DIY Target Frame

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DIY Target Frame

Post by YoungSC » 15 Jul 2019, 4:18 pm

Before my last farm trip, I wanted to buy a target frame to hang my 1 foot gong, so I could have a crack at hitting it from over a kilometre. I wanted this to be based around star picket legs, as this was a more portable solution. I already had the gong following an impulse buy with a gift voucher.

There was a guy in Perth that I've bought from previously, but after some internet stalking, I discovered he'd moved over east and closed down his business.

STS Targets was my next option. They, at the time sold a star picket topper, but it was out of stock and at a recent glance, no longer sold.

I turned my mind to a DIY option and opened the Bunnings website to see what I could do.

The design intent was something similar to the STS topper. The key ingredient was a pair of ‘Whites Stake Drivers’. When I removed the rubber handle there was a welded rod handle.

By inserting the handle in to each end of a metal tube, I was able to drill a 7mm hole through each and secure with shaft lock pins. The chain is hung off the rod with U-Bolts and the gong is attached to the chain with cup head bolts.

Here is a finished product, minus the star pickets. The hit was my only one at 1.4km. Took me a few to get on as I didn’t know the exact distance and started short. My calculation was based on 1km.

Gong Target - Internet.jpg
Gong Target - Internet.jpg (339.1 KiB) Viewed 2224 times


The beauty is the Stake Driver is designed to hammer in star pickets, so you can position the star pickets underneath each Stake Driver and hammer them in to the ground.


Here are the parts I used, in case anyone wants to make one. I'm going on memory for some parts, as I'm not positing this from home.

Gong
Buy from gun store. Mine is made by Champion.

Whites Stake Driver (2)
https://www.bunnings.com.au/whites-stake-driver_p3040807

Shaft lock pin
https://www.bunnings.com.au/goliath-6mm-locking-pin_p4230122

Metal tube
https://www.bunnings.com.au/metal-mate-19-x-1-2-1m-galvanised-steel-round-tube_p1130447
(Thicker wall is better. Spot the bullet hole above. Easily replaceable if that happens)

U bolt (2)
https://www.bunnings.com.au/zenith-20mm-galvanised-u-bolt_p2310506

Cup Head bolts (2)
https://www.bunnings.com.au/zenith-m12-x-65mm-stainless-steel-cup-head-bolt-and-nut_p2310420
(The square insert needs to fit through the gong mounting hole)

Washer (2)
https://www.bunnings.com.au/zenith-m12-stainless-steel-round-flat-washer_p2430054

Chain (1m)
https://www.bunnings.com.au/pinnacle-8mm-5-16-galvanised-chain-per-metre_p4310901
(Make sure your bolt fits through the chain link. I didn’t for v1 and used carbiners, but they come apart with repeated impacts. Bunnings can cut in to 2 x 0.5m lengths)
YoungSC
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Re: DIY Target Frame

Post by TassieTiger » 15 Jul 2019, 4:47 pm

I drive two star pickets into the ground 1m apart, suspend a chain between them (1.2m) then hang the gong on the chain via a shackle...done.
Tikka .260 (Z5 5x25/52)
Steyr Pro Varmint .223 - VX 3
CZ455 .22 & Norinco .22 (vtex 4-12, bush 3-9)
ATA 686 U/O 12g & Baikal S/S 12g.
Adler a110 reddot
Sauer 30-06 - VX 3
Howa 300 win mag. SHV 5-20/56
Marlin SBL 45/70
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Re: DIY Target Frame

Post by YoungSC » 15 Jul 2019, 5:06 pm

Good simple design. I now feel like I've spent time in my garage making this frame, that could have better been spent watching shooting videos on YouTube. :D

You might also have some nice old Tassie clay to drive in to. It's largely a sandpit where I shoot, so the posts aren't as secure, especially if you hit limestone. :(
YoungSC
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Re: DIY Target Frame

Post by TassieTiger » 15 Jul 2019, 5:12 pm

Million ways to skin a cat mate - any time in the shed is better than time on a PC :-).
Come to think of it, my targets might not be very strong - I’d have to hit them to know I guess....
Tikka .260 (Z5 5x25/52)
Steyr Pro Varmint .223 - VX 3
CZ455 .22 & Norinco .22 (vtex 4-12, bush 3-9)
ATA 686 U/O 12g & Baikal S/S 12g.
Adler a110 reddot
Sauer 30-06 - VX 3
Howa 300 win mag. SHV 5-20/56
Marlin SBL 45/70
TassieTiger
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Posts: 3704
Tasmania

Re: DIY Target Frame

Post by Wombat » 15 Jul 2019, 7:29 pm

I've repurposed a stand that was made for something else- bugger to cart around but its been in the same place for nearly ten years now.
Thanks for linking the post driver, I'm going to have to pick one of them up. Somehow I think I should give up on the slide hammer one my ex borrowed off me.
Wombat
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Re: DIY Target Frame

Post by CrackThump » 16 Jul 2019, 6:14 pm

YoungSC and Tassie.... Im writing you both onto my xmas list :D .. brilliantly simple ideas, I love it..
CrackThump
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