Potrable target frame.

I like to shoot some pellets in the garage or yard where we have a 6 foot wooden fence but boxes with paper are a pain so I made this target frame and put a wood back-board in it and hung an old kapok life jacket beind the backer board. I shot into the cushion at near point blank and the pellet stayed in it do I feel safe and I have an abundance of the old cushions. Its a little windy today so I’ll hold of on the target practice until its less breezy.

The frame is made of 3/4″ square steel tubing. The rods are 28″ long and 5/16 diameter. The front legs are 2’8″, cut from 6 foot stock. The remaining 3’4″ from each piece of 6 foot stock make the back legs. There are a lot of ways to hang targets from this but I wanted the wood backer for now, later I’ll just use cardboard at the cabin when I plink with the .50 cals.

I’ve had this set up outside for three hours and the wind hasn’t moved it an inch so it is quite stable. $40.00 in materials.

Attachments:

1. 

   IMG_1563.jpg
   

Nice frame. Actually, that would be great for my test range for firearms as well.

I’ve encountered a lot of variations of a home-built airgun trap where the “stopping media” is HVAC sealant putty from places like Home Depot. A layer of this stuff about 2 inches thick with a 3/4 inch backer board seems to provide plenty of stopping power for most airguns. I’ve been meaning to make one for use in my basement.

Good reminder, Tom. It’s almost time for my annual war against the bunnies to begin. Time to tune up the air rifle again.

Grouse

My squirrel war started about a week ago.

Now my main goal is to live trap the feral cat problem we have. They go wayyyyyyy out in the country.

that looks pretty sweet Tom
i just use and old 4 legged Poster easel and pack foam in the middle. however, it would not hold up to wind like yours does.

side note;
dont use tripod types. how do i know this u might ask??? because i shot out the back leg lol

This has worked pretty well for me. I set the target out in the back yard thru the garage service door and then set up a shooting table in the garage near the main door. I get about 45 feet out of this. I love plunking pellets just to see how tight I can get the hit. I’ll set the target out and do 10 shots then put it away for the day.

I was an avid archer and had a daily routine similar to this only I shot three arrows at a 1″ target dot from about 22 yards. Every day, no exceptions if I was home. I’m a huge believer in practicing the first shot as that’s the one that matters. After a little accident with the bow I stopped shooting/hunting it. But that short string of shots has carried over into the pellet gun techniques and is hard to let go of. Gotta stay in shape ya know.

Tom Sawvell wrote:

Now my main goal is to live trap the feral cat problem we have. They go wayyyyyyy out in the country.

I could never do that. I would get the local humane shelter involved. They at least need to be spayed/neutered. Younger ones may be able to be rehab’d and a home found for them. Older ones should not be dropped off way out in the country to fend for themselves and kill game animals. I’ve heard that if 80% of the females in a feral community get spayed that the population will start decreasing.

jwellsy wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Tom Sawvell wrote:</div>
Now my main goal is to live trap the feral cat problem we have. They go wayyyyyyy out in the country.

I could never do that. I would get the local humane shelter involved. They at least need to be spayed/neutered. Younger ones may be able to be rehab’d and a home found for them. Older ones should not be dropped off way out in the country to fend for themselves and kill game animals. I’ve heard that if 80% of the females in a feral community get spayed that the population will start decreasing.

You are assuming it isn’t a one way trip so to speak.

The problem with the sealing putty stuff is that you will eventually drill a hole through the stuff. So you either have to move the bull or re-goop the putty.

The alternative is to fill a cardboard box with that mulched up rubber stuff they use on playgrounds. It’s sold by the bag at Home Depot and Menards. It’s made from ground up tires so it’s tough and will stop pellets no problem. Tape a target to the side of the box and have at it.

SR

You are assuming it isn’t a one way trip so to speak.

True. About 30 years ago, in one year there were at least a dozen people that brought me cats to exterminate. Now, I realize there are other options that can be explored first.

If you used a rubber archery target to stop pellets, would that ruin it for archery? You could probably still use it for field points, but broadheads may get damaged if they hit a pellet.