Using metal posts for a target stand?

[chaseface]

So I found some metal stakes in my yard. They are like the kind you would use for a barbwire fence posts. But not the quarter to half inch thick kind, they are really thin like probably 1/16th" thick. They are very thin and not very strong metal. Would it be unsafe to use these as handgun target stands? I would place them on either side of a peice or cardboard with a target on it. the carboard would be connect to the posts with some wire. I know that I won't hit the metal post close range (10 yards) but I'm worried about if I let other people shoot at it, and really just the general safety of it. Obviously the thing concerning me is ricochet.

[Voo]

No, it's nothing to worry about.. just that any bullet that hits those stakes is going to cut your target stand in half.. So it's a 1 shot kinda deal :-)

Definitely be aware that if you let "others" shoot at it, it's invariably going to get hit.. Not only that, the whole target will be like a large sail as soon as there's any wind.. this will more than likely also topple your target or cause it to bend and wobble..

But no, ricochet's are not a concern beyond what they normally are.. That metal is so thin that bullets are going to just cut right through it.. I'd be surprised if you got any ricochet at all.. I'd actually be more worried about hitting a rock on the ground and having something chip and fly off of that than actual bullet coming back.. (it goes without saying that everyone should be wearing safety glasses to begin with)

[chaseface]

Thanks, this is what I figured but I just wanted to be sure.

[Voo]

My buddy Bambam31 actually came up with PVC tubing as the "base" for target stands. He uses some T-sections that he then sticks 1x2 inch (??) planks of wood into. From there, we just staple IPSC targets onto it. This is extremely cheap and its very lightweight and portable as you can break down the stands if you need to for transport. Not only that, the wood stakes are disposable/cheap and can easily take numerous hits. It also does much better when conditions are windy as you can reinforce the base by adding ziplock's full of sand or large rocks.

Just to give you a rough idea, here's a list of the PVC materials you'll need to build them:

4 (90degree) elbows.
2 T-joints
6 "straight" pieces of PVC of various lengths.

I can't remember the inner diameter of the PVC but this is dependent on the length/width of your wood stakes.. but it's all easily done with 1 trip to home depot.. Maybe he'll see it and chime in with specific dimensions..

[Black Majik]

A picture of BamBam-31's target stand Voo is referring to:

[chaseface]

Thanks Voo and Black Majik. Those look great and I may end up making a stand like that.

[BamBam-31]

Not my design. Stolen shamelessly from here:

http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/edu24.htm

Only I made my bases into complete rectangles instead of U's. And no glue. One 10' length of 2 1/2" PVC pipe, two T's, four 90 deg elbows, and one 8' furring strip (1"x2") cut in half is all you need. Cut six 16" lengths of PVC and use the leftover for the legs. Easy peasy.

Man, you guys are up late.

[Milsurps]

I know that I won't hit the metal post close range (10 yards) but I'm worried about if I let other people shoot at it, and really just the general safety of it. Obviously the thing concerning me is ricochet.

Metal in targets in any form scare me. I built these.
Previous post : http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...31&postcount=9

[smoothy8500]

I have a metal base for my stand that I bought at ALCO targets for $24. However, I was at Burro Cyn and thet advised me I can't have steel out in the range during fire season. I put a link to the stand. It folds up and is easy to use.

http://alcotarget.com/osb/itemdetails.cfm?ID=404