Target stands?

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Trey Veston

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Idaho/Washington border
I usually go out to my dad's place for shooting, but he is 12 miles away, and with his advanced age, he often forgets things and lately every time I go there to shoot, he gets angry over some random thing. Last time he yelled at me for his targets getting blown off by the 40 mph wind gusts last week. Not sure why that was my fault.

There is a small gravel pit about 2 miles from my house on the way back from my FFL that I've stopped at to throw a few rounds downrange at.

But, I am often needing to sight in a new optic or check out a new load, so I needed a portable bench, chair, and stands that fit in the back of my 4Runner.

Ordered a folding table off of Amazon for $50, then bought a $20 folding chair at WalMart. Found a nice set of shooting bags online for $24.

But, needed target stands. Not really interested in ringing steel or reactive stuff at the little gravel pit. All my shooting has to be with a purpose these days, such as verifying a new weapon is functioning, sighting in new optics, or verifying accuracy of a new load.

LGS had a set of 52" stands that you just clip pieces of cardboard into. Then you attach your targets to the cardboard. $22. Perfect! They were from ReVersa.

Got those, then cut up the box that the folding table arrived in. But, what about targets? My dad has cases of NRA targets, but didn't want to bother with him, so looked around and was amazed at how expensive paper targets were. Thought about printing out targets, but didn't want to drain my ink cartridge.

Ended up buying a 100 pack of cheap paper plates for $2.68, then another $1.94 for 350 neon 3/4" circle stickers, and a package of 50 thumb tacks.

Yes, they look cheap and white trash, but they are all I need for sighting in pistol optics and checking out load accuracy.

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Will be trying them out tomorrow. I'm sure they will be better than my old method of just drawing circles on a cardboard box and putting some rocks in the bottom so it doesn't blow away.

When I had my own property out in the country, I would enjoy building some pretty cool target stands out of PVC pipe and rebar, but this should work.

Not sure about the table, though. Not stable at all. I may just relegate it to camping duties and buy an actual folding shooting bench.

Curious as to what kind of stands people have used that are portable and how they like them.
 
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I used pvc to make a frame...couple 1x2 sticks with cardboard stapled to them to hold paper targets.

Also use shepherds hooks with 8in gongs if I'm shooting steel.
 
Is it illegal to use political sign's as a backer in most places? Being made out of plastic, they won't get limp from the rain and they last forever.

Bill

I wanted to grab a bunch of Biden signs last election, but ironically, his signs were flimsy plastic sheeting pulled over metal framing. Nothing of substance to attach targets to. The Trump and Republican signs were gathered and disappeared the day after the election. Never got a chance to get any.
 
I used a folding table for a couple of years and a tripod stool as my portable shooting bench, though not as stable as a heavy range bench it was stable enough to rifle loads at 200 yds. That set up also allowed me to shoot 550 yds in my friends corn field. The last target stand i built wasn't portable, but I've seen guys build wood stands that slide into itself held together with decking screws.
 
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Trey, I have a Jaw horse that I’m going to use at my place. I’ll build a table top that can be secured in the jaws. It will be rock solid. This tool is a great invention. I use mine for all sorts of jobs. And it will fold up and fit in the back of your rig easily.
https://www.amazon.com/Rockwell-JawHorse-Portable-Material-Support/dp/B007XRFQKW

I found a Caldwell Stable Table for less than 25 bucks more than the jaw horse costs last year. It will fit in the back of my 2 door jeep when disassembled and like it's name is stable.

I have been using paper plates for targets for years. My wife uses a lot of paper plates and most of them are almost clean enough to use again after a meal and it bothered me to just throw them in the trash. I use different sized flat washers for a bulls eye pattern. Mark around them with a magic marker and paint in the center with tempra paint. I just made up a bunch of 3" targets for pistol shooting. last week. It's a dirt cheap method for having targets.
 
PVC worked for me. Well, plus rebar for counterweights. And a cheap miterbox with saw. Cost to build on stand in '16 was about $32. Some outdoor blank signs and wire ties.
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The base is the only one that is cemented together. 2 each 2 ft. rebar duct taped together acts as a counterbalance to shift, depending on which way the wind is blowing. Stays upright with 25 mph wind. 35 gust, no dice. :D
 

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I wanted to grab a bunch of Biden signs last election, but ironically, his signs were flimsy plastic sheeting pulled over metal framing. Nothing of substance to attach targets to. The Trump and Republican signs were gathered and disappeared the day after the election. Never got a chance to get any.
I kept mine up for days. Lol in my area there's still a lot of Trump signs out. And flags.

I just use good ol fashioned wood for target stands. Once I shoot them apart, I build another.
 
I use political signs after the election, or ad signs on wire frames which are illegally placed on people's properties along roadways in our neighborhood and which I consider litter.

Both are light weight and easily inserted into the ground. The plastic sign materials themselves are easy to staple targets onto.
 
OP, that’s perfect way to make portable target stands for a quick run to an impromptu range :thumbup:.

Most of my paper target stands are 1”x2” Metal (rectangle tube) welded to 3/4” angle iron in an H pattern like the pvc or Amazon examples above. using 1x2 wood lath with cardboard stapled to it and all is great.

My round plates use a 2x4 with a steel spike base and a steel topper with hook to hold the plates.

I also have three milk crates filled with small scale silhouettes for handguns and rimfires and a dueling tree with centerfire handgun and rimfire paddles I can swap out.

No mess, and every range trip is a different set up so it can be as easy snd challenging as I want.

The downside? The stuff is heavy. Now if I could only find a pack mule rental to help schlep it all out from the pickup truck to where I’m shooting o_O.

Stay safe.
 
[QUOTE="Trey Veston, post: 11896427, member: 245544"

"... Yes, they look cheap and white trash, but they are all I need for sighting in pistol optics and checking out load accuracy." [/QUOTE]

Look downright smart to me. You're getting it done on the cheap and with good portability.
 
Check out local yard sales and pick up an old folding lawn chair for a couple bucks. They make great target stands.
Set up the chair and use the back rest to hang your targets. When done shooting, fold flat and load it in the back of your 4Runner.
 
Rural King near me sells short lengths of rebar with the little loops built in. Very nice for use on the rifle range at our club.
 
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