PVC Target Holder

Intro: PVC Target Holder

This instructable will show you how you can create a target holder out of 3/4" PVC for about $10-15. You could also use 1" PVC to make it a little more stout, however it will cost a bit more.

Lets get started with what you need.

Tools:
Hacksaw or PVC Pipe cutter
Measuring tape
Pen or magic marker
3/16" drill bit
Drill or drill press
Knife or scissors
Hammer (optional)
PVC Cement (optional)

Parts:
3 x 10 foot pieces of 3/4" PVC
4 x 3/4" tee
2 x 3/4" 90 degree ell
4 x 3/16" 2-1/2" eye bolts
1/4" flat washers
10 feet of parachute cord or other string/rope
2 x binder clips

I got the idea for this stand from the following site: http://www.alpharubicon.com/leo/pvctstandc.htm

STEP 1: Cut the Pipe!

The first thing to do is measure and cut your PVC pipe. For this you will need:

Tape measure
Marker
Saw/cutter

You will need to cut the following number of pieces:

2 x 4' long
2 x 3' long
6 x 2' long

To get the most out of your PVC pipe, and even have a spare piece, cut the pipe as described below. Doing so will leave you with a 4 foot piece left over. This will allow you to replace any piece should it be subject to collateral damage.

PVC Pipe # 1: 2 x 4 foot pieces, 1 x 2 foot piece (Total of 10')
PVC Pipe # 2: 2 x 3 foot pieces, 2 x 2 foot pieces (Total of 10')
PVC Pipe # 3: 3 x 2 foot pieces, 4' spare

STEP 2: Drill Some Holes

This step involves drilling some holes in the four foot sections of PVC for the eye bolts. I used a 3/16" drill bit in a drill press for this step. Where you place the holes is entirely up to you. You can place them depending on what size targets you'll shoot. I made mine so it would accommodate standard B-27 targets as well as 25 meter M16A2/M4 targets.

I placed my holes as follows:

1 1/2" from the top and bottom
6" from the top and bottom

Try to get the holes as centered as possible. If it's off center a little it'll be okay, it'll just look a little weird. Mine aren't perfect but nobody will know........except for you.

STEP 3: Assemble the Pieces!

This step is pretty straight forward. You can glue the pieces together if you want, however the pieces fit fairly snug and it will be impossible to take apart for transporting, and difficult to replace pieces that are subject to collateral damage. I used a hammer to tap the leg pieces into the tee and the 3 foot top piece into the 90 degree ells.

Make the legs:

Take three of the two foot pieces and put them in one of the Tees. Do this twice.

Next put a Tee on top of the two foot piece that is sticking up.

Place a three foot piece between the two legs.

Make the frame:

Take a four foot piece and stick it in the empty hole in the Tee on each side.

Put the 90 degree ells on the remaining three foot piece. This will go on top of the four foot pieces.

Attach eye bolts and parachute cord:

Place your eye bolts in the holes you drilled in the previous step.

Cut a piece of parachute cord a little over 3 feet long. Tie one end to one of the eye bolts. I used a half hitch. Do the same on the other side making sure that the cord is taut.

At the bottom, you will need a piece that is just over 6 feet long. Thread it through each eye bolt and then join the ends together with a square knot. Make sure it is taut before tying the knot.

If you don't know how to tie knots, then Animated Knots will show you step by step how to tie every knot imaginable. 

STEP 4: Go Shoot Em Up! Transport & Storage

When you get to the field just assemble your stand and use the binder clips to hold the top of the target. Place the bottom of the target between the two pieces of parachute cord at the bottom. This will hold the target in place if there is any wind.

When transporting you can just twist one of the four foot pieces and wrap the parachute cord around it. You can wrap all the pieces together with a piece of wire or even put the pieces between the four foot pieces and hold them together with the parachute cord.

The stand shouldn't take up much space when being stored. I just stuck mine inside some shelf brackets along with other short pieces of left over pipe.

Comments

[Mbrockman5]

Oh ok. I use the same targets at work, but those are "government supplied". :-)

[magic monkey]

Ah gotcha, yeah they have basically any target you could ever want there. FBI, NRA, Mil-spec, Zombie...everything

[Mbrockman5]

I like this idea....Where did you get the targets?

[magic monkey]

Thanks! I get my targets from letargets.com

[TNCupRanch]

Anyone complaining about fragile PVC and stray bullets might need more practice... LOL! :-) Nice project!

[magic monkey]

Good point! Glad you liked the project.

[blodefood]

I can see other applications for such a frame. It looks stable enough to substitute 4 foot sections for the two foot ones making it 8 feet high and you have a "penguin" to display fabric banners at a trade or art show. Disassembles to a small size for portability. Great 'ible!

[magic monkey]

That is a good thought also. You could also put quilts or the like on it although I would probably increase the diameter of the PVC due to the weight.

[larryflew]

ABS plastic is softer and the bullets go through it many times before it is no longer usable. Doesn't shatter like PVC.

[magic monkey]

True however ABS doesn't come in as small of a diameter and is ever so slightly more expensive. However I can't get ABS where I live so PVC it is.

[alcurb]

Cool setup. I would recommend to make a couple copies of the stands, mostly the vertical and horizontal pieces. One stray round can easily shatter the PVC and ruin your target practice day.

[magic monkey]

Always a good idea to have spares, if you cut it right you'll have at least a 4 foot section left over to replace any part that gets busted.

[bgepp1]

so true - I made one of these for a 100 yard range and in about four minutes a 30.06 stray round rendered the PVC unusuable. Definitely bring replacement pieces.

[MissouriVillian]

Saw a version of this at the range a few weeks back, liked it then and like it now. Good build and good to see shooting related 'ibles.

[jadronx]

love the backstop

[esemjay]

You this could make a pretty good pellet catch for airsoft rounds too. At the top right and left use a "T" connection instead of the elbow. Add a short 1 inch piece and an elbow on each "T". Face the elbow towards the back. Build a square. Then just hang a piece of material like a sheet, pillow case, or table cloth off the back. Put the bottom end of the sheet in a box and collect all your shots.

[gazillabytes]

Awesome. A cheap and portable target holder. Nicely done.

I made one very similar to yours. We target shoot while camping in the desert and to keep it from blowing over I fill the base tubes with sand and added caps on both ends. I figured somebody would have shot and shattered one of the tubes by now but so far, so good.

[magic monkey]

I had thought about that, there is plenty of it around here in the ground for free. I would just worry about it leaking out in the car while transporting it, but I supposed you could just cover the hole with duck tape.