Homemade Steel Targets?

[Bubbatn]

Just curious if anyone has ever made, or attempted to make their own steel targets or any kind?

Edited October 27, 2010 by Bubbatn

[Guest Letereat!]

Ive given it quite a bit of thought. If you got a drill press it wouldnt be too difficult.

[Guest Letereat!]

a simple frame, two holes in your plate, and a couple of hangers that could easily be made from coat hangers etc.

This guy made a nice set.

http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/show-tell/44015-steel-targets-most-fun-ive-had-shooting.html

Edited October 24, 2010 by Letereat!

[gunrunner32]

I've made some out of some old plate armor and a plasma cutter. Never did make a clean cut and always ended up having sharp edges. Suprisingly enough, 300WM and 50BMG would go right through it all the way out to 600m. It's nice but there are places online to get it already cut and in stands for relatively cheap. I've got some of these now: Law Enforcement Targets, Inc.: F2, 42" HIGH VELOCITY STEEL RESET POPPER and these are fun too: Law Enforcement Targets, Inc.: MDHV-T DLX 6 PADDLE TREE

[Bubbatn]

Something like this is kinda what i'm thinking....simple but fun. Maybe make one for .22LR and abit heavier one for pistol calibers. Possibly even do 3-4 "paddles" for the .22LR one.

[Guest Letereat!]

Yea, I wondered what grade and thickness of steel you'd have to have to prevent holes with at least a .308. Those targets look to well worth the investment.

Nice!! Bubbah

[Guest Letereat!]

Make one two plates thick and lets see if it will hold up to a 7.62 x 39 round.

[ftncityfatboy]

Something like this is kinda what i'm thinking....simple but fun. Maybe make one for .22LR and abit heavier one for pistol calibers. Possibly even do 3-4 "paddles" for the .22LR one.

doesn't seem like a very good location for the target. that trailer looks too good to have it all shot up..........

[Alleycat72]

Yea, I wondered what grade and thickness of steel you'd have to have to prevent holes with at least a .308. Those targets look to well worth the investment.

Nice!! Bubbah

AR500.

[Mike]

I have several steel targets that I've made. That took some trial and error but thy all work as designed now.

Ar500 is a must if you are shooting a major caliber at it.

[Bubbatn]

I have several steel targets that I've made. That took some trial and error but thy all work as designed now.

You wouldn't happen to have any pics/specs of what you come up with do ya?

[Mike]

I'll get some pictures and post them up in the next couple of days.

[Bubbatn]

I'll get some pictures and post them up in the next couple of days.

Thanks!

[peejman]

A friend made some out of 0.25" mild steel plate which have held up to several years of handgun shooting. Make sure you angle the plates so that splatter/ricochets aren't a problem. I'd guess it would take 0.5" to withstand high powered rifle rounds.

[bigwakes]

I bought some steel plates from a scrap yard a couple years ago just to see what different rifles would do. I had 1/4 inch and 3/8. If I remember corectly the .223 ripped through the 1/4, but only steel core penetrators made it through the 3/8. 7.62x39 ripped through the 3/8 with FMJ surplus ammo. We didn't have them on a stand, just sitting on the birm. No pistol caliber made it through either including .50AE. Most of the pistol calibers were reloads, so not sure if they were up to factory specs or not.

[Bubbatn]

Well guys, After looking around the net at ALOT of homemade setups and others suggestions, I had my idea planned out(at least for my first target setup). I got the parts today to make the frame(which I will post pics of hopefully tonight after I get it put together), then i'm gonna test some ideas on the targets themselves and hopefully have this done and ready to try out this weekend.

[Mike]

If anyone is wanting to make their own targets and need stuff welded up in the MidTN area, PM me and I'll see what I can do to fix you up.

Mike

[Bubbatn]

Well guys, Here's what I got so far, This is just the frame...I'm going to be getting a guy at work to make me some spinner targets to go on there, hopefully before the weekend.

I'm still pondering on a way to actually attach the legs to the fittings(pretty sure you can't weld steel to iron, correct?). Anyways, I should be able to figure out something there. Here are the pics of the frame...

[Garufa]

Looks pretty good so far Bubba. That frame should stand up to center-fire hand gun rounds as opposed to your initial pic.

How tall is it? Got an extra plate to hang from it for Mosinating?

[Bubbatn]

Looks pretty good so far Bubba. That frame should stand up to center-fire hand gun rounds as opposed to your initial pic.

How tall is it? Got an extra plate to hang from it for Mosinating?

I am planning on having about 3 plates on there, but those will probably be only 1/4" for .22 plinking. If this one works out well, I will probably be making another single spinner for pistol rounds, and maybe eventually get something for some heavier rounds. I'll have to have something I can shoot with my new SKS...when I get it that is.

The frame is made of solid 1/2" roundbar, and iron "black pipe" fittings. Its 36" wide overall and about 16" tall.

[Mike]

Well guys, Here's what I got so far, This is just the frame...I'm going to be getting a guy at work to make me some spinner targets to go on there, hopefully before the weekend.

I'm still pondering on a way to actually attach the legs to the fittings(pretty sure you can't weld steel to iron, correct?). Anyways, I should be able to figure out something there. Here are the pics of the frame...

If you wanted to drive to Nashville they can be welded.

I'd drill a hole through both the T fitting and the leg and put a bolt through it. It won't be welded, but it won't fall off either. Do the same for the middle of the T bracket and your cross bar so when you shoot it it doesn't fold up on you. 1st pic.

or

If you wanted to get classy with it you can drill a single hole through all three, tap the leg and bolt the leg on through the fitting and cross bar. 2nd & 3rd pic.

Mike

Edited October 27, 2010 by Mike

[peejman]

What Mike said. Yes, it can be welded. But it would be easier to just drill holes and bolt it together, 3/16" bolts will work fine. It'll be far easier to take apart too.

[Bubbatn]

Ok guys, So I got to try out my new targets yesterday at the East TN GTG and they worked great. I couldn't be happier for no more than I have put into them. Anyways, Just thought I would update you guys on what I ended up with. Here are a couple more pics I took of the finished product.

[seez52]

nice,

I made a dueling tree for .22s out of 1/4 scrap. Works good. My son and I have dumped more than a couple of bulk packs in an afternoon, it's a lot of fun. Also made a lollipop for centerfire handguns. Used 1/2 round plate about 8" in diameter. Mounted it on one of those fiberglass electric fence posts from TSC (less than $2) then pushed it in the ground. After you nail it once it will swing around making a good moving target.

Been wanting to make a centerfire dueling tree, but all my scrap is 3/4 and that's a bit heavy for a 9mm to spin. Working on adding a bearing to make it go round easier.

[Guest KCSTEVE]

That is so cool! Nice Job!

It has an expensive farm implement look to it. I can see it painted John Deere green.

Mine is a little crude. I made mine with re-bar and welded it together so its not collapsible like yours.

I used 12"x12"x 1/2" cold rolled target on a chain. Bullet proof so far. Although a .223 nearly went through that 1/2" steel. 44 Mag just splatters but rings it like a church bell.

Edited November 16, 2010 by KCSTEVE