Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting Home made steel gong pic-best hangars?

Interested in see what people are running for home welded steel targets and the method of hanging the steel. I see many chains that are blown off. Some types of straps, carabiners, etc. Is there a pretty reliable system to copy?

Jesse, I'm using a kind of afro-Engineered set of stakes pounded into the ground, with a cross bar fastened to them with bailing wire.... until I can get an uncle to help me weld in some brackets or something to keep it secured.

My method(s) of hanging my plates up have been many, because like you said, bullets and shrapnel are hard on plates. If a guy wanted to do it on the cheap, he could cut out a few feet of and old tire, make a loop out of it, and run a bolt through the whole setup and have an indestructible hanger. That's what I'll be doing soon.

I know scenarshooter, Sendero_Man, and JordanSmith all have really good ways of steel hanging.... hopefully they'll come along and throw up some pics.

Think Scenar uses some type of straps. Jordan post steel pics but I don't recall how it's hung. I saw your pic with parts or tabs blow off. Made me think there is probably one, proven method. I've got an idea for a modular 1" square tubing idea in my head for easy frames to break down and transport with 5 min of welding. But I've seen tons of pics with blown off chains rigged to plates.

You use any special plates? Like the AR stuff?

I do believe Pat uses rubber type straps, and Jordan uses chains. Jordan has a great little hanger setup that he welds, maybe he'll post a pic or two of it.

My hanging tab got blown off the first time I was shooting my drops with my 243 A.i, and I sent one about .5 Minute high and right. I should've shot another plate before I started whacking that one. Dumbass....grin

I think modular 1" tubing would work well until you started pounding it with shrapnel and big bullets hitting your plate(s) might be kind of rough on it, too. I guess it all depends on how it's set up and fastened. Seems like rubber strapping is the best way to keep it on tight.

I use AR500 and some pieces of mild steel I got for free.... but AR500 is the only way to go really.

Long story short, if you aren't a cheap ass like me, and know how to run a welder, you'll be able to build some effective stands. I will say that posts pounded into the ground seem to provide the most effective base.

I use grade 8 bolts through 1/2" AR500 plate with conver belt hung over a cross bar on 2 tee post. We also have a keyed hanger system, but I'm not an advertiser so I cannot link to my site.

Will be running and gunning public land clear cuts. So I have to be pretty mobile. Set up, shoot, take down. Will have to lug up and down nasty schitt too. That's why I thought a modular approach to the frame would work best. But rebar posts or other with a top rod to hang from ala Cowboy Spit would probably work too.

I made a couple of target stands and also use a chunk of "belt" to hang the targets.





Breaks down easily into 4 T-post's, two angle brackets and a top post. My top post is a big piece of re-bar,...wouldn't be the best thing for "packing" in on foot.

Getting ready for the shoot....

I use AR500 3/8" plate. Even a .338LM won't scratch it.

Old baler belt cut with a band saw and drilled for 3/8" hardened bolts, a flat washer and a lock nut(facing the back). I use a 3/8" caridge bolt to hold the loop together on top. That rubber belt will take hundreds of hits and keep working.

I've tried chain without much luck....too much repair time.

There's a guy over on Sniper's Hide that makes and sells the re-bar brackets. His screen name is "Ace". I use 4' long legs and crossbar, 1/2" diameter.

Not a bad idea to have a few spare legs along....seen a few of those get shot in half. I won't mention any names....grin!

My first stands were basically two "H" frames, with a hinge at the top. Opened them up to the shape of "A". They were a little bulky to transport though.

Many thanks. Good options. I just need to be able to bail off the side of steep clear cuts to set up and scramble back up. Not packing in miles, but a bit of vertical.

Any substitutes for a baler belt? I'm fresh out.

How do you and Pat have the same 'yote target? That looks like it's worth investing in.

http://www.jcsteeltargets.com/

This guy is a really good dude....

+1

This where all of my steel targets came from, but for the record, the "yote" is about the size of a big fox.

I have quite a bit of that belt material. Pay the shipping and I will send you some.

I'd be more than happy. PM me a will send you some cash. Many, many thanks

RedGun, could I also possibly get some belting from you? I'll gladly pay.

Very nice my friend ! gonna be fun times

How much/many "strips" do you want? This will determine the size box I will use for shipping? The USPS flat rate box's: the $5.95 small one wouldn't hold but a strip or two, but the $12.95 one will hold quite a few.

Just PM me & let me know

I think I'll only need 1 or 2; I don't have too many plates.

I'll PM ya.... Thanks!

Thanks for the tips. JC Steel is a reasonable drive from here, and I might be able to redirect some shipping dollars into more steel.

I can't count the bailers around these parts. I'll have to start poking around for dead belts.

Been cutting and hanging belting the last few days, I'll take a few more pics of different ones tomorrow.

A few of them are hung kinda high to keep it above the weeds(like the one in the pic,also that is not where the target will stay,its just sitting where i was working on it).I'm using carriage bolts on the plate right now only because I have a gross of them..I recommend a good grade 8 for the plate. Belting is the way to go.

I have a variety of homemade and commercial steel target setups on my range. An old fire hose makes a virtually indestructable hanger for a steel target. I got a complete junk hose from my local fire department and have used about half of it so far.