Hanging AR500 gongs from my target holder

wahoowad · Sep 18, 2024

I have a rebar-based target holder I use at my gun club's rifle range. It's maybe 4' wide. Most of my AR500 targets are hung by chains and S-hooks but they usually start walking down the crossbar one way or the other and eventually slide into other hanging gongs. It happens more with my smaller gongs as they jump and twist more from hits than the heavier 6" and 8" gongs. Any suggestions for trying to keep the chains in place?

the_assman · Sep 18, 2024

metal hose clamps or zip ties around the top rebar

the hose clamps could be loosened and repositioned if you wanted to slide the targets around

bkincaid · Sep 18, 2024

Cut lengths of pvc or emt conduit to place in between the targets.

tadawson · Sep 19, 2024

Weld on washers?

Ranchhand · Sep 19, 2024

I use fire hose and have washers welded to the rebar.
I like hose way better than chain for hanging targets.

MarshallDodge · Sep 19, 2024

Rubber garden hose, cut for the separation distance.

A more elegant solution would be shaft collars

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wahoowad · Sep 19, 2024

Ranchhand said:
I use fire hose and have washers welded to the rebar.
I like hose way better than chain for hanging targets.

Do you find the heavy firehose dampens the ring from a hit on the gong? I feel like my gongs on chain ring a lot louder than the ones I hang using this heavy duty conveyor belt material. At one point I switched to the conveyor belt material because chains inevitably get shot to pieces.

tna9001 · Sep 19, 2024

Replace the cross bar with #8 rebar or better and you won’t have to worry about this.

Aftermath · Sep 19, 2024

tna9001 said:
Replace the cross bar with #8 rebar or better and you won’t have to worry about this.

Yes...^^^THIS. That big sag is contributing to your issues. Move the heaviest targets to be closer to the legs, too.

wahoowad · Sep 19, 2024

tna9001 said:
Replace the cross bar with #8 rebar or better and you won’t have to worry about this.

How so? The jumping of the gongs (the chain really) has more to do with the slack introduced when the gong gets hammered and not the flex in the rebar I've chosen. I have considered thicker rebar just to eliminate the flex but my current stand won't accept the thicker rebar without rework, and I have to hump all this steel to the end of the range and I have to make 2 trips if it gets any heavier (also carrying a bucket with my gongs, chains, etc.)

wahoowad · Sep 19, 2024

Aftermath said:
Yes...^^^THIS. That big sag is contributing to your issues. Move the heaviest targets to be closer to the legs, too.

Ahhh, OK I see why you guys are suggesting this. Yes, I'll try to mod my stand to accept the heavier cross bar.

stello1001 · Sep 19, 2024

Just weld washers or little stems every 8 inches or so as you see needed.

wahoowad · Sep 19, 2024

FYI - I usually don't hang the heavy IDPA, although plan to do so next time for some open sight shooting we'll be doing. Normally there is not as much flex.

Good point about hanging heavier stuff to the ends

stello1001 · Sep 19, 2024

Also, to keep the sag from sagging more, you might want to add a 3rd leg in the very middle to give it more support.

Aftermath · Sep 19, 2024

wahoowad said:
FYI - I usually don't hang the heavy IDPA, although plan to do so next time for some open sight shooting we'll be doing. Normally there is not as much flex.

Good point about hanging heavier stuff to the ends

MO Fugga · Sep 19, 2024

Gators work well too, the strips of semi truck tire found on the highway. Instead of chains or hose.

tna9001 · Sep 19, 2024

wahoowad said:
How so? The jumping of the gongs (the chain really) has more to do with the slack introduced when the gong gets hammered and not the flex in the rebar I've chosen. I have considered thicker rebar just to eliminate the flex but my current stand won't accept the thicker rebar without rework, and I have to hump all this steel to the end of the range and I have to make 2 trips if it gets any heavier (also carrying a bucket with my gongs, chains, etc.)

Perhaps you are right. I’m not a mechanic engineer but it makes sense to me that if the crossbar isn’t moving as much then target will move less as you are removing one movement from the system.

carbonbased · Sep 19, 2024

This system from Atlas Target works great! He doesn’t do a great job of differentiating it from his regular stand, however. Maybe you could use some of his ideas…I’m lazy and bought it last year.

You use a 3/4” black pipe (for strength) as the crossmember and 3/4” EMT for legs.

That additional “C” shaped piece (circled in red) really holds the setup together when a gong is smacked hard, and also when one is moving the target around. For the latter reason I’d get the C even for rimfire legs too.

See, with that “C” piece attached the legs don’t fall inwards when the whole stand is picked up.

It’s a little hard at first figure out how to install it but once you do, it’s genius.

If you order just his leg kit I’d definitely have him add it. You call to call or email, though.

The hanger attachments are low maintenance too, and the diamond-shaped holes on the gongs lock onto the hanger with no screws. Easy to remove too, 1 sec.

On centerfire KYL, he uses hose clamps to limit the hanger+gong from moving. On the rimfire version he uses pipe spacers plus two slightly fancier collars on the ends of the spacers.

Here’s the full centerfire version with that extra C piece.

Know Your Limits (KYL) Target

This target ships for FREE! CNC Laser cut AR500 steel for clean, precise cuts Package includes (2) AR500 Pipe Leg Brackets (5) AR500 Pipe Hooks and Hose Clamps (5) Round AR500 Gongs The kit comes with everything you need except (5) lengths of 3/4" EMT Conduit or 3/4" Black Pipe. Targets do NOT...

www.atlastargetworks.com

Here’s some cheaper options (but call to get that extra C)

Gong Hanger Kit - Single or Double Hooks (Parts shown in red)

The fastest and easiest way to mount your target. AR500 construction means it's nearly indestructible!

www.atlastargetworks.com

Conduit/Pipe Leg Brackets

CNC laser cut AR500 steel Tapered legs allow 3/4" EMT Conduit to wedge on Comes in a set of 2 Just add 3/4" EMT conduit or black pipe to build your own target stand If you want the best possible target shooting experience check out these leg brackets in my favorite gong hanging kit These leg...

www.atlastargetworks.com

I don’t know the dude or get kickbacks etc. just love his product.

carbonbased · Sep 19, 2024

He’s also starting to offer SR500 steel, which is much tougher than AR500. Read about it here:

The Evolution of Steel Targets: Why SR500+ is a Game Changer

SR500+ vs. AR500/AR550: The Future vs the Past! If you just want the short of it, SR500+ is a purpose built ballistic steel made from the ground up to withstand bullet impacts whereas AR500/AR550 was made for the mining industry to resist abrasion. SR500+ is much harder than AR500 meaning it...

www.atlastargetworks.com

I ordered before he offered that

reelserious · Sep 19, 2024

T post or fire hose works well also

Ranchhand · Sep 19, 2024

wahoowad said:
Do you find the heavy firehose dampens the ring from a hit on the gong? I feel like my gongs on chain ring a lot louder than the ones I hang using this heavy duty conveyor belt material. At one point I switched to the conveyor belt material because chains inevitably get shot to pieces.

I have no problem hearing the impacts. I couldn't tell you if it's dampened though, no chains to compare.

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