Wooden swinging targets

[NuclearMeltdown]

I have access to a sizeable pile of scrap wood from our maintenance department at our townhouse. 2x4's and various other sizes. Anyway, I got to thinking how easy it would be to rig up a frame, round up some of the old rope pieces I have laying around, and hang some chunks of wood for some free swinging targets for .22s and maybe other calibers. No cost involved, since it's all throwaways that are going to be burned anyway. There would be no fun ringing sound like steel hanging targets, but I'd imagine that you could hear a .22 slapping the wood at 50 - 100 yards. I envision drilling holes diagonally through the corners to hang the chunks. This could be thrown together with 5 or 10 replaceable swingers in about half an hour with nothing but a hand saw and a drill.

Keep in mind that I'm not expecting the hanging chunks to last very long, but has anyone done this? What would the longevity of a chunk of pine 2x4 be? 15 or 20 shots maybe?

 

[berettaprofessor]

Don't know how many rounds exactly and it probably depends on the wood. I have a 6X8 large block of wood hanging that has probably taken over a hundred 22LR's without appreciably dimishing, but it is a hardwood, not pine, and it is pretty "moist"...not kiln-dried.

Pine would be a "progressive trainer"....getting smaller the more that you shoot it. Aim small, miss small.

 

[buck460XVR]

Don't know how many rounds exactly and it probably depends on the wood.

It also depends on the caliber. I do the same thing with bowling pins, hang them from a shepherd's hook. They last forever when shot with .22 LR. The larger the caliber the shorter the lifespans. Those shot with .38s, .357s and .45ACP last for hundreds of rounds. At 70 yards with the .460 X-Frame they are lucky to survive a dozen shots. When I run outta bowling pins, I substitute short lengths of 4X4s. The have a significantly shorter lifespan than bowling pins. I've also used 6X6s, 8X8s, cut offs from untreated railroad ties and campfire wood. All work and are fun, inexpensive targets. One game my sons and I enjoy with with the swinging targets is timed shooting. Like a cylinder full or a mag full in X seconds. First shot is always easy because the target is still. Depending on where it is hit and whats left of the target, it begins to swing and every shot after that is a moving target. At the end of the day, the one with the lowest score buys the beverages.

 

[Scooter22]

I've been making swingers out of scrap 2x4 s for years. I cut them square, drill a hole about 3/4" from the edge and use old metal clothes hangers. Works great for .22s. If the wood is good you can get 20,30 hits before part splinters off. Then you have a smaller piece to shoot at. I got some florescent orange, green and yellow spray paint at one of the dollar stores. Give them a try especialy for free.

 

[MikeJackmin]

Another trick is to set up your handing targets and then run a cord horizontally across the front of them so they they press lightly against it when at rest. They will still move when hit, but will tend to settle down quickly and hold still instead of swinging around.

 

[LoneGoose]

Pine 2X4s will last a long time if cut long enough to not split right away. I once bet a sergeant that I could cut off a 2X4 target stand with a .30 cal (7.62mm) M60 machine gun. It took all of 150 rounds to chop it up enough to fall over. I think you have the right idea.

 

[locnload]

When my son was young, we used to take small pieces of scrap wood, set them up in a wooded area in random patterns, partially hidden, and burn up a bunch of 22 rounds hunting and plinking them. Find a safe area like a hillside where your rounds go safely into the dirt and of course pick up your shot up pieces of wood when you leave. Lots of fun on a budget.

 

[Scooter22]

When my son was young, we used to take small pieces of scrap wood, set them up in a wooded area in random patterns, partially hidden, and burn up a bunch of 22 rounds hunting and plinking them. Find a safe area like a hillside where your rounds go safely into the dirt and of course pick up your shot up pieces of wood when you leave. Lots of fun on a budget.

Well one of the nice things about wood is it's completely natural and biodegradable. I don't use treated wood for swingers.