Hey all. I currently use a foam practice target I got from Wal-Mart. I'm having problems with pass throughs on it now, so I'm thinking of making my own out of layered courragated cardboard I have lying around from boxes. How well will this work? I'm using my '12 Alpine React, set to 28 1/8" and 50lbs, shooting 28 3/4" Victory V6 arrows with a 100 gr field point.
Get a burlap sack, and stuff it TIGHT full of rags. Just make sure to remove any zippers, etc. I have had mine for years, and it is still perfect. The best part is. It is dirt cheap.
X2 - Denim works great for this and if you can, cut it into strips so you can get it packed in there good and tight. When I'm making one of these I look for garage/yard sales for boxed old clothes for sale, I found a great deal at a local church sale that had big bags of clothes for rags at 1$ a bag! I had a 4$ target that lasts to this day. If it gets weak or loose I fluff it up or add some more rags into it.
Great ideas guys. Any thought on how you could water proof a target as well? Like to leave one at a camp site.
Here at my work they get sand in huge woven nylon bags and it's about the exact same material as a "store" bag target. I have used contractor weight garbage bags double layered , they will last for a good long time and are cheap to replace. I have also wrapped heavy mil sheathing around them and they will last awhile too. Sorry when I go cheap, I GO cheap LOL.
maybe like a paint on rubber that seals up the burlap to make it water proof. but it may leave residue on your arrows.
Here is one I made, Needed to replace my last DIY target. So here is how I did it. These are signs are corrugated plastic. See if the coke guy has any he is going to throw away. I first bend the signs in the middle.I cut up some plywood old stuff I had laying around. Old pallets what ever you have. I then staple it to the corners.
Then cut some more supports for all the edges and staple them in. forgot to mention I cut this one in half 15" deep and got 2 targets out of it. Once the supports are in I use house wrap as a facing folding the edges and stapling it to the supports keep it tight. Then start filling I used old clothes with no buttons zippers. Plus the layer in between is plastic wrap
more filling and then another layer of clothes comes after that. Second facing goes over that. Some plywood to flatten it with weight. Then pull tight and staple to the supports Done. Then a point blank shot and its good. Two finger pullout. Yeah I like that!!! Then a little spice up and you can enjoy.
That looks great! I've been saving up all my #50 seed bags. I might have to get some rags and make some targets
Made it last year or the year before. Just had to staple new facing on it. I have also made 2-3.5 x 4.5 targets for my indoor range. Love them.
I've watched some videos on this in the past and most of them were about the burlap/rag idea so I wouldn't hesitate to give that a try.
If you have landscape material, house wrap, feed bags or even lumber wraps you can face it at no cost. The target was cheap. I bought staples $3 worth. Woooo hoooo!
Wow, thanks guys for the quick replies! I have PLENTY of burlap sacks somewhere, I'm going to have to give them a try! And Hutch~n~Sons, thanks for the very detailed instructions, I might have to try that next! After I find those sacks, I'll post it on here if anyone in the Chanute, KS area needs one.
I use a large burlap bag with some old couch cushion foam stuffed inside then a layer of old carpet on each side of the foam between it and the burlap. A couple stitches to close up the bag and spray paint a few dots. When it gets worn simply slip it into a new burlap bag and add another layer of carpet to each side. I even leave mine outside in the weather. They hold up remarkably well for a target made of trash. Easy arrow removal as well.
