaller pieces...
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They're just hanging on hooks, and the stands come apart fairly easily. Just need to see if they're going to require any weight to keep the stands stable, or if I'll want to tie the steel off to keep it from swinging too much. Only time will tell.

I do have a stash of old firehoses at the house as my second plan.

 

[BigWaylon]

isn't it a bit dangerous to shoot in the neighborhood like that?


think about the children

We post lookouts at each corner. And the neighbors yard is sloped enough to double as a berm.

 

[Windini]

isn't it a bit dangerous to shoot in the neighborhood like that?


think about the children

Dang. Beat me to it!

But those targets and stands look fantastic!

If you wind up making that many cable again, I think you can get a DIY-quality swaging tool for pretty cheap. Beats the pants offa tightening that many itsy-bitsy nuts on cable clamps.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lehigh-Swaging-Tool-ST18S/100243794

 

[BigWaylon]

If you wind up making that many cable again, I think you can get a DIY-quality swaging tool for pretty cheap. Beats the pants offa tightening that many itsy-bitsy nuts on cable clamps.

But then my fingers wouldn't have been raw for ~3 days...and that would've taken half the fun out.

I do need to wrap some tape around the loose ends. It doesn't stick out of the cable nut much, but I've pricked my fingers enough already just getting them set up today.

 

[ronn47]

To keep the stands stable drill a hole at an angle thru the legs and use 20p nails or something similar.

 

[BigWaylon]

No problems with the stands tipping. A couple casualties of nut/washers and one wire rope. And, as I'd been warned, a lot of splatter sunk into the 2x4s.

Two after pics:

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[NCMedic]

isn't it a bit dangerous to shoot in the neighborhood like that?


think about the children

I'd imagine it's handled like the game of whatever in the street.... Some yells car... Move the stuff... Resume. Actually the cars may not even come down the street... So less interruption.


I need to do something like this some plates that I haven't done anything with.

 

[Friday]

Targets are too expensive!
Even when they're cheap they're expensive.

I have rules..no glass, no junk, etc..but before I throw anything away, I ask myself; can I shoot this?


Oh yeah BW them wires are just begging to be shot.
I've seen straps that held up pretty good, but my experience is if you wanna hang steel, just stick with good ol logging chain. It takes a fair amount of hits before it lets go and it's easy to repair in the field with some S hooks.

Some of those plates got some fairly stout dingery. What the hell you shooting at them?

 

[BigWaylon]

Some of those plates got some fairly stout dingery. What the hell you shooting at them?

5.56
.45
9
22LR
22TCM
7.62x39 (this was probably the culprit, if not the 5.56)
possibly something else?

it was only 50yds, which also added to the level of dingery

 

[NCFubar]

For hanging steel, ever thought about using retired fire hoses? They absorb accidental strikes better than chains but nuts/bolts are fair game.

 

[BigWaylon]

For hanging steel, ever thought about using retired fire hoses? They absorb accidental strikes better than chains but nuts/bolts are fair game.

See my very last sentence in post #4?

I have hoses here courtesy of my 2nd job as a street sweeper/washer driver. May try them in the future.

 

[NCFubar]

See my very last sentence in post #4?

I have hoses here courtesy of my 2nd job as a street sweeper/washer driver. May try them in the future.

I missed that ... old eyes and short attention span are my down fall ... oh there's a squirrel!

Anyway, 2" fire hose works great. The best tip I have is when you punch holes in the hose depending on size of the bolts fit say #4 or #5 heavy brass grommets in the holes, a sail maker has the tools to do a nice job, that will reinforce the holes and make it easier to change things up.

 

[The Green Heron]

http://m.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-1...-Coated-Steel-Fence-T-Post-901180EB/205960896

Cut them half in two, and knock that spade off.
Drill hole in wide flat side at top.

http://m.homedepot.com/p/National-H...th-Hex-Nut-2162BC-3-8X7-HOOK-BLT-ZN/204590259

Tighten heck out of the hook bolt with lock nut and red lock tight. Put a spot of weld on it if you can.
One hole in your steel plates.

You must have spent a fortune on those stands and cable.
The t post half will stand a lot of hits before it's toast, and seems to be less likely to be hit. We never got ours much. I've seen them done all kinds of ways. A bullet will invariably find that cable, and when it's done, you need a plethora of tools to make it well. Not to mention a new cable. Firehouse and grade 8 bolts would be better but don't have near as good "ring" to them. Firehouse won't stand as many hits as you would think.

 

[CHRIS_WNC]

The new place that I work has fricken lasers so we cut up a few targets out of some 3/8" AR500 that I had from my days in the ballistic lab. Just got them painted and the fire hose thing worked out. From left to right: Harambe, Pac-Man ghost, little coyote, poop emoji, and a space ship.

I'm working on some t-post hangers now and trying to figure out other ways to hang them around the farm.

CHRIS