Hang Fast Target System

[vinconco]

I've been working on the easiest way to hang a steel reactive target for a couple years now and I think I have finally worked out the bugs.

I wanted:

A target that would protect it's hanger from bullet damage
A reactive target with a good amount of easy to spot movement when hit. Or can be easily configured to hang steady when hit.
As few parts as possible
NO WELDS !!!!
Would work with existing target plates
Would use the ubiquitous and cheap T POST as it's backbone.
Would NOT BREAK OR FAIL. These tests used a 12 ga 1 oz rifled slug at 25 yards to test the system for endurance.
Easy and quick to set up

I would really appreciate any feedback that this knowledgeable forum could provide.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0ZMclPDM3M


This is the same plate used in the previous video that was held by a single bolt
It was hung with a short piece of chain on the bolt that allows the target to be more reactive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoNLcEtFo_o


You can hang large steel on the same bracket too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOMwc9p0kU4

 

[serevince]

Looks like it works great. My only concern would be the bolt head on the target face. My luck I would shear that off with the first shot everytime.

On the plus side it looks like you would get great target life. The angle and movement looks like it would bleed off the majority of the energy.

Nicely done.

Cheers

Vince

 

[vinconco]

Looks like it works great. My only concern would be the bolt head on the target face. My luck I would shear that off with the first shot everytime.

Vince - I was concerned about that too and opted for "Grade" bolts, specifically plow bolts used on farm machinery. That said, most all hanging targets use some type of bolt to attach the plate and in 30 years of shooting at "bolted" plates I've only ever sheared one bolt and that was a soft 3/8 carriage bolt that I happened to "dead center" with a 308 at 200 yards. It completely splattered the bolt head and drove it through the target dropping it to the ground. Since then I use "grade" bolts which will take the hits without disintegrating.

 

[sdkidaho]

That's pretty cool - I like it.

 

[crowdog7]

Go Down To your Local Ace Hardware Store & Ask For "Grade" Bolts And They'll Ask "Which Grade?"
You're probably Referring To "Grade 8" Bolts.

 

[xdeano]

Grade 8's are what I used to make something very similar on a target system. I like your chain idea.
Xdeano

 

[vinconco]

I'm using grade 8 bolts. I have used regular hardware store carriage bolts in the past and have only ever shot through 1 of them in thousands of rounds.

 

[JC Steel]

Yes Grade 8 bolts are the only way to go. Thats what we send with all of our targets and hangers. They just last a long time compared to the alternative.