Forward-falling poppers

[kmc]

Our club has a number of forward-falling poppers but have had a few issues with them not always falling. The issues were generally caused by improperly resetting the poppers. We'd like to try some by a different design that might be more foolproof. One that we've seen work (at Area 3, for example) are forward leaning with a latch holding them in place. The latch protrudes through the lower portion of the popper. Is anyone familiar who offers this type of design or have suggestions on a different type that we should consider?

[Graham Smith]

We have some that are as you describe. They are made by GT Targets (not everything they make is on their web page) The main problem we seen with them is that the hook needs something to give it the ability to grab the target without slipping off. The original design used a knurled area on the hook but they were not reliable. The current design uses a rubber bumper which seems to work well but does pop off occasionally.

MGM Targets has a design that I am not familiar with, but odds are that if they make it, it works. But they are fairly expensive.

[Stage 3]

We have “GunSteel” forward falling poppers, they work great. Give Max Davidson at GunSteel a call. http://www.gunsteel.com/HOME.HTM

[Pat Miles]

We have “GunSteel” forward falling poppers, they work great. Give Max Davidson at GunSteel a call. http://www.gunsteel.com/HOME.HTM

Those are slick! Use your foot to reset the catch.

Pat

Edited January 27, 2014 by Pat Miles

[Chills1994]

I'll second the ones that Max at gunsteel.com makes

[kmc]

Thanks for the tips, I'll give Max a call tomorrow.

[a matt]

Those poppers look nice. The only issue is the biggest issue, not have level ground. You need to be able to adjust the hook to accommodate un-level ground. Imho

[Chills1994]

As Max's forward falling popper is set up in that picture, the bullets would be coming from the left side of the pic. The popper plate is already leaning forward against the point of the hook. The bullet strikes the popper plate back momentarily, just long enough for the hook to drop low enough that the yellow part slips through the slot in the popper plate. The plate is no longer restrained by the hook and it continues on its forward or downard falling path unabated.

[THEMULE]

I built one similar to above for our club but used all thread between the target and mounting point so it could be "calibrated". Mine also didn't look nearly as pretty.

[jabbermurph]

As Max's forward falling popper is set up in that picture, the bullets would be coming from the left side of the pic. The popper plate is already leaning forward against the point of the hook. The bullet strikes the popper plate back momentarily, just long enough for the hook to drop low enough that the yellow part slips through the slot in the popper plate. The plate is no longer restrained by the hook and it continues on its forward or downard falling path unabated.

We use a similar version at our club. a matt is correct. Unleveled ground is the main nemesis. We use broken pieces of target stand sticks to shim up the base before staking. Works well.