Duelling tree for out rifles?

[little_airwolf]

Looking for a .22 duelling tree.
Why the heck are trees $375+? We dont need AR500 steel for .22.
Cold rolled steel 1/4" thick is fine. So material are about $50
So what do you guys use and if you built your own, how much have you spent?
I really like jumpingtargets.com design.
Thanks for your time

 

[trebor127]

whats wrong with a couple of soda pop cans on a piece of

string hanging off a branch or two

keith

 

[little_airwolf]

I have 4 swinging target sets. I like friendly competitions so thats why Im looki g for a tree.

 

[Sconnie]

Wow, $379.

I thought Action Targets was too expensive but the $149 rimfire tree looks fun.

Law Enforcement Targets | Action Target : Rimfire Dueling Tree

I'm with you on how those look so much fun. The larger caliber handgun competitions on Youtube got me very interested.

I mentioned it to my neighbor who works at a metal place and he thought it looked great and set about the process of making one. His design is in need of tweaking but on the first trial it has possibilities. Having access at no cost to the materials and machines helps. Hopefully he will cut some more target paddles. He did not take a close look at the manufactured ones and made his paddles 2 inches in diameter. The paddles should be 4 inches in diameter since the tree is for accuracy AND speed. At 2 inches it is a challenge to hit for me at least. And he is a better shot and didn't do much better.

I don't recall but I do think he used some type of hardened steel for the paddles. I would steer away from cold for the targets just because you don't want any chance of a ding to potentially send fragments in odd directions. Since I don't have any knowledge of metals perhaps I am wrong but it seems like a good idea to have the hardened steel for the target paddles.

If I had someplace to put it I would bite the bullet so to speak and buy the Action Target version.

I find it odd that the Jumping Targets design says it is for multiple calibers down to .22. I would think it would be too heavy for a .22 if it can handle a 30-06 at 50+ yards. And they indicate that the .22 should be shot at 25+ yards versus 10 yards.

In the Action Target line they have much more expensive trees for the larger calibers but they also say to be at 100 yards for rifles which I would agree.

Sorry I don't really offer any info you are looking for but I have to admit a dueling tree would be first on my list if I had someplace to regularly go to shoot it. Hope someone with personal info on one they made or bought chimes in.

 

[wbear]

I own the Action Target Dueling Tree and it is one of the best purchases I ever made. I warn that it will double the amount of ammo you go through! Alone or with friends it is pure fun.

For the price, $149 (I got mine on sale from Brownells $135 shipped) it is simply not worth building your own.

In 20 min you will have it bolted together and shooting. The paddles are through hardened 1/4" AR500 steel and it only weighs 35 lbs so you can take it with you wherever you shoot.

At this price point AR500 steel is not over kill for .22lr as it will give a life time of enjoyment. Eventually even soft lead will deform the surface of mild steel. Your kid's children will be shooting the thing long after you are gone and the surface will look like the day you bought it.

Get one, you will not be disappointed.
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDGy4YpjKz0[/ame]

 

[sithlord]

I've been looking at these.

Still expensive, but you can swap out the paddles and put in .22lr rated paddles. Then you can use them for 22lr or 9mm (or even rifle at distance)..

https://www.thetargetman.com/product/diy-dueling-tree-ar500-6-target-kit/

 

[RedNeck Jim]

I too own & use the Action Target dueling tree, amongst other of their product. They make great stuff.

I would not want Uncle Joe Bob to build & design one out of scrap. These need to be designed properly to operate with the lesser smack from a 22. If the paddles don't swing freely & reset on the other side, well then you ain't got much of a duel. But more important, it has to be designed to SAFELY be shot for years & years. That involves using the right metal, the right weight paddles, and the proper use of angles to handle deflections & ricochets properly. Having a 40 grain bullet come back can also ruin a good duel. I trust the professionals of Action Target to design a piece properly. Uncle Joe Bob... not so much.

Even when I make my own targets, ones that don't need the design work to reset after each shot, I still order AR500 plates. As stated above, you don't want any dents or pits in those plates. They need to remain smooth as a baby's bottom. But I will warn you, that steel is hard. I was gonna mill out the center of one big plate, so as to make a reactive center, and quickly ruined some bits on our end mill. Eventually went back to the manufacturer to have it done using the proper equipment. Found out you can also damage the steel if you don't treat it properly.

 

[sithlord]

I'm not sure if you are mocking the targetman or not.. In case you are, the diy is simply offering you to weld the pieces together, at a fairly significant discount, and you can reuse it for other calibers.. If you don't have access to a welder, they offer a pre assembled version as well.

Nothing against action targets offering. Just would rather not lug two trees out to the range...

 

[RedNeck Jim]

I'm not sure if you are mocking the targetman or not..

You didn't quote anyone, so I don't know who "you" is. If you are referencing my post, I'm talking about the OP's thoughts of doing one DIY and not needing hardened steel. The one you reference looks fine, as I'm sure there are many other safe designs.

My point is, if you are just gonna hang something from a string, then use whatever you want. However when you restrict that plate (paddle) in a setup that needs to actuate properly, I'm not for DIY engineering.

 

[RedNeck Jim]

Guess I need to address my comment about hanging targets. Yes, you can use what you want but need to be concerned with ricochets. In this pic, you can see how I have mine hanging at an angle so that the bullets are deflected down... and not right back at me.

Same can be said for my reactive targets that I made. Also, with them, the tubular posts have the angle facing the shooter so that any hits to the post deflect left or right.

Back of my reactive target. Just hung a smaller AR500 plate on the back of a larger plate with a hole cut in the center. After I had shootingtargets7.com cut the circle out for me, he now offers this setup. I love having reactive centers on larger targets for the immediate feedback you get on your accuracy.

 

[Griz Behr]

Airwolf, I use this one. Works fine and is adjustable for force needed to flip.

Do-All .22 Steel Round-Up Target - Sportsman's Warehouse

 

[Griz Behr]

Airwolf, I use this one. Works fine and is adjustable for force needed to flip.

Do-All .22 Steel Round-Up Target - Sportsman's Warehouse

 

[wbear]

Great range setup Jim. Have you got grass growing on all the bare dirt now?

 

[little_airwolf]

Airwolf, I use this one. Works fine and is adjustable for force needed to flip.

Do-All .22 Steel Round-Up Target - Sportsman's Warehouse

Thanks those are $75 on sale here. Reg price $100
The review scared me away. Seems like they are 70/30 on if they are bad or not.
Shipping to Canada is the killer.

 

[Rob1]

Guess I need to address my comment about hanging targets. Yes, you can use what you want but need to be concerned with ricochets. In this pic, you can see how I have mine hanging at an angle so that the bullets are deflected down... and not right back at me.

Same can be said for my reactive targets that I made. Also, with them, the tubular posts have the angle facing the shooter so that any hits to the post deflect left or right.

Back of my reactive target. Just hung a smaller AR500 plate on the back of a larger plate with a hole cut in the center. After I had shootingtargets7.com cut the circle out for me, he now offers this setup. I love having reactive centers on larger targets for the immediate feedback you get on your accuracy.

I neeeeeeeeed to visit with you Jim, the range set up looks awesome!!!!!!!

Rob

 

[RedNeck Jim]

Great range setup Jim. Have you got grass growing on all the bare dirt now?

Yep. Found out even the silly horses have been climbing to the top.

 

[sithlord]

Great range setup Jim. Have you got grass growing on all the bare dirt now?

Yep.

Then you're not shooting enough!!!!

 

[RedNeck Jim]

Little Airwolf, I have lots of targets including the dueling tree, plate racks, etc. but I find I shoot cardboard silhouettes more than any other target. We just welded together some angle iron to make a holder. This one is mounted in concrete but we have made others using rebar as the post. We weld a small piece of rebar maybe 18" from the bottom on those, as a foot step, where that you can push it into the ground. Great for portability if you don't have a permanent shooting location.

I use the full size official USPSA Targets that I get in bulk from Midway. By themselves they make shooting fun but when you have shot them up a bunch, they still make great backer boards for other stick on targets.

I like to practice snap shots & double taps. Having life size torso targets like this gives me much better feedback than my metal torso targets. I like to walk up & see what I just did. These targets are similar to the dueling tree in that the scoring zones on the cardboard allow you to compete with a friend.

Here is my steel torso target that I also got from Action Target.

 

[poorjohnny]

i made mine. not hard at all. for us poor folk its the way to go. i would send a pick but some guy gave me $60. for it at the range. spent a sat morning cutting and welding.

 

[photoracer]

This here is the most fun event you can have with rimfire rifle and/or pistol. The Palmyra Sportmans Association Rimfire Challenge.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRkGd6u2hp4"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRkGd6u2hp4[/ame]