question about backing material for a target range setup

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John G C 1

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The pistol range I go to has a four by eight foot wooden frame that we tack a foam sheet onto. Then there is a large sandy berm behind it. Obviously the foam gets shot up pretty quickly.

Online I found linatex. Do you simply buy a 4 by 8 sheet and tack it up on the frame and then attach targets to the rubber? Bullets go through and then it self-heals??

Seems like it would be perfect. Am I correct here? Thank ytoiu
 
Until your post I had never heard of Linatex. After a search it appears there are many versions of it, and it seems to be some sort of latex rubber sheeting. I have no clue where to get it.

That said, for a sort of self-healing target backing on the face of my bullet trap(s) I just use horse stall mat. It's a thick rubber - maybe 1/2"(?) that comes in a 3x5 foot sheet. I buy it at Tractor Supply, but I would bet it's available at any store of that type.

Cut to fit with a razor knife. Staple paper targets directly to it.

It doesn't last forever, but a sight longer than styrofoam sheets I'd bet.
 
The pistol range I go to has a four by eight foot wooden frame that we tack a foam sheet onto. Then there is a large sandy berm behind it. Obviously the foam gets shot up pretty quickly.

Online I found linatex. Do you simply buy a 4 by 8 sheet and tack it up on the frame and then attach targets to the rubber? Bullets go through and then it self-heals??

Seems like it would be perfect. Am I correct here? Thank ytoiu

Surplus political signs come in all sizes, are more or less self healing and best of all signs are usually free for the asking at the end of election cycle. :)
52259287320_2bbf074930_z.jpg

I ran high power rifle matches for our club for years. Our target frames were 6' square IIRC. We stapled sail cloth to the frames and glued targets to the cloth but that is not practical for the member's general target frames where all shape and size of targets need to be attached.

Regards,
hps
 
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I think I'm gonna use this next time I build target stands. It was recommended on another forum. Sounded good.

I believe the above may be the same material we used on our sight in target frames but without the asphalt impregnation??
https://www.homedepot.com/p/1-2-in-x-4-ft-x-8-ft-Southern-Pine-Asphalt-Panel-A11230848096/206086210

This material lasted pretty well. One problem we had was some members (more possibly fence jumpers) were not selective about target placement. Often placed targets over support posts in a manner that their shots cut posts down much more often than necessary. We started using 10' 1x4's to hang the fiber board on providing a 1' gap between supporting posts. The 1x4's much easier and cheaper to replace.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/1-2-in-...oard-Sound-Barrier-Sheathing-206136/202090212

Regards,
hps
 
Realtor's signs are another good source, and come around sooner than the elections.
 
Surplus political signs come in all sizes, are more or less self healing and best of all signs are usually free for the asking at the end of election cycle. :)

You have to ask to take political signs. And only at the end of the election cycle, plus whatever local laws say about appropriate clean up times for political advertising. For example, I am allowed to get political signs after elections. But, I must wait a minimum of 1 week after the election. And I must notify where and when I am picking up signs. I use the signs for the same reason, target backers. I have never been charged to pickup signs although a mayoral candidate did try charging me 0.25 for every sign I scarffed. Local Magistrate axed that one quickly though.
 
I go down to the local quarry or concrete plant and ask for old conveyer belt. They give it away free, at my local plant they even cut it for me. I cut mine to fit with a utility knife. It also makes a great "run way" for wheelchairs on gravel.
 
Politician signs work well and they have their own bracket to stick into the berm.
Tape targets to that and good-to-go. Obviously do not take from private yards.

They are pretty much viewed as unsightly litter everywhere else after the election.
Once they are totally spent just fold them up to dispose and recycle the metal.
 
Homasote board is decent stuff as a backer.
For rubber sheeting 20mm is better than 15mm, as it hold staples better for longer (best of all is 25mm rubber conveyor sheet, if you can find surplussed material).
 
My gun club has switched to that chintzy orange safety fence material and clothes pins. :cuss::cuss:Talk about a sorry excuse for a target board. They did use 4' x 8' chip board ripped into two 2' x8' pieces so it would two target stands but it has become too expensive so they say. :thumbdown: The only reason I remain a member is because I shoot mostly steel gongs.
 
Linatex still exists?! The only time I have ever heard of it was for making the fuel tanks of British fighters self-sealing during the Battle of Britain. I would never have guessed it was still around 80+ years later.
 
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Local range has shredded tires piled in an angular manner maybe 10 ft thick, concrete backstop. You can shoot anything up to .375 H&H inside although I've shot .308 and it's plenty unpleasant. Apparently they have a "service" that puts in new shreds and comes back in a year, replaces it and scraps out spent bullets. Have no idea on costs. Joe
 
The pistol range I go to has a four by eight foot wooden frame that we tack a foam sheet onto. Then there is a large sandy berm behind it. Obviously the foam gets shot up pretty quickly.

Online I found linatex. Do you simply buy a 4 by 8 sheet and tack it up on the frame and then attach targets to the rubber? Bullets go through and then it self-heals??

Seems like it would be perfect. Am I correct here? Thank ytoiu

I am not sure of the application. Is it just a place to staple a paper target to or are you trying to hold sand behind the backer?
 
We built a berm a few years ago using old tires filled with dirt stacked like a bricks 2 layers thick, we attached the front and rear rows using various methods, it is still standing and we have had to put more dirt in as it settled, we use political signs for targets and get plenty the day after elections. We make our own targets from paper plates or print them from the net and have made templets for painting bullseyes.
 
First, link where I heard about linatex:
https://www.global.weir/products/product-catalogue/linatex-target-backing/


I guess I was not clear. Sorry about that. My range is looking for something to hang on a frame so that targets can be pinned to it but the material the targets are pinned to is not shot to pieces so easily.

Currently they mostly use blue foam board. As you can imagine, it does not take many shots to shoot out the blue board. The political signs work better; thanks for the tip.

I am just wondering if the self-healing rubber really works. The idea that you can shoot a hole in it and then the rubber is "liquid" enough to refill the bullet hole just sounds pretty unique.
 
The material that political and for sale signs works well. There is a State law here in Arkansas against putting signs on utility company poles and I used to remove any that I found. I always had target backers! The deal was that nails and staples were a hazard to a Lineman climbing that pole. Cardboard works ok too.
 
If you use the cow mats, don't shoot shot at it when its cold outside. A local range uses them and a few years ago I was there and a guy was trying to pattern his shotgun. shot bounded of and right back at us. No one was hurt but he stopped real quick. they now have a sign up to only use cardboard for shotguns.
 
Coroplast is what political signs are made of (also know as cor-x, corrugated plastic, or fluted polypropylene) and works well. Also corrugated cardboard works okay too. As for it getting holes in it…. Well yeah that’s sort of the point and you will need to replace it so try to stick with something cheap that you can replace frequently at a low cost.
 
I have been getting scraps of horse stall mats from some of the equestrian facilities that I work at.
They are dense rubber anywhere from1/2 to 1 inch thick. I will screw layers of them to old pallets. The rubber does a good job of decelerating projectiles and the berm behind the pallet does the rest.
I don't shoot big boomers in my back yard, but this works fine for small calibers.
 
The local water bottling plant gets the empty drink bottles on pallets that have thin cardboard spacers between layers and on top. They are the size of a standard pallet, so about 4X4. I use these as target backers though they get shot up fairly quickly. Still they are free and I can go and grab a stack of 100 or more any time I need some. Built a frame out of strapping with the bottom 3' above the ground with strapping on each side that pivots on the top and set up like a square artists easle. Have yet to break it after 5 years.
 
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