Good, Cheap Target Stands

teriyakisaki

New member
So i dont really have any decent shooting ranges near by. the closest things i have are all outdoor public ranges. its fine for skeet and stuff like that, but when it comes to targets i dont really have much. i usually just resort to basic plinking because i dont really have a way to shoot the paper without driving for over an hour. on top of this i'm a noob to shooting so i really want to work on getting nice grouping and whatnot. its kinda hard to do that with glass bottles. what do you guys use as target stands? i dont really have any metal stock let alone welding skills/tools available to make one out of metal. i could probably fashion something out of 2x4s, but i dont know any good designs or know much about the overall durability.

another big issue for me is i have 2 room mates and theres already low storage in the garage due to a leveling table, work benches, snowboards, skis, kayaks, bikes, etc etc (we even have an extra storage shed). im sure i could make a nice one out of 2x4, but itd take up a ton of space. im thinking the biggest id need/want would be 45" for the biggest sillhouettes.


any suggestions?
 
Check out the "JAMMIT" target stand, made by MTM, about $15.00 or so. Cheap, portable and takes apart for storage. PLEASE, NO GLASS BOTTLES! btw, WELCOME TO THE FORUM!!
 
FM12 is right on target. Got one of those from Midwaysusa (dot com) and it works great. The most cost effective accuracy improvement accessory I have ever bought. Only issue I have had is when the ground is really dry and hard.
 
I've had luck with 3" PVC pipe. You'll need two 4' uprights, two 3' crosspieces, two 2' legs, four 2' supports, two elbows, and 4 "T" joint connectors. Use a couple of spring loaded binder clips (available at any office supply store) to hold cardboard as a target backing.

Glue the "T" joints and elbows only on the uprights and legs. That'll allow you to break it down for easy storage. The finished stand will look like a hollow rectangle with 2' legs. The bottom "T" joints should be glued so that the supports can be inserted at 90 degrees to the stand. If the pieces won't hold together, you can drill the elbows and "T" joints to insert a single screw.

Hope that isn't confusing. I tried to paint a "picture" using keyboard characters, but didn't have much luck.
 
I've been hauling a big target stand I made out of 1 X @ that stands about five foot tall.

My buddy showed up the other day with his converted Real Estate Sign like the man stated above. The sign sticks in the ground anywhere and is small and light weight. I'm on the lookout for one.
 
I created a cheap shotgun system that I use in the winter. I strung a 15 foot length of heavy wire between two trees out back, I fill five plastic grocery bags with snow and string them along the wire in two foot intervals.

The bags can withstand quite a bit of bird shot, but I do bring extras when I'm using buck.
 
Blank plastic yard sign (corrugated plastic) from Walmart,they come with a metal wire stand to stick it in the ground. They take alot of rounds before they are really damaged. Tape paper targets to them. Weatherproof.

They will take 100's and 100's of 22 rounds, and alot of 45 rounds.

cost - $4
storage - alomost 0
 
Go to any major real estate office. They often have competitor's signs out by the back door. :D

Picked up that little tip from my RE agent daughter-in-law.

Pops
 
Another way to go...

Another option is to buy 60 lbs of South African gold, smelt it down and build a solid gold 1" thick frame standing 6' tall. Then take some lapus lazuli and decorate the corners and place diamonds at top center for orientation. Presto! You have the most expensive target frame in history! You'll be a celebrity!

(tongue firmly planted in cheek, folks)

:barf:
 
if 'free' is cheap enough, the the upcoming political season is good for you. I contact different candidates after the election, and get permisison to haul off the signs. They have wire frames, and plastic signs, which are great for shooting. I just tape a target on them, and go to it.
 
I bought a cheapie plastic one for now. I am going to cut up the cardboard boxes from my move, and use those as target holders -the ultimate in recycling, though I doubt the greenie weenies would see it that way.:eek::D
 
While there are alot of good ideas above I like to use pallets. You can get them for free almost anywhere. If you have two you can lean them against each other to stand them up. Staple any size target to them. and they will take more rounds than any other of the above.

Evan
 
i think im gonna build one out of wood. i like how with the wood frames you can do silhouette shooting at a realistic height. im liking the political sign idea though too. does anybody know if dianne feinstein is running/has a sign with her picture on it? lol.
 
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