Lightweight, portable homemade target stands

[VaTom]

Thought this may be of interest to those who practice outdoors. I use National Forest ranges that are self serve affairs out in the country. They usually have some type of wire strung between posts arrangement to hang targets but often they are in poor repair. Decided to make my own portable stands to take with me. Got this design off you tube and made some modifications. Use 1 1/4 " PVC pipe and tees with 1x2 furring strips. All obtainable at Lowes, etc. Each piece of PVC is cut to 16" long. Sections (see photo) that have tees attached are glue to the tee. The whole thing fits into one of those canvas sacks used to carry folding camping chairs or a duffle.

Use a staple gun to staple cardboard to the wooden 1X2 and attach targets. Pictures of target stand broken down for transport and the assembled.

 

[NCW Ray]

It's quite common for me to arrive at the range and the target boards have been shot up by shotgun shooters so bad I can't hang a target on them, so I have made one similar to yours. I used this video as a guide. [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjS5P-pDIg4"]instructional video[/ame]

 

[jcelect]

Cheap way out

I'm too cheap to BUY pvc pipe! I just pick up political wire yard signs during the season and when they are shot up toss them away!
jcelect

 

[VaTom]

Yes a windy day can be a problem. A small sand bag, brick, or a croquet wicket over the feet can help . always looking to repurpose things around the house. Being retired from LE\Public Safety I like using B28 targets at realistic height.

 

[yashua-p]

Thought this may be of interest to those who practice outdoors. I use National Forest ranges that are self serve affairs out in the country. They usually have some type of wire strung between posts arrangement to hang targets but often they are in poor repair. Decided to make my own portable stands to take with me. Got this design off you tube and made some modifications. Use 1 1/4 " PVC pipe and tees with 1x2 furring strips. All obtainable at Lowes, etc. Each piece of PVC is cut to 16" long. Sections (see photo) that have tees attached are glue to the tee. The whole thing fits into one of those canvas sacks used to carry folding camping chairs or a duffle.

Use a staple gun to staple cardboard to the wooden 1X2 and attach targets. Pictures of target stand broken down for transport and the assembled.
QUOTE

I have made several of these. Quick, ease, and cheap, kind of like me.

regards

yashua

 

[Jessie]

I agree with jcelect.
No better use for used political wire based signs than to sling lead at them.

 

[mtgianni]

Talk to a realtor and find out where they get their stands from. They go in and come out easy and are portable.

 

[OLDSTER]

targets

I agree with jcelect.
No better use for used political wire based signs than to sling lead at them.

Yep I just stocked up on "vote for me" signs this last fall. Got a good supply 'til next political season. The day after they're are supposed to be removed, I load up on those left behind in our rural sub-division

 

[tops]

I drive a 1X2, 2X2, etc. in the ground and staple a piece of cardboard to it. Staple one edge of the cardboard. If you staple the middle of the cardboard you shoot the stake. (Some shooters may not shoot the stake as much if they staple in the center.) Larry

 

[Shield 9 WV]

I have been looking at DIY designs on Youtube as well. I have a couple of questions.

How wide is the center piece? I have seen 15", 16" and 18" on Youtube. The idea is to be able to use IPSC targets which are 18".

Assuming 1.5" PVC the width would be two ends at 3" and a center piece of 15" taking you to the desired 18" width. I don't know if I'm doing the math correctly.

I don't mean to obsess about this, but why not use 2" PVC? The prices are virtually identical to 1.5". What are the pros and cons?

 

[Shield 9 WV]

Answers to my own questions:

1. 15" sections work fine. Total cost per stand in 2017 is about $25.
2. Don't glue. That way you can substitute two 21" sections for the 15"s to turn your pistol target stand into a wider rifle target stand. Press fit is plenty tight and stable.
3. PVC at 1.5 inches is ideal. You can use 2" PVC but is overkill and much heavier and bulky. I used the Youtube design by The Late Boy Scout. It is the best design on Youtube and is inherently stable as opposed to an H design.
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c_eA_oM_PY[/ame]
4. Instead of using a staple gun I used four 3" binder clasps ($2 for 4 pieces at Wallyworld) to hold each target. I liked the versatility of being able to move the cardboard up or down the furring strips, for more shooting options regarding height and target acquisition.
5. Two stands are MUCH more fun than one.

 

[BC38]

I'm too cheap to BUY pvc pipe! I just pick up political wire yard signs during the season and when they are shot up toss them away!
jcelect

I just picked up 16 of these on Thursday.
I was hoping for more, but I found out afterwards that there is a local ordinance requiring that any posted on public property be taken down within 10 days so most of them were already gone by the time I went looking for them on Thursday.
Next election I'll be out looking for them the day after the election.

I built one out of PVC with a couple of clothes lines and small bindery clips to hold the targets on the clothes line. Unfortunately my kid hit one of the PVC pipes and I never got around to repairing it. I weighted the bases by putting a piece of 5/6" rebar inside each of them and capping it on both ends.