DIY Dueling Tree

[Fig]

A professional one costs in upwards of $500. They sell a set of six 4” AR500 paddles and DOM tubes for $70.

Has anyone welded one up? Any advice? I’ll post pix when I start putting it together, but between the paddles and some angle steel I’m thinking $100 for something entirely serviceable and likely better than a store bought one... I’m not making the tree part AR500. I don’t plan on putting it beyond 400 yards...

 

[spaniel]

I made one with one of these kits; bought 2 4-paddle kits and made one with 8. I welded the tubes in the groove of an angle iron as the vertical. I made an H stand and the angle iron attaches with a pivot so I can use a turnbuckle to adjust the forward lean of the tree....more for higher energy rounds, less for 38s or 22.

Make sure you weld them far enough apart so you can get the paddles back out.

I have only used pistol on mine. I expect a centerfire rifle may beat them up pretty bad with the velocity it will swing them. The paddles are harder than the tubes, they can bite into and chew them. I ground the sharp edges of the paddle stem round to help with that a bit.

 

[Bradu]

I've considered building one for a couple years now but it seems like it's a challenge to get people to shoot with. I wanted to make on with 2 8", 2 6" and 2 4" paddles since a lot of my shooting is 600 yards. I was planning on doubling up the angle up front so it doesn't dent it too bad and cause issues with the tubes. It would be ideal for a shop to cut a 2" wide strip for a protective strip.

 

[Fig]

I’m only planning on using it for .22, so even AR500 is overkill.
Post some pics if you can. Especially some close shots of the details. What I’m picturing sounds very similar if not exactly what you did, but I’d like to see it.

 

[grinnergetter]

Made this one out of 1/4 AR something that no one wants to buy. It has been plasma cut and welded the hell out of it. 5000+ rounds so far with handgun ammo. Used 1/2 angle for the post. Just needed to lean it forward enough to get the targets to swing completely when hit.

 

[ken4570tc in WY]

I wonder if a person could put together something thicker and larger for the LRP folks. I may have to put a welder rancher friend to work.

 

[Bradu]

I wonder if a person could put together something thicker and larger for the LRP folks. I may have to put a welder rancher friend to work.

Most of the kits online have the ar500 paddles. Protecting the upright is the key for using it with rifles so it doesn't deform and cause issues with the tubes.

 

[Fig]

My base:

As you can see, I am a self (un)trained welder. More is more. The square tubes are very light, and the tube to hold the tree is very heavy. I’ve got about a 20 degree forward cant. I’ve got 1/4 stainless steel angle. I think it’ll take a match bullet, but we’ll see. I’ll update when the paddles and tubes get here.

 

[RickyRodney]

look online there are "2x4 protective ar500" strips for sale around that could be cut to serve as protection for the angle that holds the paddles/DOM tube.

 

[Fig]

The angle 1.5"X1.5"X1/4" by 6' and cost me $5 out of the odds and ends bin at Shapiro Metals. I figure it might be a lot cheaper to just get another piece when this one gets shot up, or even just weld another piece ontop of this one if it starts to get shot up...
DOM tubes onto the angle:

 

[Fig]

Done... total $94 and some flux core wire.

 

[Fig]

Shows 20 deg forward cant.

 

[black5.3]

Not too shabby! What did you do to secure the angle iron/post into the tube base?

 

[kswaterfowl]

Whoa, those welds though.

Just messing with ya Fig. It's amazing how much money you can save by building your own target stands.

 

[Fig]

Yes, the weldz iz ugly, but theyz holdz. It is amazing. They’re outrageously priced across the board. People iz lazy.

 

[Fig]

Not too shabby! What did you do to secure the angle iron/post into the tube base?

I started to grind the pipe, but it was thick, hard steel, and after 10 min it was looking like it would take an hour, so I shimmed it with some thinner steel I had. Looks ugly, but it’s solid.

The angle itself fits snugly in the pipe with a piece of corner steel over the top. It’s just sitting there by gravity, but it’s not going to twist or go anywhere.

This thing should work. When I poke a paddlewith my finger, not even that hard, it wants to flip and then stay there. I’m hoping a .22 is enough to flip them, but if not a 9mm surely will or a rifle @ 100.

 

[black5.3]

Ok i see what your talking about.. it should work well.

 

[Peterpan]

I built one and bought a diy kit. I ended up doubling up the vertical angle iron piece so I could shoot 40s at it. It was flexing to much. Good job on putting it together. Looks good