Target Stand

[WayBeau]

So, along the same lines as my last ? about sand bags, has anyone built their own target stands? I'm looking to build a portable target stand that can fit (easily) into the back of a Ford Explorer and still have room for the rest of my stuff (rifle, range bag, etc.) Anyone have a good design for one?

My initial thoughts were to build a frame that a piece of plywood could be attached to. When the plywood gets too shot up, take it off and replace it. I also thought about adding some folding legs so that it could lay flat during transport and wouldn't be so cumbersome to move. What do you all think?

 

[rcmodel]

Go recycle a wire frame political campaign sign or two off the side of the road somewhere.

http://www.politicalsign.com/signs/wire-frame-yard-signs/

If they wanted them, they should have picked them up after the last election by now!

They work great!

I replace the signboard with scrap cardboard when it gets shot out.

rc

 

[WayBeau]

Go recycle a wire frame political campaign sign or two off the side of the road somewhere.

http://www.politicalsign.com/signs/w...me-yard-signs/

If they wanted them, they should have picked them up after the last election by now!

They work great!

I replace the signboard with scrap cardboard when it gets shot out.

Yeah, I've all ready done that. I was looking to build something a little more sturdy. The range I went to this past weekend had REALLY hard soil in the target area and I watched a guy try for five minutes to get one of those sign frames into the dirt. I like ease of use.

 

[rcmodel]

http://theboxotruth.com/docs/edu24.htm

http://www.nwtf.org/tv_magazines/images/GITG_PVC_target_stand.pdf

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2009/02/build-a-simple-portable-pvc-target-stand/

http://www.alpharubicon.com/leo/pvctstandc.htm

rc

 

[WayBeau]

Thanks for the links. While the lazy part of me wants to just use the political signs, the tinkering side of me really wants to build something.

 

[rcmodel]

I have a little "Real portable" one I made out of wood furring strip.
The base is a 1"x2"x24" slotted on a table saw to press fit the 24"x18" cardboard backer into it.

The legs are two 1"x2"x14", screwed semi-loosely to each end of the base, and notched out 2" on the other ends to nest with each other when folded flat under the base.

They fold in on each other flat with the base for storage, and fold out 90 degrees each way for use.

It is great on a calm day, but you have to weight it down with rocks or something when the wind blows because it weighs next to nothing for it's size.

rc

 

[northark147]

I use real estate signs, of course obtaining those are slightly more difficult

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I built a portable stand out of 1/2" PVC. I made it so the legs come off. I drilled a holes in each side and put a bolt thru with a wing nut on them. I use the bolt to hold a piece of foamboard and the legs when I take it apart. I made the frame the same size as a certain standard size piece of foam board. I like foam board better than cardboard, because thumbtacks stick in it better. All totaled, the frame cost less than ten bucks to make....I also bought a bag of union fittings so I can patch any stray bullet damage.

I also drilled holes in the legs to put tent stakes thru on windy days.

 

[esheato]

A 2x4 cut and screwed together in an H pattern with furring strips for the vertical parts is about perfect. An ammo can, rock or whatever you have handy works to keep it from blowing over in the wind.

 

[hawkeye10]

I made my target stand out of PVC pipe. I use 1X1 pine strips from a home center for the uprights. Just make two T's from PVC and join them in the center. Make the upright about a foot tall and you just insert the 1X1 pine strips in the short PVC uprights. I use some small spring clamps screwed to the pine strips to hold a piece of cardboard that you staple your targets to. They stand up to the wind pretty good but can be blown over. I used screws on the PVC instead of glue so if need be I can take it apart to transport or repair it. Wish I had a picture I know you would understand better what I am talking about. Don

 

[rondog]

I make my range trips in a Silverado, so I can haul this thing no problem. But I got tired of flimsy stands that couldn't take hits, or blew over in the wind, so I made mine outta 2x4's. Very simple, the top is basically 2'X2', the sides are one 2x4 cut in half, and the base is made so the top frame part just fits into the base. It's basically two parts and fits well in the truck bed. Just drop the base where you want it, put the frame legs into it, and staple your targets to the cardboard. And the cardboard's mounted w/screws so I can replace it.

Works great. If the wind blows this one over, it's time to go home anyway.

 

[sscoyote]

Here's what i came up with--get 2 pieces of metal rod of some sort (rebar works great). Get 2 pieces of junk aluminum or steel tubing (electrical conduit works great here), Use any size cardboard u want for backers. Get a bag of large zip ties, and attach the cardboard to the conduit all along the edges. Size the whole system for whatever ranges u intend to shoot (i've made them as big as 5 ft. tall for long-range shooting).

Pound the metal rods into the ground, and slide the targets (tubing) over top of the rods. I also angle the rods away from each other slightly so the tubing holds better on it--probably not really needed though.

I also made up stencils from thin cardboard to paint the targets onto the cardboard.

 

[WayBeau]

I make my range trips in a Silverado, so I can haul this thing no problem. But I got tired of flimsy stands that couldn't take hits, or blew over in the wind, so I made mine outta 2x4's. Very simple, the top is basically 2'X2', the sides are one 2x4 cut in half, and the base is made so the top frame part just fits into the base. It's basically two parts and fits well in the truck bed. Just drop the base where you want it, put the frame legs into it, and staple your targets to the cardboard. And the cardboard's mounted w/screws so I can replace it.

Works great. If the wind blows this one over, it's time to go home anyway.

I like the look of this. Are you able to give me the dimensions of the base? How tall is it at the highest point?

 

[rondog]

I like the look of this. Are you able to give me the dimensions of the base? How tall is it at the highest point?

Really isn't hard or hi-tech. The frame is a standard 8ft. stud, cut in half. The cross pieces are 21", which gives you a 24"x24" frame with 4ft. sides. Then the base, I just built it so the frame would fit in it and so the base would have "feet" long enough so the wind wouldn't blow it over. Really, I just cobbled it together, the dimensions aren't critical at all.

The legs of the upright frame are 24" wide, so the center pieces of the base should be 24" long, maybe 24-1/4" max if you want a little "give". I put a couple pieces of scrap between them for spacers and to hold the frame legs in place, so those would be 21" from end to end, same as the inside dimensions of the frame legs.

The "feet" of the base, I think those are about 36" or so, I'm not really sure. I just went with "that looks long enough so the wind won't blow it over". I'm a member of a wonderful gun club, but it's in an area that can get pretty windy.



I used to have a frame built out of PVC pipe, this is what it was like in the wind. Watch this and decide if YOU want to deal with shooting at a flimsy target frame on a windy day. The camera was on a tripod and perfectly still. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRpmuiK0q2o

 

[Jim Watson]

I use H stands like escheato and rondog.
My upper is not as stout as rondogs, just a couple of furring strips slotted into the H base and held square by the cardboard IDPA target or backer for a bullseye.
Mine are based on IDPA/IPSC targets. It is 18.5" wide, inside. The end pieces are what is left over after cutting two 18.5" crossbars off a 6' 2x4; a little under 18".

 

[Fred Fuller]

http://www.firearmstactical.com/briefs29.htm has one pretty common plan (second article down).

We use 8' long 1X2" furring strips for uprights, cut in half into 4' lengths and set up narrow edge forward, with the target stapled to the uprights. The uprights get shot up over time and furring strips are cheaper to replace than 2X4s.

 

[CAR-AR]

Here is a couple of target stands I made. 8 ft of conduit and 2 2 foot long 4x4s:

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=153009&stc=1&d=1321667635

The cardboard lies flat in the back of my truck a dowel passed through the 4x4s makes for easy carry. I've never had one of these fall over yet.

 

[NCW Ray]

Here's the one I use. PVC Target Stand Video

 

[Blackhawk30]

I use the MTM break down model.It doesn't need a pickup to haul it around.About $15.

 

[jmorris]

This is the most compact one I have built. Using 1x2 stakes you can make it pretty big and you can run them in the bottom to make it very wind resistant as well (8' stakes can make the base 8'x8' and keep the "feet" further away from a stray bullet if the target is centered). In the 2nd photo it is the one on the right (the first stand is 50yd, 2nd 150, and it is @ 300), around 4'x6' in that configuration. The targets on the left and center at the same 300 yds are 12"x18" and 9"x9" steel.







The others I build are 18" wide and stack like the two below.

 

[chaser_2332]

http://www.acetargets.com/index.html

Some of the best tell him Chase sent you, we use these alot at matches hold up great and break down small

 

[jmorris]

Steel targets like that link are a different story. I build them like in the photos below. When hit the red backer flashes so even if you can't hear you know the target has been hit.