Want to buy a dueling tree...pics inside!

[jmbrowning]

Trying to make our informal shoots a little more fun with "man" on "man" shoot-offs. I say "man" because the wives will be participating also.

I was looking for a dueling tree in rimfire. Should make for some cheap fun. I was thinking about a six-paddle tree for a 30 second shoot period. Looked on the internet and found a few targets.

Qualities I am looking for are:
low price
quality
easy to transport (don't want to leave them at the public range)
maybe upgradable to centerfire pistol
did I mention low price

Would it be easier to make my own? Where can I get the appropriate armor plate and plans?

How many of you all are using dueling trees with centerfire versus rimfire? Does rimfire have enough oomph to bring the centerfire paddles around or will I have to get both sets of paddles?

http://www.mgmtargets.com/dueltree.htm

costs $420 for 4 paddles and $500/6 paddles, 500 brinell (rifle ok)
looks nice but also is very pricey, shipping is included



http://www.metaltargets.com/DuelingTrees.htm

$100/4 paddles $130/6 paddles, $8/each paddle rimfire or centerfire
need to buy the paddles separately and shipping not included
can buy as a 3-in-1 combination target for rifle/pistol (paper hanger, IPSC/hostage taker armor plate, dueling tree)

http://www.speedwelltargets.com/DT.htm
$175-450
not much info on these on their website other than prices



http://www.outwestmfg.com/products.html#duelingtree

$79.95 + Main Target Base
The Dueling Tree comes with (4) 4" steel plates which swing side to side when hit. An extra set of four targets may be purchased. These targets are good for .22 ammunition only.
price is right, rimfire only. do i need more than 4 paddles?



http://www.marksmansmart.com/subproducts.asp?catID=39&subCatID=1131

Hoppes dueling tree, prob rimfire only, cheapest at $30+
is it worth the money?

Leaning heavily toward the Hoppes tree myself and forget about using expensive centerfire ammo. Only problem is everyone will have to bring their own 22LR autos. Another reason to buy a new gun!
Thanks in advance for all your opinions!

 

[SquirrelNuts]

This seems like something you could make with a 4x4 post, paper plates, and of course, duck tape!

-SquirrelNuts

 

[Don Gwinn]

You can do it with paper plates, but it's hard to make it reactive, which makes it hard to tell who won the "duel." A sheet of plywood with balloons stapled to each side works, though. Of course, the plywood only lasts so long, and the balloons have to be blown up and replaced after each shooter finishes, but it's dirt cheap.

 

[ChickenHawk]

WOW!!

I have never seen these. The price for some of them is actually quite reasonable for all the use I'd get out of them.

My wife has started to show some interest in going to the range with me. This kind of thing might be just what it takes to make the experience a bit more enjoyable (than just paper targets).

Now to find out where I might be able to take such a thing to shoot at it in the Austin area. Certainly not the indoor range I usually shoot at.

Cheers,
ChickenHawk

 

[RustyHammer]

These are new to me as well ... must say, they sure look like a lot of fun. Would love to see what you end up with, especially if you make one yourself.

Keep us posted?

Rusty

 

[kumma]

wow that top one is a nice set-up. but 500 bucks is pricy.

id bet that 30 dollar one will not last very long.

looks like its time to fire up the plasma cutter and go to work on that 1/4 steel plate sitting in the corner of the shop. a little angle iron and some tubing will make a nice target setup. thanks for bringing this one up all i needed was another project.

craig

 

[Bowlcut]

1 piece angle iron about 5 feet tall.
1 piece flat iron also 5 feet
2 8' 2x4s for base construction
8 metal hinges.
5 pieces metal plate for targets

weld the flat plate to the angle iron to make a triangle. weld hinges to flat back of triangle. make sure they are pretty nice easy swinging hinges. Then weld plate of some sort to the hing. oooh heres an idea. small magnet on the "striking" area of the hing, to "grab" the hing from swining back to an unwanted position. fab up a base....paint or powdercoat it....might work

 

[Jack19]

Build one that spins, a pole that rotates around another pole when hit, targets at 90s to the axis...more challenging.

 

[jmbrowning]

Found a couple more

http://www.midwayusa.com/rewriteaproduct/644778

$84.88
DUELING POST 22 RIMFIRE
DESIGNED FOR 22 CALIBER RIMFIRE USE ONLY, NOT FOR CENTERFIRE CARTRIDGES
3/16" PLATE THICKNESS
4 DISCS ARE 3-5/8" IN DIAMETER
RECOMMENDED MINIMUM SHOOTING DISTANCE 25 YARDS.
ASSEMBLED SIZE APPROXIMATELY 36" TALL BY 12" WIDTH. \



http://www.midwayusa.com/rewriteaproduct/441020

$90.18
441020DUELING POST 44 MAG
FOR SOFT NOSE CENTERFIRE PISTOL UP TO 44 MAG.
3/8" PLATE THICKNESS
4 DISCS ARE 4-1/2" IN DIAMETER
RECOMMENDED MINIMUM SHOOTING DISTANCE IS 25 YARDS.
OVERALL HEIGHT IS ABOUT 2 1/2'


Realistically, how close can you shoot metallic targets with 22LR?

 

[ChickenHawk]

Personally, I like the Reset Targets at the http://www.metaltargets.com link you supplied, Jm.

That would be similar to the plates at steel matches and great fun besides.

I notice they all specify NO FMJ ammo when shooting at these things. That and HP (which I assume are also not a good idea) are just about all I shoot, especially through my Glocks. Without hijacking this thread completely OT, anybody have any ammo recommendations for shooting at these targets?

Cheers,
ChickenHawk

 

[Coronach]

Reactive?

Cheap?

How about balloons?

Those trees are cool, though.

Mike

 

[45R]

how about making a wood stand that will sit orange clays.

90 of them run 4 bucks at Walmart. It can be done pretty easy and you dont have to worry about calibers



45R

 

[Erik]

Take a large piece of cardbord and cut out holes that clays may be set into. Attach it to posts of one variety or another and you're in business. After a few "near misses/hits" you will have to change out the cardboard. Simple, easy, and economical.

 

[jmbrowning]

Chickenhawk: Shouldn't be a problem to shoot JHP or JSP on these things. They should flatten out/deform appreciably to absorb some of the kinetic energy that would otherwise result in a ricochet. FMJ ball ammo might be a little more dangerous, but I don't know if they would ricochet straight back as they would cause the paddles to swing around to the other shooters side and probably glance off to the side.

I like the idea of using balloons and clays also. Done it many times. Also used ketchup packets (messy). What I like about the dueling tree is that:

1) it's metal. love that instant gratification (KLANG!)
2) the shooting can go on as long as you and your partner want to go at it. only limited by time or ammo. no resetting required.
3) there's no question as to who won or lost (bragging rights)

I think I am gonna go with rimfire as I can see that this would rapidly consume a LOT of ammo in a very short period of time .

 

[Brian D.]

Ah, the memories!

Used to employ the duelling tree at our weekly combat shoots fairly often, go best-two-outta-three bouts, tournament style. It got interesting if two shooters of roughly equal ability faced each other. I remember more than once that a single bout would go to the SECOND speed-reload of .45 magazines (or speedloaders, if wheelies were on the firing line!) You could burn 150-200 rds of ammo some nights if you got into the "finals"!

 

[Futo Inu]

Got a question about these trees, if anyone knows, on exactly how they work, or, if they're different, how the one works above from metaltargets.com (the ones with red and yellow plates). I went to the website but my question was not answered. Is the idea when dueling to:

A) First one to knock all 3 back wins (i.e. once they go back, they don't come back forward, nor do they swing around fully to the other side); OR

B) When they're hit, they swing fully around, and then the other guy tries to knock it back to your side, back and forth, like the game I used to have as a kid called Gnip Gnop, with each side of the plates being colored (one red, one yellow), so that therefore the idea is not 3 hits first, you win, but rather, set a time limit, knock them back and forth, and when times up, see who has the most targets on the other guy's side to see who wins. In other words, to put my question succintly, instead of the above incoherent mess, do the targets swing fully around, or simply stop when back 90 degrees?

If they do swing all the way around, it's more appealing to me, as it's not just 1, 2, 3, game over....

P.S. I'm in the process of building my own dueling tree - I'll post pics when it's done. It's gonna be wooden, with four 3' 1"x1" arms that can easily and cheaply be replaced when shot off - lol.

 

[Doug444]

I've played with these several ways:

First one to clear his side completely, including those sent his way by his opponent (this can take a LOT of ammo!)

First one to shoot his "starters".

Alternating shots, first miss looses.

Alternating shots, a "clear" wins, or lowest # of plates left after the mag's empty.

NOT trading shots, a "clear" wins, or lowest # of plates left after the mag's empty.

Kind of up to the shooters. Can be lots of fun.

 

[Futo Inu]

Hmmm. So then the answer is, they DO swing clear 'round? Thanks.

 

[mattd]

Do these use some special kind of metal?

 

[Futo Inu]

Update

Seems to me that this is a CHEAP simple effective holder for baloons - a poor man's dueling tree. And if you shoot the clips off, it should accept everday office clips as a replacement:

http://www.midwayusa.com/rewriteaproduct/670027

It comes with 8 clips on two arms, but you could add more clips. you can also attach targets to use it as a regular target stand (which is how it's advertised). Just FWIW.

 

[Billll]

Bowlcut has the right idea. Weld the hinges to the back of the angle iron so the pins are tilted slightly toward the shooters. That way the targets will come to rest on the side opposite after being shot. Use 3/16 cold rolled for rimfire, 1/4 for center fire.