smarcus3 Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 (edited) 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smarcus3 Posted September 19, 2012 Author Share Posted September 19, 2012 (edited) 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwx40x40 Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smarcus3 Posted September 19, 2012 Author Share Posted September 19, 2012 Absolutely. I am going to be shooting 100+ .223 this weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKT1106 Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smarcus3 Posted September 19, 2012 Author Share Posted September 19, 2012 (edited) 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mscott Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smarcus3 Posted September 19, 2012 Author Share Posted September 19, 2012 Makes sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerritm Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 If you can find used fire hose it makes a good hanger for the steel. Will take many hits. gerritm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smarcus3 Posted September 19, 2012 Author Share Posted September 19, 2012 Where would I find that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerritm Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smarcus3 Posted September 19, 2012 Author Share Posted September 19, 2012 thanks for the insight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Snyder Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 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... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smarcus3 Posted September 19, 2012 Author Share Posted September 19, 2012 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flexmoney Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 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 ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smarcus3 Posted September 19, 2012 Author Share Posted September 19, 2012 I would think I could. I'm going to test as is. Wood is cheap and easily replaceable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griz Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmorris Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 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". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smarcus3 Posted September 20, 2012 Author Share Posted September 20, 2012 very cool. im jealous Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmorris Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smarcus3 Posted September 20, 2012 Author Share Posted September 20, 2012 Yup. I'll just try to be accurate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin c Posted September 21, 2012 Share Posted September 21, 2012 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smarcus3 Posted September 21, 2012 Author Share Posted September 21, 2012 I agree though im probably going to test without it just to see since the woods only 2 bucks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JesseCJC Posted September 22, 2012 Share Posted September 22, 2012 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smarcus3 Posted September 22, 2012 Author Share Posted September 22, 2012 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? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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