Looking for DIY target stand ideas

[mtuck]

As the title says, I'm looking for some DIY target stand ideas. Preferably stuff that can break down and stow away in the garage without taking up a ton of space. Any pictures would be appreciated as well.

 

[TomPHX]

Honestly, the birchwood casey, adjustable stands are usually cheap enough (sportsmans wharehouse usually has them) and small enough, and work great. I tossed out my DIY stands years ago.

 

[knockonit]

so, what kind of target, steel gong type, steel stand for wood leg stands, all kinds of target, we shoot mostly steel, and i have made a fold up target base that uses a couple lathe and carboard for a site in stand for pistols and rifles, it can easily fold up and only takes a stapler to assemble legs and backboard
best of luck with goal
rj

 

[Boriqua]

RJ has the perfect question. Really depends on what you plan on shooting.

If it's paper. It's hard to beat some pvc. I love the stuff. With all the connectors you can configure a ton of stuff and when your done pull it apart and it stores small. I live in a small home and travel by motorcycle. I am always looking to have things that break down and I have done photography tents, computer stands and small target supports among other things. And .... It's inexpensive. Making a larger stand this weekend to play with my slingshot in the back yard.

If it's steel gongs you might go visit the plumbing section again for threaded pipe or go electrical and get some emt. Both have a bunch of fitting so you can break it down for travel

 

[smithers599]

I had my neighbor the welder make me some of these. Two advantages to using a 1x2 for the crossbar:
- Very compact storage
- Adjustable width in case you are using wider or narrower targets

The only change I would make would be to add holes in the metal for securing the bases to the ground with big honking spikes from Home Depot, to keep the targets from blowing over in the wind.

 

[Buckshot Bill]

You might also look at using pvc pipe for a framework. I don't have a link to recommend, but youtube shows a number of them that just fit together, then slip the joints apart to haul in your vehicle and store.
The only [possible] minus might be that you have to use a sandbag/rock, etc. to anchor the base.
BB

 

[Vyadmirer]

PVC and a couple “furring strips” for the poles is your ticket.

https://www.guns.com/news/review/portable-pvc-target-stands-can-life-get-any-easier

 

[zold]

PVC and a couple “furring strips” for the poles is your ticket.

https://www.guns.com/news/review/portable-pvc-target-stands-can-life-get-any-easier

I did something along these lines and it works well. Also, when the kids shoot the wooden strips beyond repair, they are cheap and easy to replace.

 

[the1_roadrunner]

I've made several stands using 1x2s. I always make the base attachable with 1/4 screws and wingnuts so no tools are needed to assemble.
Another option I use is the plastic folding stands commonly used for real estate "open house" type diplays.
My favorite is the AR500 steel target base and hanger that use a wood 2x4 as the verticle member connecting the two. You can cut the 2x4 for whatever height you want and replace as necessary.
RR

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IJ0Y8DI/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_image_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K8SDLWI/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_image_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Note- those legs slide out of the base for further break-down

 

[Half Cocked]

For steel gongs I use 3/4" emt electrical conduit with canopy fittings from Yuma's bargain warehouse. The conduit is cut into 5 ft sections.

 

[Ballistic Therapy]

All I do is take a 4x6 about 2 ft long and cut a groove in it about 1 inch deep the length of it with a skill saw.
Then stick a piece of cardboard in the groove.

 

[Azchilleverde]

I use a rebar stake and weld a piece or rectangular tubing to it. I can take a bunch of these and a hammer together to the range and pound them in the ground where I want them. They take up alot less room for me and once pounded into the cround, are tipped over if the wind picks up.

 

[Steelturtle]

I use these "Shepard's Hooks" to hang steel plates. Takes up no room and last forever. They make them in different heights too

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Garden-Accents-48-in-Steel-Painted-Metal-Shepherd-s-Hook/3343660?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-lwn-_-google-_-lia-_-243-_-verticalgardening-_-3343660-_-0&placeholder=null&gclid=CjwKCAiA17P9BRB2EiwAMvwNyKRwfajayYMaKbycgcbLf-uLqapmY7cXRldu3DKDK002HlAsJNa4aBoCSlgQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[Pro2a]

This is half DIY, I ordered this two pack on ebay.
You can widen them out to have multiple targets on one stand, and use longer sticks on the leg portion for those breezy desert days.



https://www.ebay.com/itm/Premium-Adjustable-Steel-Metal-Target-Stand-Base-for-Paper-Shooting-Targets/264437676635

 

[picodroid]

I too can recommend the Birchwood Casey stand. I got mine for like $30. The uprights will run you about $3 at Home Depot.
To make storing it better, I cut the uprights in half (3' segments) and used some mending plates and bolts to attach them. Loosen the bolts to fold them up and store away, extremely simple! And if the boards get ruined, it's as simple as drilling another hole in each segment and moving the mending plate/bolts to the new boards.
Biggest complaint about the BC stand is that each half (of their metal base) is T shaped so it doesn't fit into a normal sized bag fully, and it's heavy. So if you've got to hike out to a shooting spot, it's going to add a good 10 or 15 pounds to what you're carrying.

If you want to DIY, you can essentially copy the design but you may have a hardertime making it quick to assemble/disassemble.

 

[Hammer 35]

I use these "Shepard's Hooks" to hang steel plates. Takes up no room and last forever. They make them in different heights too

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Garden-Accents-48-in-Steel-Painted-Metal-Shepherd-s-Hook/3343660?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-lwn-_-google-_-lia-_-243-_-verticalgardening-_-3343660-_-0&placeholder=null&gclid=CjwKCAiA17P9BRB2EiwAMvwNyKRwfajayYMaKbycgcbLf-uLqapmY7cXRldu3DKDK002HlAsJNa4aBoCSlgQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I would have never thought of those. How large of a target can you hang from one? I might have to get a couple of those too hang smaller gongs for 22's.