[Matt304]

Does anyone have any ideas for home-made Shoot-N-C targets?

They look just like a glossy underpaper with a waxy type of coating. I imagine that any coating which won't adhere well to the glossy underlayer will probably work, though I'm not sure how well.

These things are just too expensive to keep buying. :cool:

[highorder]

that makes me want to glue wax paper to cardstock and spray paint it flat black...

I will report back!

[rondog]

No kidding! I like 'em, but don't like buying 'em. I'd love to know how to make my own, or at least find a source to buy 'em in bulk for a good price. I need a bunch of big ones for 100+ yard rifle use.

[stevemis]

Get your C&R (Curio and Relic) License and set up an account with Brownells. You can buy these targets in bulk at a significant savings from them.

[Matt304]

Get your C&R (Curio and Relic) License and set up an account with Brownells. You can buy these targets in bulk at a significant savings from them.

It may be a little easier to buy them, but I figure if you can come up with an easy method, why not make them yourself?

I need to make some giant ones for 500+ yards.

Basically if you can find the right material to make the neon yellow backing, the covering spray is probably easy to figure out. The shock from the bullet should flake it off pretty well, so long as it doesn't adhere too well.

Any ideas on a glossy, bright yellow back?

My first idea is to use neon yellow construction paper, then cover it in some way with a clear glossy sheet of some sort. You could just use packaging tape I suppose.

I'm just trying to think of who sells stacks of neon yellow construction paper locally. I imagine they will be assorted colors usually.

[Jim Watson]

Insulation board.

See at
http://www.long-range.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=7341

[Matt304]

Jim Watson, that is an excellent find. Thanks!

[BSlacker]

I use tempura paints. First I put down a layer of packaging tape then use a bright green coat. After that drys put on a layer of black. The black chips off and the green stretches on the tape and is visible.
I have to admit that it is a lot of trouble and I buy the ones Midway sells. :)

[uncowboy]

with pics. I have the pics in my computer and I have no clue how to post them.
TaRGETS ARE EASY. i TOOK Z BOARD OR the plastic ciggeret signs at the corner store . I cut out the silohuetts I want. I wrap them with Pallet wrap- BIG ROLL OF SARAN WRAP! I used rubber cement around the edges of the target then streched the saran wrap around the target tight. Let dry. Trim off excessive saran wrap. Spray paint the entire silohette and let dry. When you shoot it the bullet pokes a small hole in the plastic board Virtually reseals itself The paint chips off the plastic wrap and the backround color od the plastic target shows through. Tape with scotch tape and repaint and you are good to go again. J.Michael

[Matt304]

uncowboy,

Look down at the button that says, Manage Attachments, when you are making a post. Then click Browse. Find the files on your computer and it will attach them.

[FuzzyBunny]

I'm interested too.

I thought it was magic.

[Davandron]

I know this is an old thread, but this topic come up every few months so instead of starting a new topic, I thought I'd keep things together. :)

In my searching of how to make "Shoot-N-C" type of targets, I thought I'd track down the original idea in patents. I found three significant patents:

5,275,890 - Gun target with contrasting backing (http://www.google.com/patents?id=3IAfAAAAEBAJ)
The idea in this patent is that you have two layers separated by some space. The first sheet is ideally paper, and the second is ideally bright plastic. The paper will tear but the plastic will stretch, leaving holes of different sizes and revealing the plastic's color.

5,501,467 - Highly visible, point of impact, firearm target (http://www.google.com/patents?id=ZCUcAAAAEBAJ)
This patent has a two-layer target, with back layer of bright color, and a front layer made of shatter-prone resin that is attached to the target at the periphery. Because its only attached at the edges, the impact sites will crack off and fall away. I wonder how they keep the chunks small enough in size.

5,580,063 - Reusable projectile impact reflecting target (http://www.google.com/patents?id=k4olAAAAEBAJ)
This is Birchwood's actual patent on the Shoot-N-C targets. Their targets are a light paper backing coated with a fluorescent ink, covered by a layer of polypropylene film. A layer of a silicone-based release agent is applied and then coated with shatter-prone resin that is painted in a contrasting color. Finally they seal it all with a varnish to repel water / humidity.

The plastic layer seems to be the actual back layer; I think the paper is just used to hold the adhesive. The patent mentions that using a release agent under the resin is contrary to thinking but improves the target's function.

Reading this patents gets a few ideas going for me. I will say that I've tried the tempera paint on plastic and wax paper; both were complete failures. A thin coating of paint would bead-up on both surfaces (no surprise; its water-based paint) but thick coatings would flake off in huge chunks and were not stable.

The first patent could be duplicated with little effort; its just two layers of target material. But I wonder how effective it is. The shatter-prone resins are the key in the commercial targets, and I think warrant some investigation.

[Davandron]

Found another old patent that might be useful

3423092 - Self Marking Target (http://www.google.com/patents?id=4al0AAAAEBAJ)
In this target, a layer of bright, foam rubber is placed behind a regular paper target. The rubber will close back up after the shot and show through the hole in the paper. The cool thing about this is it could be very reusable; you just replace the paper front target as needed (moving the center around to spread out holes) and can use whatever target you want.

I'm thinking a homemade would be made from the same stuff that the Just Shoot Me targets are made from (which I theorize is a stretchy, silicone-rubber like Dragon Skin). The only bad side is that the silicone rubber backing could be expensive.

[Lucky]

Well that last one 3423092 is obviously expired, so no guilt ripping the idea off.

They sell bright-coloured pieces of 8.5x11" rubber foam at dollar stores in the craft section, 4 for a dollar iirc.

Same for 8.5x11" paper, felt markers, and scotch tape. A few bucks and you could make a whole whack of targets.

[Davandron]

Oh, no one should worry about doing what they say in a patent; that's kinda the point. With a patent, the government gives you a short-term monopoly to profit from your invention in exchange for telling everyone exactly how it works (so that the field / science can advance).

My understanding is, as long as you aren't trying to sell your targets, there is nothing to worry about. Also, patents have a max life of 20 years (assuming you pay the fees every 4 years) and many of these may no longer be protected.

[tacweapon]

I have not tried it but I always thought that the fingerpaint paper that kindergarteners use would work. I am thinking of the black paper that you press or scratch and the various colors in the background appears, I dont know what this paper is called or if it is cheaper but its just an idea

[zombieoutfitters]

Sorry to resurrect an old post - but better than starting a dupe.

Another thought that comes to mind is perhaps a regular paper backing with a big bulls-eye of bright poster paint. Then print a target on a full page label and stick over the paper backing, thus covering the painted bullseye. Would the flaking paint of the bullseye provide enough contrast?

We're looking for ideas to create a reactive line of our Zombie Targets (http://www.zombieoutfitters.net), would've been great for our new Swine Flu Zombie (http://www.zombieoutfitters.net/sfz20p.html). :(

We've also considered a colored plastic backing...like overhead projector sheets...stick a label over it, or like the first patent maybe just adhere it to the edges with spray glue?

We've been so busy working on paper that we have not gotten to experiment yet...but will share any successes!

[bradster2256]

a old spray painted pan and a wooden stand to hold it up:-)