Shooting Steel - Want Information on Mounting/Hanging Solutions!

Scarab · Mar 19, 2015

I'm getting some rimfire steel targets and some AR500 3/8" steel targets. Now I have to decide how to hang or mount them.

Chains or Cable? I was at the range this weekend with someone shooting an M1 Garande at a gong at 100 yards and he was having to stop the line constantly to fix his chains as he was breaking them every 5th shot or so. Let me be clear: He was NOT shooting the chain, it was from the impact and movement of the gong that was breaking the chain. Obviously not strong enough.

I'm sure you COULD find a chain that could hold up to the abuse but that would be huge chain. I'm thinking 1/4" cable for the AR500 3/8" gongs.

So, what do YOU ALL think? What have you used SUCCESSFULLY to support gongs without constant breakage?

All ideas and comments WELCOME!

Thank you in advance!

Scarab

Tactics · Mar 19, 2015

I am interested and subscribed.

I have some small steel targets and I am currently working on mounting them. I have some stands that should work, but I haven't ironed everything out yet.

rseymorejr · Mar 19, 2015

I've seen them mounted with fire hose, I use chain and so far no problems.

OrbitalEllipses · Mar 19, 2015

This seemed nifty since you can just use rebar you picked up at Home Depot or similar: http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2015/01/tyler-kee/gear-review-last-stand-target-system/

Scarab · Mar 19, 2015

rseymorejr said:
I've seen them mounted with fire hose, I use chain and so far no problems.

Rimfire or Higher Power with chains?

Scarab

Ganegrei · Mar 19, 2015

Try hanging them using a fabric. Something that the shots will pass through. At least for a good long time. Old fire hoses work well.

Scarab · Mar 19, 2015

Ganegrei said:
Try hanging them using a fabric. Something that the shots will pass through. At least for a good long time. Old fire hoses work well.

I'm not concerned with hitting the chain. I'm concerned with the chain not being able to handle the impact from the movement backward. That's what what happening to the guy at the range.

Scarab

rseymorejr · Mar 19, 2015

Scarab said:
Rimfire or Higher Power with chains?

Scarab

Both, our club has only shot our targets with center fire rifles once so far but they got quite a work out then. We hang them so that the target leans forward a little bit, they swing some but that's all.

The chain that we use came from walmart, can't remember the size but a 3/8" bolt fits through the link

tsmith1499 · Mar 19, 2015

If he has them hanging straight down with no angle that will put more stress on the chain than if you do it like the AR500 website shows you how to. I've done it the way they show and never broke a chain yet. The angle is the key. Need to deflect energy downward. Were his targets swinging wildly?

Scarab · Mar 19, 2015

tsmith1499 said:
If he has them hanging straight down with no angle that will put more stress on the chain than if you do it like the AR500 website shows you how to. I've done it the way they show and never broke a chain yet. The angle is the key. Need to deflect energy downward. Were his targets swinging wildly?

Yes, they were connected on the two corners of the gong with about 12" of chain. How do you angle the gong back/down with chain?

Scarab

lx1x · Mar 19, 2015

Using eye bolt

http://s764.photobucket.com/user/jaston87/media/Guns/targetstand1.jpg.html

Parshooter · Mar 19, 2015

At a private range for handgun and rimfire I use Shepherds hooks with a snap ring or chain quick link to suspend up to 10" round steels. For heavier duty go with above.

rseymorejr · Mar 19, 2015

Scarab said:
Yes, they were connected on the two corners of the gong with about 12" of chain. How do you angle the gong back/down with chain?

Scarab

I run 3/8 x 3" bolts through the holes in the targets and run 2 nuts and 2 flat washers on each bolt, with the chain link between the washers about 1 1/2"-2" back off of the target so that the target is offset and leans forward a bit at the top.

Laddertowr · Mar 19, 2015

I used schedule 40 1” pipe for all my AR500 Target Stands. in order to hang the AR500 I use a small pipe hanger over the pipe and use 3/8” threaded rod in various lengths and just bend a L shape where I slip the AR500 target over each rod as needed.. This doesn’t work well where the AR500 only has one eye as the threaded rod will spin in the hanger. For all my single eye Ar500 I used landscape timber to make my frame and then used a Hinge. On the cross piece I put a 1x1 stripe of wood across the length then used exterior screws to where I could place clay pigeons between the screws and they were held in place.

outrider58 · Mar 19, 2015

Not sure of weight or size of the plates. What about heavy duty rubber bungees?

vinjet700 · Mar 19, 2015

may wanna consider 1/2 inch for high calibers.

not sure 3/8 is gonna last too long. especially at 100yds. JMO

shooting steel is so much more fun than paper.

Jerry M · Mar 19, 2015

People will hit the chain eventually. Last time i used eye bolts, ran a 6 foot piece of rebar through them, bent down the ends and set them into the ends of pipes driven into the ground.

Good luck

Jerry

Scarab · Mar 19, 2015

lx1x said:
Using eye bolt

http://s764.photobucket.com/user/jaston87/media/Guns/targetstand1.jpg.html

What connects the chain to the eye bolt???

Scarab

tball · Mar 19, 2015

I recommend using fire hose, the rounds pass through the hose. Come out and shoot as a guest at our steel plate rifle shoot at the AGC this Saturday from 9:00 - 3:00 p.m. and see how we do it.

Scarab · Mar 19, 2015

tball said:
I recommend using fire hose, the rounds pass through the hose. Come out and shoot as a guest at our steel plate rifle shoot at the AGC this Saturday from 9:00 - 3:00 p.m. and see how we do it.

Where do you get firehouse from???

Scarab

Shooting Steel - Want Information on Mounting/Hanging Solutions!

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