DIY-Steel Targets?

[xjtwo]

Anyone on here make their own steel targets? I've been kicking around the idea but I have too many ideas....lol.

I'd like to make a spring loaded auto-reset steel target (Popper style) or something similar. Basically something that I don't have to walk down range to reset all the time.

Lets hear some of your ideas.

-J

[Irving]

My friends were messing around one day and just welded some steel plates onto some rebar stakes. Just pound them into the ground. We haven't ever gotten around to using them though. We'll probably want to angle them toward the ground I imagine.

[bryjcom]

I took 2X4s and made a "saw horse" out of them and took a 1" thick piece of steel and drilled holes towards the top.

Went to the hardware store and got some brackets and hung the steel from the saw horse.

With a 308 I get that steel swinging pretty good and then if I time it right I fire off a shot as the steel when it is swinging forward and the bullet stops the steel dead in its tracks.

The target has made 3 trips to the range and is a lot of fun.

Just make sure to bring black spaypaint so you can touch up the steel.
It gets kinda hard to see after 30-06 and 308 have been hitting it for a couple of hours.[AR15]

[Tim K]

I made a bunch. I used earth-mover-bucket steel, which is the same as armor plate without the AP rating. 3/8" thickness is bullet proof up to 50 BMG as close as you have the courage to stand.

I didn't do anything cool like making poppers, but wish I had. I just made various sizes of circular targets with stands that connect to 1" steel black pipe.

My targets have tens of thousands of rounds on them, both pistol and rifle and look just like the day I made them 8 years ago.

[The1andOnlyKC]

I have done the same thing as TimK and bryjcom, used half inch plate I got for free. Works good, Shot them with 308, 7mm Mag, 7mm Ultra mag, 300win, 30-06 and nothing has left holes in it yet and they have been shot thousands of times, A little orange touch up paint and they look good as new for the next range day.

[gnihcraes]

I've made one, steel swinger, but the sks and ar punched a lot of holes in it... be sure and get good steel, not soft cheap stuff.

[theGinsue]

That's definitely good advice. My Mini-14 punched holes through the thick steel of an old abandoned bridge years ago. They don't make 'em like they used to (thanks heavens).

[LippCJ7]

Someone in this club told me to use railroad tie plates and I'll be they work great and I wound up with a dozen or so in less then 1 hour of walking tracks. I have been holding onto an old swing set frame thats semi broken down to sections that fit in my truck sets up several hanging targets in less then 5 minutes works great.

the kids are a little pissed though

Lip

[Merl]

the RR plates work well. the thicker ones will last through maybe 1k rounds of rifle (308). the smaller ones will get punched almost immediately.

to hang I put a couple spikes through the proper holes with a hole drilled through em. little loop of wire through that fully behind the plate and a couple strands of rope through the wire. you'll break the ropes eventually but are quick to re-tie. Can also use a strap that'll handle more hits/splash but isn't worth it to me.

[Mtn.man]

AR (abrasive resistant) plate works great built alot of them for friends and othr shooters in the past.

[xjtwo]

After doing a little thinking on any spring loaded type target, I decided to pass on that idea....
I'm just going to build a stand and hang 10" plates off of it for simplicity, probably be less time consuming as well.
If you guys have pictures, post em up.....I'd like to see some. I'll get mine up as soon as I get them built. (hopefully in the next few weeks)

Cheers!

[jackmode9316]

Where does one acquire the said metals that would hold up to the abuse of several rounds hitting it? How much does that stuff cost?

[Mtn.man]

Where does one acquire the said metals that would hold up to the abuse of several rounds hitting it? How much does that stuff cost?

where are you located?

several steel yards also have usable scrap. casll around and ask for some AR plate.

[jackmode9316]

Lakewood.

[Mtn.man]

Call C&M metals 303-761-7881, ask Tom if he has any AR plate, if not maybe use some thick plate he has some small pcs. in the yard.

He also has some real neat 1 1/2" thick wall pipe, I'm gonna have to make another cannon.