Target for the new 500 range is done

Jeff in TX

Finally got around to grinding the edges smooth and painting the stand and target for the new 500 shooting range we're making. I'll get the bench done in the next couple weekends and we'll be good to go. The target is 2' wide and 2.5' long and 1/2" thick steel and weighs just shy of 100 lbs. It won't be very portable so we'll put it on the small flat bed trailer to pull to each range on the 4-wheeler. This will be a 200 to 500 yard range as we have a great 100 range near the house.

Farm Boy Deuce

AR steel?

That looks good. Go ahead and slime the trailer tires now.

Zee

Shooting + Steel = Fun

Six-Gun

That should be a hoot!

early

Bang!

Clang!:guns:

NCFUBAR

Looks nice ... nice and hernia heavy. What are the hangers made of ... fire hose?

Jeff in TX

NCFUBAR wrote: »

Looks nice ... nice and hernia heavy. What are the hangers made of ... fire hose?

Correct, apparently firehouse is.very forgiving and lasts a.long time. Looking forward to hearing it go CLANG!

Fisheadgib

Jeff in TX wrote: »

Correct, apparently firehouse is.very forgiving and lasts a.long time. Looking forward to hearing it go CLANG!

Firehose probably would last a long time if it didn't take too many hits. I tried it on one of my targets at the SE shoot and it lasted most of the day. I've been trying different things with my steel targets at the SE Shoot for several years now and I'm trying pieces of conveyor belting next. There are thousands of rounds fired at the Shoot from a wide variety of different calibers and it's the ultimate test of a target and stand system.

Fisheadgib

The key is people putting their rounds into the targets instead of the supports. Lots of rounds will eventually cut through the hose weather it's hanging straight or at an angle. This year I'm trying a horizontal piece of chain with a piece of conveyor belt hanging down to support the plate.

Jeff in TX

My buddy actually doubled the fire hose. The longer range won't get a ton of use. We're actually using our side rd between mine and my neighbors property line. Only place I have a straight 500 shot. It also sits smack dab in the middle of where we hunt. However for late winter like now, spring, summer and very early fall it will nice for some long range practice, ladder testing and some fun shoots.

Big Chief

cpj wrote: »

Chain on the other hand...........one shot can wreck it. Or so I've been told.

So has anyone shot the chain on pair of handcuffs like in the movies???????????????

NCFUBAR

We use old fire hose pieces for hanging flaps and such around the barn and out buildings. The VFD retires them every so often and people snap them up. The thing I learned was when you want to use holes reinforcing them by using heavy duty brass grommets is a big help. I mean the kind someone who has a grommet tool to install ... I had the canvas shop at the beach do a couple "fire hose hinges" and they've started to finds uses for retired fire hoses on rub points and actually sell covers that lace of rails, dock edges, etc.

Fisheadgib

cpj wrote: »

The key is having them hang straight down like Jeffs picture shows. The way yours are set up doesn't allow them to swing as much and soak up the energy.

I've actually tried four different types of chain and backed down after I got to 3/8" hardened chain. The lighter the targets are and the easier they flip around and absorb energy, the less they get damaged. All of my plates are AR500 steel except for the soda can which is 5/8" plate and at the last shoot, I tried a couple 1/2" plates and found that the lighter 3/8" plates can take a hit better. When I went to a really heavy chain, the targets were getting dimpled a little and the chain still broke from à direct hit. The next round will be a horizontal chain between the two rebar uprights with a piece of conveyor belt hanging from the middle of the chain supporting the plate. I think that is as durable as I could possibly make them.