DIY Rifle Target

[smarcus3]

If this is in the wrong location please move it moderators and sorry for the inconvenience.

Since I am an engineer and I wanted to start shooting a steel target at a range by me (3 gun prep). However the range isn't my own I cannot leave my steel outside. I came up with the idea of a folding target holder and started to design. After a few designs I came up with the following.

Target in the completely folded position.

Starting to flatten out.

Standing up. Side chains are connected in this step.

Finished

Engineering drawings and more details to follow.

Edited September 19, 2012 by smarcus3

[smarcus3]

The following supplies are required to make this:

• 2 - 8' long 2x4s
  
• 4 - 1' long sections of chain
  [*}2 - Chain Hooks (see picture, cant think of correct name)
  
• 6 - hooks
  
• 1 - Shooting Steel Target
  
• 2 - 1.5" long bolts
  
• 4 - Washers
  
• 2 - Nuts
  
• 3 - Door Hinges
  
• Box of Wood Screws
  

Here is my design and specifications. Feel free to use.

Edited September 19, 2012 by smarcus3

[mwx40x40]

Nice design , I am intrigued. Could you report back in after a hundred or so rounds and let us know how it holds up? Reason I ask, is I built some wooden stands for pistol steel challenge targets and after repeated firing, the H designed bases loosened up. I put stiffners across all joints and it helped a lot.

[smarcus3]

Absolutely. I am going to be shooting 100+ .223 this weekend.

[PKT1106]

The wood frame is good for economics, but I wonder how many times you are going to need to replace various parts due to shrapnel hitting the uprights and feet. I would have gone with more of a cantilevered design to minimize the damage to the wod parts. Kind of like a U layimg on it's side. I am a mechanical engineer as well. Nice use of Solid Works.

[smarcus3]

Didn't think of that. We'll see what happens when I use it this weekend and I will modify it as required. Wood might be weak, but its cheap and light.

I'm a mech. engineer as well. Love inventor as its so easy to visualize something.

Edited September 19, 2012 by smarcus3

[mscott]

Hanging the target with nylon or rubber straps might be a better idea. They will take a few hits, where chains can be severed by 1 bullet.

[smarcus3]

Makes sense.

[gerritm]

If you can find used fire hose it makes a good hanger for the steel. Will take many hits.

gerritm

[smarcus3]

Where would I find that?

[gerritm]

Talk to your local fire department. They retire hoses regularly. May have some laying aroung that are bad or have leaks you can pick up cheap. I think if you google it you may be able to find some on Ebay, etc. 50' would go a long way. Not sure where our range got theirs, but it is used on all of the hanging steels.

gerritm

[smarcus3]

thanks for the insight.

[Les Snyder]

if you lower your chain mounting holes on the plate, the plate will hang with more of an angle to deflect rounds into the ground, and will help extend the plate life by lowering the absorbed energy...

[smarcus3]

if you lower your chain mounting holes on the plate, the plate will hang with more of an angle to deflect rounds into the ground, and will help extend the plate life by lowering the absorbed energy...

I don't have control over that as I currently buy the plate. I can play around with the mounting bolts to try and get the same effect.

[Flexmoney]

I fear the shrapnel will eat them up after a bit. I wonder if you could figure out an A-frame design for the up-rights on either side, vs the inverted-T ?

[smarcus3]

I would think I could. I'm going to test as is. Wood is cheap and easily replaceable.

[Griz]

Those light chains are going to get shot up quickly.... For rev 2.0, one of your requirements should be using the plate itself to protect the mount for the plate. Hanging the plates from hooks with their shanks horizontally mounted to a support behind the plate is one solution.

[jmorris]

For just you it should last a while. The one below is the simple design I use for 3 gun but I have had hits on the conduit legs before, even as close as 100 yds (NRA Police match). It's not as compact as your design though.

The copy of the larue is the one I use most. It stays setup here at home, I have charging ports and stick a solor charger on it every now and then.

As an engineer you might like the "guts".

[smarcus3]

very cool. im jealous

[jmorris]

Don't be just keep shooting. I have destroyed many targets before I could make ones that last.

The effort you put into yours will be for good use.

[smarcus3]

Yup. I'll just try to be accurate

[kevin c]

I built 3/4" plywood stands for some texas stars. They didn't last even a thousand pistol rounds before being chewed completely through. Solid wood might last a bit longer, but I'd bet against it holding up to rifle round spatter.

Covering the feet and supports where the spatter hits with metal, mebbe nothing more than screwed in mending strips, might protect the wood enough.

[smarcus3]

I agree though im probably going to test without it just to see since the woods only 2 bucks

[JesseCJC]

Nice design. I would worry about longevity as well but who knows how long it will last. I just use shephards hooks from home depot (6 bucks a pop) to hang my steel targets. I think they are 4 feet high and haven't given me any fits yet. Very compact and fit into the boot of my VW with ease.

[smarcus3]

I actually just bought 6 Sheppard's hooks as well and ordered 6 pistol targets. I don't think they are strong enough to hold a big rifle target though? What type of steel are you hanging?