Self healing targets - diy

[Zappa]

While trolling the youtubes as you do, looking for DIY targets, I came across quite a few US folk making self healing targets which basically are a high density rubber mat, that dont disintegrate when fired upon.

Has anyone experimented with something like that? I went to Bunnings this arvo and checked out a few garage type rubber mats but to me they don't look sturdy enough. They seem to have the texture and fabrication of rubber cork which I doubt will withstand a 9mm conical bullet.

[Wapiti]

Chinese "rubber" will absolutely disintegrate in the presence of UV rays very fast and yeah, either go to bits like cork or go all sticky and greasy.
The Chinese targets made for the expectations of American companies are made to last a helluva lot longer, so as to not tarnish the brand image. Hence the expense.

[Wapiti]

You not interested in the many AR500 targets available online? Many shapes and sizes and your shots can be seen clearly if you give them a spray with cheap matt line-marking spray in either white or black.
Can be hard to see the holes from any reasonable distance in self-healing types especially after they've got a bit ragged.
They last forever in most cases, although you usually have to make the frame and find some chain to hang them. So there's still a bit of DIY there to figure out.

Some campers brought out some steel targets that came with a slip-together steel frame, it was in one of those Chinese-made sets that had "everything you need". The frames soon disintegrated from the bullet fragments and just from the shock. They asked me how to repair the soft steel frames and dog-chain type hangers but really they needed new frames, bolts and real chain, they were stuffed from one weekend.

[bladeracer]

While trolling the youtubes as you do, looking for DIY targets, I came across quite a few US folk making self healing targets which basically are a high density rubber mat, that dont disintegrate when fired upon.

Has anyone experimented with something like that? I went to Bunnings this arvo and checked out a few garage type rubber mats but to me they don't look sturdy enough. They seem to have the texture and fabrication of rubber cork which I doubt will withstand a 9mm conical bullet.

I've shot a lot at rubber, and it doesn't strike me as very useful as a target as you can't see the holes. I use rubber as a backing to stop the bullets though.

[Blr243]

I had some of those rubber Bunnings Matt in camp one day and I needed to test zero on a rifle. They are def not self healing. But you can custom order Eva foam of different densities and dimensions

[Blr243]

Not from Bunnings u need to order from an Eva foam specialist