Practice Target
Connecticut
Contributors to this thread:
Using field points and and after trying numerous targets on the market, i kept on bending, breaking or having my field point lodged in the target. I have tried numerous types on the market from the Block, bags and deer targets I got frustrated and it gets rather expensive. So i have a target that works on both compound and cross bow with no issue. Utilizing carpet squares and placing them in a box. the box gets shot up but certainly easy to replace and the carpet holds up well. Just thought I share since you may have same issue or want to save a little cash.
Woods,
I've done something similar in the past, using a box filled with rags. If you really pack the rags in it takes awhile for the box to get shot up to the point of needing replacement. When you reach that point as you said it's really simple to just empty the shot up box and fill up a new one. Definitely cuts down on the expense too!
Yes, I did same. However it seems the carpets squares do a better job. But if you seen me shoot takes a refrigerator box. LOL
I liked that small ryno circle with many flat sections but it was 79 /89 $ so I made my own out of great stuff insulation in a can I started of by filling a large paper bag then putting The bag into a slightly bigger box all the while spraying as muck inside as I thought would cure nicely. Took about 4 cans .. about 5 dollars each so not exactly free but I could have made any of the small target types .. I simply peeled off the box with a bread knife cut it into to shape and painted it . I don't use it all the time but it's taken hundreds of shots over the last 5 years stays outside all year long and still works great . It stops an arrow even at point blank rang 10 ft or so .. I hang it from a tree and shoot at 30 plus works great .. I had a bunch of the stuff insulation left over after a big window job .. I first started using it to fill the whole in my 3D deer witch it also works great on and gives you a nice yellow target .. I just overfill the hole so its like a replaceable yellow blister/ bullseye on my 3D .. good luck guys
Have you tried using "fatter" field points? A field point just wider than the shaft (insert laughter) should allow you to pull your arrow out of any target. For a home made target, I buy a target bag at Halls and fill It with plastic stop and shop bags. Takes about a year to fill it but lasts forever. I out a board and weight on top to compact the bags. I've got one in my basement (10yds) and one outside.
Buckndoe how much are the target bags at Halls? Do they hold up?
I got a stack of obsolete cartons from work and used metal strapping to draw them together tight and shoot into the edges. Works great for the backyard.
Jerry,I've had the yellow jacket supreme for a about 10yrs outside until I destroyed it with broadheads,currently have the big shot 450 outside for 5 yrs now.so far so good...got them both at Newburys..
I think the bags were under $10. I think they are Morrell bags. They last a long time. Key is to pack them tight, roll the top and seal with zip ties.
Are fp bigger in dia thah your arrows ? Ifd so they get stuck on the way out
IMHO, a fatter field point is not a good idea on a foam target. The foam expands back around the shaft after the point passes in. That would work like a barbed broadhead and make it tough to remove.
I fill my plastic burlap target bag with polyethylene plastic (water softener bags). They don't absorb water like rags and last for ages. I've replaced the cover bag many times with the same fill. The plastic bags hold grain, which is used by some home brewers I know. I also suspend the bag from a line on top and bungee cords staked in the ground on the bottom. The bag moves, but recovers quickly because of the two bungees on the bottom corners.
Why didn't this thread happen before I spent $133 (with coupon!) on a target? It looks nice though, so I got that going for me...
Blunt tips and squirrels make dood 3D fun .. try using a peanut butter lick in front of an old target ..its harder then you think . They can dodge your arrow at 20 ft if their looking or on edge .. if you can double lung a squirrel you can sure kill a dear
Is baiting legal for squirrels?
I've got a 4-foot tall sawhorse in the back yard with an old rug screwed onto the top part. Good backstop for the big rubber blunts. Even better with a carpet square reinforcement in the center....
I remember one time at the club, this guy shot at a target, hit the edge and was unable to pull the arrow out. I watched them for about 10 minutes pulling it to no avail. After they gave up and said there goes a $12 Arrow, I walked over and just unscrewed the field point by rotating the arrow and gave it to him. Sometimes smart is better strong.
I have a block type target made by Bone Collector that I got at Cabelas a few years ago for 60-70$. I shoot at it year round and it has withstood well over 1-2000 shots from 6 yards and is still if very good condition. Field points. No broad heads.
I had an old tarp, an old pool cover and a bunch of plastic bags from buying mulch. Sewed the tarp into a bag cut up the pool cover and the plastic bags and put it into the tarp. It has survived 3 yrs but is getting long in the tooth.. Only problem is one year I hurt myself and did not shoot for a few weeks. In that time yellow jackets decided the inside of the target was a good place to nest.