Farmer Posted September 24, 2020 Share Posted September 24, 2020 (edited) How long are the legs on most target stands? I’m building some and most pictures I’ve measured they seem around 2-2 1/2 feet which to me is too short. I’m thinking min 3’ with some angled tubes to stake them down. Any Suggestions? Edited September 24, 2020 by Farmer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnnaBugeisha Posted September 24, 2020 Share Posted September 24, 2020 I was thinking about making some of these - side uprights are 4’ each Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Intheshaw1 Posted September 24, 2020 Share Posted September 24, 2020 I made some 2x4 ones with the cheap furring strips for the up rights. I want to say each leg is 2 feet. I want to say 2 2x4s made 3 sets along with a handful of furring strips. Might have cost me 10 bucks for everything a few years ago. If you think 2 feet is too short, drill some holes in the legs so you can stake them into the ground. I build all my target stands that way and I've done this for the regular stands, plate rack and swinger I built. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmer Posted September 24, 2020 Author Share Posted September 24, 2020 I should have noted that I was making the bases from angle iron and using furring strips for the uprights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chills1994 Posted September 24, 2020 Share Posted September 24, 2020 52 minutes ago, Farmer said: I should have noted that I was making the bases from angle iron and using furring strips for the uprights. We are talking “H” style target stands, right? whatever you do...MAN! for Pete’s sake! weld the steel tubing or channel iron “pockets” for the furring strips on the inside of the angle iron “H” so that the stands can nest together or nest on top of each other. If you weld the pockets on top of the angle iron or in the angle iron, the stands won’t be able to nest together. That makes it a total PITA to store and transport. If you don’t mind lugging a cordless drill or impact with you, then you can use just lag screws or Spax landscape timber screws to secure the stand to the ground. Here is my old first person video of me using lag screws to fasten down one of my “V” target stands : Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AHI Posted September 24, 2020 Share Posted September 24, 2020 The commercial "H" style target feet are 20 inch long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmer Posted September 25, 2020 Author Share Posted September 25, 2020 6 hours ago, AHI said: The commercial "H" style target feet are 20 inch long. Thanks AHI that’s what I was looking for and that’s even shorter than my guesstimate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmer Posted September 25, 2020 Author Share Posted September 25, 2020 10 hours ago, Chills1994 said: We are talking “H” style target stands, right? whatever you do...MAN! for Pete’s sake! weld the steel tubing or channel iron “pockets” for the furring strips on the inside of the angle iron “H” so that the stands can nest together or nest on top of each other. If you weld the pockets on top of the angle iron or in the angle iron, the stands won’t be able to nest together. That makes it a total PITA to store and transport. If you don’t mind lugging a cordless drill or impact with you, then you can use just lag screws or Spax landscape timber screws to secure the stand to the ground. Here is my old first person video of me using lag screws to fasten down one of my “V” target stands : Yes, H style and also Yes, uprights on inside to make them stackable. Might make a couple adjustable width for smaller targets too. I like your V holder but with our sandy ground I’d probably need a longer lag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chills1994 Posted September 25, 2020 Share Posted September 25, 2020 (edited) 21 minutes ago, Farmer said: Yes, H style and also Yes, uprights on inside to make them stackable. Might make a couple adjustable width for smaller targets too. I like your V holder but with our sandy ground I’d probably need a longer lag. I had thought of making some target stands in an H design out of steel tube that was rectangular in cross section...say like 1” by 3” and welding rectangular caps on each end. Then filling the inside with lead birdshot. Maybe drilling a hole big enough for a hex nut to be welded over...and the inside of the hex nut still big enough to accept a funnel. Once enough birdshot is in the tubes, then thread in a bolt to the welded down hex nut. The alternative would be larger diameter black gas pipe threaded at both ends. Weld the horizontal “bar” of the H to one black gas pipe (or both to form the H shape). Weld the furring strip pockets in place. Screw on two gas pipe caps, pour in lead birdshot, then screw on the last two caps. Of course, if you have to buy your own birdshot, that would probably be prohibitively expensive. Edited September 25, 2020 by Chills1994 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasdawg Posted September 25, 2020 Share Posted September 25, 2020 I used PVC pipe and cut my uprights from 1" x 2" x 6' wood strips cut in half at three foot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiker88 Posted September 26, 2020 Share Posted September 26, 2020 I’ve had pvc stands in the past and they work. But they’re a little too bulk to transport in my tiny car. I’ve since replaced them with steel folding stands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George16 Posted September 26, 2020 Share Posted September 26, 2020 I welded some angle iron and flat bar for my target stands. I also used a 1x2 rectangular rube for the furring strips. I also drilled holes on each end of the angle iron for spikes. Here’s a pic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zardoz Posted October 8, 2020 Share Posted October 8, 2020 Instead of spiking the stand into the dirt, I have some canvas bags loaded with sand to hold the stand in place. Pour the sand into some plastic garbage bag(s) so it doesn't leak out all over the place first. The canvas bags have a drawstring at the top. They weigh about 15-20 lbs. each, just put one on each side. Works great, been using them for years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteelCityShooter Posted October 8, 2020 Share Posted October 8, 2020 On 9/25/2020 at 8:33 PM, hiker88 said: I’ve had pvc stands in the past and they work. But they’re a little too bulk to transport in my tiny car. I’ve since replaced them with steel folding stands. One trick for making compact PVC pipe stands is not to glue the upright posts to the base or the cross brace at both ends and just rely on a friction fit. They come apart easily for transportation or storage but are plenty secure in use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zardoz Posted October 8, 2020 Share Posted October 8, 2020 Exactly SCS. Just glue up some essential joints and leave the rest as friction fit. The friction fit joints stay together very well when shooting, even during rather stiff breezes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeSoop Posted November 13, 2020 Share Posted November 13, 2020 On 9/24/2020 at 6:17 AM, OnnaBugeisha said: I was thinking about making some of these - side uprights are 4’ each Nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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