Let's see them targets!

[heretic]

I'm getting tired of shooting out my bag targets and replacing them every couple of years. I've done the whole song and dance of re-packing and re-bagging targets, however over time I get less and less shots out of them before they're just absolutely useless. Case in point I had two pass throughs at 50 yards last night.

Now that I'm at the stage in my life where I'm making big boy money, I'm considering either making or buying a big boy target (something that's permanently outdoors). I'm looking for something on the larger side where I could comfortably stretch my shots out to much longer distances. What are you all shooting? What has worked for you for repeated long-term abuse?

 

[BTaylor]

Maybe the easiest for what you are describing might be making a compressed layer target with the foam floor tiles would be 24" wide by as tall as you want to make it. Cut the tiles in half, couple pieces of 2x12, 4 pcs of threaded rod, nuts and washers. For full time outside, maybe a cover of some sorts.

 

[BackSpasm]

Maybe the easiest for what you are describing might be making a compressed layer target with the foam floor tiles would be 24" wide by as tall as you want to make it. Cut the tiles in half, couple pieces of 2x12, 4 pcs of threaded rod, nuts and bolts. For full time outside, maybe a cover of some sorts.

have you done this??

 

[BTaylor]

have you done this??

I have been considering it and have watched a couple youtubes on it. I built a portable target for my trad bow with a combo of the foam floor tiles and some layers of a dense foam insulation. Made a 24" x 24" lightweight target that stopped field points and broadheads fine for a while. Mostly built it for shooting broadheads at the house because at the time I had a bag target. It lasted approx. 4-500 shots with 10% of that being broadheads.

Layered horizontally and compressed some should last a lot longer and it would be easy to replace an area getting shot out without rebuilding the whole target.

 

[Gator]

Bulldog targets

 

[heretic]

Maybe the easiest for what you are describing might be making a compressed layer target with the foam floor tiles would be 24" wide by as tall as you want to make it. Cut the tiles in half, couple pieces of 2x12, 4 pcs of threaded rod, nuts and washers. For full time outside, maybe a cover of some sorts.

This is pretty much the exact rabbit hole I find myself going down! Turns out floor mats are a lot more expensive than I remember them so they may not be the best option currently. After some google-fu sessions for a better material I found this archery talk thread. Looks like they are referring to fiber board material, stuff like celotex/homasote/bildrite. Still weighing my options but for the price of stopping material, compression machanism, frame, wheels, and roof I would only be saving around 100 to 200 as compared to getting something like this. Hence this thread

 

[BTaylor]

This is pretty much the exact rabbit hole I find myself going down! Turns out floor mats are a lot more expensive than I remember them so they may not be the best option currently. After some google-fu sessions for a better material I found this archery talk thread. Looks like they are referring to fiber board material, stuff like celotex/homasote/bildrite. Still weighing my options but for the price of stopping material, compression machanism, frame, wheels, and roof I would only be saving around 100 to 200 as compared to getting something like this. Hence this thread

Harbor freight has the best pricing on the foam floor tiles. As far as I know, havent found anything cheaper.

 

[Cthunter]

have you done this??

I have done it multiple times. I work for a basement remodeling company so we end up throwing out hundreds of the tiles every year..I leave my target outside and the foam stays good. My newest one I used alluminum angle and stainless threaded rod to sandwich it. Was using plywood and after a few years it would rott out. I'll try and get pics

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

 

[Horn]

I haven't used these but some on AT say they're good. Shipping the big one is probably silly expensive

Shop – BlobTargets.Net

blobtargets.net

 

[NMSbowhunter]

I've been considering buying one of those big horse stall mats, the black rubber ones about 4x6 foot and hanging it so the top is stationary and the bottom swings. I doubt any arrow would go all the way through one.

 

[Bowtechassassin]

If your buying a target for just field points bulldog targets. I've shot I don't know how many arrows at close range working on form and never worried about one going through. 3 years later still haven't had one poke out the back. If you want to shoot broadheads look at matrix targets there exspencive but one hex will out last a whole broadhead target.

 

[elk yinzer]

Kinda in the same boat except we just stretched the budget on a new car so I'm thinking of going el cheapo.

I'm on year #10 of my Rhinehart that has like 16 sides or whatever. It's been great but it's about toast. May just get another. I don't shoot a ton, and the few times a year I shoot broadheads I shoot a layered foam wallyworld special.

I've had my eye on a matrix target for awhile though. They seem to get pretty good reviews and the modular aspect makes sense to me.

 

[thedutchtouch]

I've been considering buying one of those big horse stall mats, the black rubber ones about 4x6 foot and hanging it so the top is stationary and the bottom swings. I doubt any arrow would go all the way through one.

People are using the horse stall mats as backstops, and they do stop an arrow but are reportedly a bit hard to get the arrows out of (and some claim a lot of "shock" for the arrow decelerating that quickly?), I haven't heard of anyone using it as the actual target though a few YouTubers have videos shooting directly into them to test them. I'm planning on getting one to hang behind my backyard deer/foam block some day soonish

 

[The_Fit_Ness_Monster]

Rinehart. End of story. I have 3 forest bores, 1 coyote, 2 XL blocks, 1 turkey Tom all Rinehart and I have 2 Delta Mackenzie shooter bucks all purchased at the same time and have been throughout my yard, in the woods, but 100% outside year round in Louisiana of all places and they’re going on 4 years now and and 1 of the XL blocks is going on 6 yrs and sometimes up to 8 or so people shooting on them consistently and still perfect, minor fading from the sun, that’s the rineharts, the DM’s are still good but after about a year my compound was already passing through them due to foam integrity and the sun stiffens them up too. they’re still here but I don’t shoot them at all they’ve retired to my kids bows. There’s a reason why every outdoor range you see has Rinehart, they last, PERIOD. Same as Sitka, worth every penny they just want a lot of pennys lol

 

[jsh909]

One other thing that helps targets last longer is a bell shaped target tip. The arrows won't penetrate as far and will extend target life since it saves target depth.
Something like the Trophy Taker ones will do the trick. They have helped my targets

 

[Jimdude]

I have a plethora of targets. The bulldog targets are great for field points but not so much if you shoot with a sleeve on your arrows. . The morrell high roller is great for field tip’s with sleeves. Broadheads tare it apart pretty quickly. I got a factory second blemish Rinehart big Jim. It’s awesome for field tips on my .204 arrows with sleeves. Standard arrows without sleeves need arrow lube after every 3 shots but otherwise fine. I’m not willing to shoot broadheads at it. Best overall target for the price is the one I just made. Takes Broadhead abuse like a champ. Harbor Freight floor mats cut in half and stacked between 2x4’s.

 

[Horn]

I have a plethora of targets. The bulldog targets are great for field points but not so much if you shoot with a sleeve on your arrows. . The morrell high roller is great for field tip’s with sleeves. Broadheads tare it apart pretty quickly. I got a factory second blemish Rinehart big Jim. It’s awesome for field tips on my .204 arrows with sleeves. Standard arrows without sleeves need arrow lube after every 3 shots but otherwise fine. I’m not willing to shoot broadheads at it. Best overall target for the price is the one I just made. Takes Broadhead abuse like a champ. Harbor Freight floor mats cut in half and stacked between 2x4’s.

View attachment 86584

How does the harbor freight floor mat one do with single bevels? Do they twist back out pretty easy?

 

[Jimdude]

How does the harbor freight floor mat one do with single bevels? Do they twist back out pretty easy?

Yes. Easier than any other target I’ve used. They back and guide you rather than you trying to guide them. I don’t have a lot of pressure squeezing right now and the single bevels usually pass through about 5”, so I unscrew them and pull the arrow. I may need to tighten it up since I am shooting it a lot while I’m broadhead tuning. The matts come in 4 packs @ $10. I used 6 4 packs.

 

[Jammintree]

I have a plethora of targets. The bulldog targets are great for field points but not so much if you shoot with a sleeve on your arrows. . The morrell high roller is great for field tip’s with sleeves. Broadheads tare it apart pretty quickly. I got a factory second blemish Rinehart big Jim. It’s awesome for field tips on my .204 arrows with sleeves. Standard arrows without sleeves need arrow lube after every 3 shots but otherwise fine. I’m not willing to shoot broadheads at it. Best overall target for the price is the one I just made. Takes Broadhead abuse like a champ. Harbor Freight floor mats cut in half and stacked between 2x4’s.

View attachment 86584

A buddy of mine also made one of these targets, but he used carpet cutoffs. He went to a carpet installer and asked them to save narrow scraps. It works really well, though I’m not sure I’d shoot full metal jacket arrows at it all that often.

 

[mathhunter]

Here is a similar target I made but using carpet padding (which I got for free) rather than foam pads. I attach a piece of cardboard with dots painted on the face for something to aim at. It's worked really nicely so far. I'm looking forward to seeing how it handles broadheads.