PORTABLE Steel Target Stand ?

[Turkeytider]

Use and recommend? Thanks much!

 

[Chuck R.]

What size of steel and how portable?

I have multiple types.

These from Made TGTs are good IF you use larger plates and want complete mobility for setting up CoFs:

Collapsible Folding Target Stand | MADE Targets

madetargets.com

For more static, but still "portable" these hang on "T" posts and I use them for rifle practice at varying distances.

You can direct mount using a bolt, or hang with a 3-link piece of chain. They work very well.

Standard Hanger | Hang Fast Targets

Hang Fast Standard T Post hanger fits all forged T Post providing ease of installation and superior target performance using a variety of hanging methods.

hangfasttargets.com

Not so portable, but moveable for CoFs and they work very well for running drills:

 

[Remington1911]

In the rifle section so I assume rifle. This can go from 22lr up to a bazooka. I can tell you that what lives just fine with 223 will not stay standing up if you hit it with 45-70.

Need more info, most of what posted here are hand gun things. Perhaps I am wrong thinking in the rifle section he wants to hit something with a rifle.

 

[Chuck R.]

In the rifle section so I assume rifle. This can go from 22lr up to a bazooka. I can tell you that what lives just fine with 223 will not stay standing up if you hit it with 45-70.

Need more info, most of what posted here are hand gun things. Perhaps I am wrong thinking in the rifle section he wants to hit something with a rifle.

Wrong.

The majority of what I posted is for rifle, minus the Lolli-pops and even they are AR500 and I shoot them with .223-300WM (at 200yds). The quality and thickness of the steel determines the rating. Mine I posted are all AR500 3/8s and .5"... all rifle rated steel. He wanted portable stands, but here's some more static:

Really "Semi Static" because they're just "T" posts and a 4 minute installation. My static targets I mounted on sections of grader blades with spring mounts like this one:

Take the same steel, same stands, run them up a hill like this one, and Walla! Rifle tgts from 200-600yds:

A couple of pictures of us shooting the SAME TGTs and SAME Stands in "Rifle" mode:

.45-70 is "kid's Stuff" how about .45-100:

Now, IF you've got some legitimate reason why what I posted doesn't work for rifles, I'd love to see it, or am I missing something?????

 

[taliv]

for portable rifle targets, i still prefer making a sawhorse out of 4' sticks of rebar, and hanging the target from a strap of conveyor belt or firehose

 

[.38 Special]

This is my 8" (iirc) AR500 piece, on a homemade stand of threaded steel pipe. It's somewhat unwieldy, but can still be tossed into the trunk and lugged downrange without too much trouble. I hit it on a regular basis with what amounts to a .45-100, but have not tried it with jacketed centerfire rifle rounds.

(The artwork was done by my then-seven year old, who thought the shape looked like a bear. When I asked him why the bear was sad, he said "Cause he's gonna get shot." So of course I only shoot at the other side.)

 

[berettaprofessor]

I used these Fullbow kits with one inch metal electric conduit to make a stand that works really well and would be portable.

I also have one of these Birchwood-Casey target stands, which you can insert either 1X2's or 2X4's into to hold targets (although the linked one only holds 1X2's). Mine wasn't originally adjustable width like this one but I cut the center bar and put an "L" clamp across it just like the picture.

This one is actually cheaper and nicer. Wish it had been available 8 years ago.

And I saw a massive one tonight at the Bushnell outlet, a Champion stand, made for 2X4's and $50 at the outlet.

 

[Chuck R.]

I used these Fullbow kits with one inch metal electric conduit to make a stand that works really well and would be portable.

I also have one of these Birchwood-Casey target stands, which you can insert either 1X2's or 2X4's into to hold targets (although the linked one only holds 1X2's). Mine wasn't originally adjustable width like this one but I cut the center bar and put an "L" clamp across it just like the picture.

This one is actually cheaper and nicer. Wish it had been available 8 years ago.

And I saw a massive one tonight at the Bushnell outlet, a Champion stand, made for 2X4's and $50 at the outlet.

I've got similar that came with my KYL Rack. They assemble quickly and work well. JC Steel TGTs where I've been getting my NRL22 TGTs from makes similar and a bunch of other hanger/stand hardware:

Racks/Kits - JC Steel Targets

jcsteeltargets.com

His animal TGT mounts for "T" posts are pretty cool:

 

[Remington1911]

Wrong.

The majority of what I posted is for rifle, minus the Lolli-pops and even they are AR500 and I shoot them with .223-300WM (at 200yds). The quality and thickness of the steel determines the rating. Mine I posted are all AR500 3/8s and .5"... all rifle rated steel. He wanted portable stands, but here's some more static:

Really "Semi Static" because they're just "T" posts and a 4 minute installation. My static targets I mounted on sections of grader blades with spring mounts like this one:

Take the same steel, same stands, run them up a hill like this one, and Walla! Rifle tgts from 200-600yds:

A couple of pictures of us shooting the SAME TGTs and SAME Stands in "Rifle" mode:

.45-70 is "kid's Stuff" how about .45-100:

Now, IF you've got some legitimate reason why what I posted doesn't work for rifles, I'd love to see it, or am I missing something?????

Those are different photos from what you posted above with

 

[jmorris]

All of these are portable, the legs fold up in the racks to load them in the truck. The wheels help if your are some distance from the truck fo use vs loading/unloading.

Auto reset targets

www.youtube.com

This one is quite a bit lighter, uses EMT for the legs with these brackets.


It lets one see hits at a distanc, when the AR500 plate is hit, it rocks back to show the red flasher, the black covers it at rest.

 

[Chuck R.]

Those are different photos from what you posted above with
View attachment 1172151

Guy, seriously??

It's the SAME TGTS and SAME stands!!!!!!

You're inability to visualize the ability to shoot the same TGTs with a different weapon and distance is sort of mindboggling... had you bothered to click on the source links I provided, you might have gotten it.. then again probably not.

 

[doubleh]

I built mine using a piece of 1" galvanized scrap pile pipe for the hanger bar. I drilled it and installed 4 "J" hooks to hold either I or 2 swingers using steel chain. I drilled and tapped it on the bottom to install !/4" bolts as close to the ends as I could to act as stops for the leg holders I made from flat washers large enough to slip over the pipe and screw head. I welded two 6" pieces of 1/8 X 3/4" flat bar on each washer in a "V" pattern to slide legs made from 3/4" electrical conduit onto and a circular ring on top to make them easy to carry. The entire thing can be carried in one arm load and It's very sturdy when set up. Not many dollars were involved in the construction.

I have also used the rubber straps to hang swingers but when they are shot apart they will be replaced with chain as it makes the targets easier to carry.

 

[Remington1911]

Guy, seriously??

It's the SAME TGTS and SAME stands!!!!!!

You're inability to visualize the ability to shoot the same TGTs with a different weapon and distance is sort of mindboggling... had you bothered to click on the source links I provided, you might have gotten it.. then again probably not.

 

[Riomouse911]

This is my 8" (iirc) AR500 piece, on a homemade stand of threaded steel pipe. It's somewhat unwieldy, but can still be tossed into the trunk and lugged downrange without too much trouble. I hit it on a regular basis with what amounts to a .45-100, but have not tried it with jacketed centerfire rifle rounds.

(The artwork was done by my then-seven year old, who thought the shape looked like a bear. When I asked him why the bear was sad, he said "Cause he's gonna get shot." So of course I only shoot at the other side.)

View attachment 1171809

I do the same with 48” to 60” vertical pieces and a wider 24” cross-piece. It hangs my full torso 1/2” AR-550 plate target perfectly using 4”x14” lengths of conveyor belt material looped over the pipe and a grade 8 bolt.

Stay safe.

 

[.38 Special]

I do the same with 48” to 60” vertical pieces and a wider 24” cross-piece. It hangs my full torso 1/2” AR-550 plate target perfectly using 4”x14” lengths of conveyor belt material looped over the pipe and a grade 8 bolt.

Stay safe.

I threw my back out just reading that.

 

[Riomouse911]

I threw my back out just reading that.

Ya, those two plates are about 35-40 pounds each.

They take a beating though!

Stay safe.

 

[barnfrog]

OP has probably already made his choice, but here's what I use for handgun and rifle in case anyone else is looking for options. I was on the same quest and saw some high-impact plastic brackets that worked with rebar. Figured I could make it cheaper. The brackets are 2x8 sandwiched between pieces of 3/8" plywood to keep them from splitting. Assembles and disassembles quickly and is very portable, I'd guess 15 pounds total weight with the chains and target.

 

[Remington1911]

OP has probably already made his choice, but here's what I use for handgun and rifle in case anyone else is looking for options. I was on the same quest and saw some high-impact plastic brackets that worked with rebar. Figured I could make it cheaper. The brackets are 2x8 sandwiched between pieces of 3/8" plywood to keep them from splitting. Assembles and disassembles quickly and is very portable, I'd guess 15 pounds total weight with the chains and target.
View attachment 1178663

What size rifle? I have a feeling that anything starting with a .3 stands a good chance of knocking that over. I totally LOVE the idea of the target having the ability to really swing. That tends to be something you loose when you go to chain, that extra mass makes for less movement. I just think with that setup the mass and speed of the steel, your movement are is going to have some oomph, do you drive the legs into the ground.

I really like my targets to move, with hand gun rounds I really like cable, and I have found you can get by with 8mm steel cable with handgun targets, and even be ok for something light like 224, but when the power goes up from there the steel will not hold. Doubled up the steel cable will go with 243, one of the "softer" center fire rounds past 223 IMHO.

For a long time I used para cord on the pistol targets, the thicker stuff holds real well, lasts a good long time with all the "fibers" and just the way that line is made. And with the reduced weight really lets the steel move. That is the cool part.

Pretty much everything I have now is rated for rifle, got tired of poking holes in something and then going, well darn I thought that was the heavy stuff.

I just quit screwing with it and hung everything with chain.

I use parts of an old trampoline. Now you know why everyplace in the country has a bunch of junk laying around, you can use that for something. It really holds quite well, and I welded some bolts to hold the targets. I repaired some of the damage over the years to the frame from friends....yea thats it, friends, now shut up. The bottom photo was during the I am still going to use cable phase.

If you look to the left on the bottom photo you will see a bit of angle welded to one of the legs, this is mild steel about 1/4 thick. It does the trick at protecting the legs from everything but centerfire rifle, but I decided it was just too darn heavy to armor the rest of them up. These things get a great deal of use.

 

[Turkeytider]

As the OP, many thanks to all for the suggestions and taking the time to input. Turns out, at the range where I shoot, steel targets are swingers mounted on rebar. I bought a couple of gongs, some lengths of chain and some carabiners and simply loop the chain around the existing rebar target stands. All I carry to the range are the 6" and 4" gongs. No need for a frame. Thanks again everybody!

 

[jmorris]

These are portable too, the racks fold up to fit in a truck or I can just put them on a trailer, What I generally do with the one that has wheels on it.

Auto reset targets

www.youtube.com

 

[barnfrog]

What size rifle? I have a feeling that anything starting with a .3 stands a good chance of knocking that over. I totally LOVE the idea of the target having the ability to really swing. That tends to be something you loose when you go to chain, that extra mass makes for less movement. I just think with that setup the mass and speed of the steel, your movement are is going to have some oomph, do you drive the legs into the ground.

I really like my targets to move, with hand gun rounds I really like cable, and I have found you can get by with 8mm steel cable with handgun targets, and even be ok for something light like 224, but when the power goes up from there the steel will not hold. Doubled up the steel cable will go with 243, one of the "softer" center fire rounds past 223 IMHO.

For a long time I used para cord on the pistol targets, the thicker stuff holds real well, lasts a good long time with all the "fibers" and just the way that line is made. And with the reduced weight really lets the steel move. That is the cool part.

Pretty much everything I have now is rated for rifle, got tired of poking holes in something and then going, well darn I thought that was the heavy stuff.

I just quit screwing with it and hung everything with chain.

I use parts of an old trampoline. Now you know why everyplace in the country has a bunch of junk laying around, you can use that for something. It really holds quite well, and I welded some bolts to hold the targets. I repaired some of the damage over the years to the frame from friends....yea thats it, friends, now shut up. The bottom photo was during the I am still going to use cable phase.

If you look to the left on the bottom photo you will see a bit of angle welded to one of the legs, this is mild steel about 1/4 thick. It does the trick at protecting the legs from everything but centerfire rifle, but I decided it was just too darn heavy to armor the rest of them up. These things get a great deal of use.


View attachment 1178680

View attachment 1178681

So far, the heaviest I have used is .243 75-grain bullets with a MV around 3000 fps. I'll have to try it with the .30-06 next time I'm at the range. Yes, the ends of the legs are sharpened a bit so I can push them into the ground a good bit.