Richochet Proof Targets

[Sir Henry]

In a previous post I talked about the Quiets richocheting off my pans. I sprayed this paper target hanger Orange so it will be easy to see. I can now shoot Quiets safely at it at 25 yards. For the picture I was only about 10 yards away. From 25 yards it will have about the same amount of berm behind it.

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I bought three more and will put them together tomorrow and place them at 50 yards. The berm area is still muddy.

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[North Country Gal]

That's a great idea, Gene. Should do the trick.

[Sir Henry]

That's a great idea, Gene. Should do the trick.

Thanks Joanie. I want to have something out before the snow flies. I can always put cardboard and targets back in them so now I have the best of both for rimfire and pellets.

[North Country Gal]

For sure, if you plan to hang anything from poles, now is the time to get the poles in before the ground freezes. I'll be putting up our winter bird feeders next week.

[fortyshooter]

Great idea! So is it attached to what looks like a piece of conduit elbow fastened to the corn stalk post?

[Sir Henry]

Great idea! So is it attached to what looks like a piece of conduit elbow fastened to the corn stalk post?

It’s an old mailbox hanger sitting in concrete with cornstalks tied to the pole.

[daytime dave]

Good idea.

[Hatchdog]

Great idea, the black would get lost in the berm (or at least until you get some snow). That orange really stands out and would work equally well in dirt and snow.

[BrokenolMarine]

Another Option is to drive two T-posts into the ground several feet (Ten?) apart. Take some parachute cord or thin wire and run between them and you can hang targets from it with wooden / plastic clothes pins. I bought plastic shoot and seal targets, but the round plastic lids from the one pound coffee cans are free. Heavy calibers will tear the coffee can tops up pretty quick but with .22s they actually last pretty well for free. IF you do mess up and shoot the paracord or wire, no biggie, run another piece.

I use paracord here in OK and take it down when I'm not shooting because of the (dang) cows. I put a loop in one end that goes around a pole, and the other end loops around the other pole and comes back to a caribiener tied in the proper location. I can then pull the cord tight and tie it off with a temporary knot.

In VA the range was not in the pasture area so I used .40 safety wire like we used on the Aircraft. Lasted forever if you didn't shoot it. The safety wire can be bought online fairly cheap and has 1,000 uses around the farm. Attach a cattle panel to a gate, safety wire. Tie down a flapping tarp? Safety wire. Amazing stuff, especially if you buy the special pliers and know how to use them. (I learned on the aircraft, but there are videos.)

I bought CHEAP spring clamps so targets hung below the wire and the clamps rarely got shot. Visitors to the range were told shooting clamps was a $1 fine for small clamps and $2 fine for large ones. No one ever complained about the fines and they were more careful that way. I bought cheapo clamps on line or at Northern Tool or Harbor Freight in mesh bags.

Don't have a picture of the shoot and seal targets ON the safety wire, but here are a few mounted on a real estate sign. THEY last forever, I still have them. These just have bent coat hangers run thru them.

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[Sir Henry]

I’ve actually thought about something like that. I see portable metal clothes line frames here in Wisconsin and think they would work too.

[BrokenolMarine]

Once the rain stops, I'll try and shoot again, and take some pics of my paracord setup here in OK.

[BrokenolMarine]

Not the brand I have, but I will likely order a few:

https://throomtargets.com/

[Sir Henry]

Not the brand I have, but I will likely order a few:

https://throomtargets.com/

I’m going to check them out. Hopefully I’ll get some targets up before the next ice age.

I think this might be the best solution and I’m hoping they won’t get buried in snow. It’s the drifting that is the potential problem.

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40 grain solid SV rimfire sould be perfect at 50 yards based on these figures.

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They say they won’t shatter even at -40F.

[BrokenolMarine]

If you're worried about drifts, get the hanging throoms, plant the 8 to 10' t posts in front of your berm about ten or fifteen yards, and run the wire or line between them, with the targets hanging for the winter. They will dance and jump when hit.

[Sir Henry]

If you're worried about drifts, get the hanging throoms, plant the 8 to 10' t posts in front of your berm about ten or fifteen yards, and run the wire or line between them, with the targets hanging for the winter. They will dance and jump when hit.

That’s what I want to do. The problem now is the freshly moved clay is loose and muddy. I tried walking on it and my boots weighed ten pounds each because they picked up so much mud. Once grass grows on it next summer it will be fine when it gets wet.

[Sir Henry]

I finally assembled the three bullet traps I received a few weeks ago because I bought a bench to put them on. Two benches were less expensive as one trap. They are really flimsy as a sitting bench but will serve as a trap stand perfect.

It’s too cold to paint them white for the winter and the inside of the traps will also need to wait till spring to be painted a bright color.

I’m hoping they will be far enough above the ground to be out of the snow.

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[Sir Henry]

I set one out on the stand. Haven’t shot at it yet as it’s only 9F out. The stand in the distance to the right is a few feet in front of the berm. The new stand to the left is 10 yards in front. It will be shot 25-35 yards. The stand to the right is 50 yards when shot from the established firing line. I can shoot anywhere in front of that line.

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[North Country Gal]

Since we are on the subject of ricochets, just make sure that any frame you use is flat and can withstand hits without cratering or bowing. Yes, I have had ricochets when a pellet hits a cheap, flimsy frame that you find on cheap air gun spinner targets. For my air gun shooting, I've gone more and more to spinner and reactive targets that are rimfire rated for the sake of durability and avoiding ricochets. My low powered air guns sometimes don't have enough oomph to flip these heavier steel targets, but hits are still pretty obvious.

[Sir Henry]

Since we are on the subject of ricochets, just make sure that any frame you use is flat and can withstand hits without cratering or bowing. Yes, I have had ricochets when a pellet hits a cheap, flimsy frame that you find on cheap air gun spinner targets. For my air gun shooting, I've gone more and more to spinner and reactive targets that are rimfire rated for the sake of durability and avoiding ricochets. My low powered air guns sometimes don't have enough oomph to flip these heavier steel targets, but hits are still pretty obvious.

I’m shooting more and more rimfire and less pellets now that I can shoot rimfire in my backyard. I’m still shooting Quiets but now just at the traps. Frying pans wasn’t such a good idea for the Quiets. They are still good for 40 grain SV and anything more powerful.

I put the last two traps out and shot 20 rounds before I came inside again to warm up.

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[North Country Gal]

Very cool.We have some the very same metal targets on our airgun range. I see you have two of the squirrel field targets. We have a crow boar and a rat, which reminds me that I need to pull them before they get buried in snow.