Hanging Steel Targets

Joined
May 1, 2018
Messages
61
Location
North Dakota
I have a shooting range in my back yard. My son and I have tried everything. Chains, conveyor belt, steal cable, etc. Switched everything to these from Amazon about a month ago and think these are the final answer!

AR500 Steel Target Hanger... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BDF6YBH5?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Those look interesting and I'll have to order some for my range to try out. Do you happen to use them to hang smaller targets, like 3 inch or so? I'm wondering if the smaller targets wouldn't flip off of the shallow hooks?
 

03mossy

WKR
Joined
Feb 25, 2020
Messages
525
I have them on gongs from 3" to 10" bullseye gongs and even on some animal gongs and so far so good. I've only tested them with .22 and 9mm so far but I will hit them with a 10mm this weekend and see.
 

realunlucky

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jan 20, 2013
Messages
13,140
Location
Eastern Utah
Truck stop heavy duty mud flap for a semi.

Convor belt is more durable but not as easy to work with.

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Joined
Dec 30, 2014
Messages
9,727
T-posts are the only way i've used to hang my personal steel targets. Need to be able to drive them in the ground obviously but that seems easier than hanging from a rack of some sort.

Hang fast targets makes some easy/economical hanging solutions but theres a pile of different options for t-post hangers.
 

Lawnboi

WKR
Joined
Mar 2, 2012
Messages
8,399
Location
North Central Wi
Iv tried all kinds of stuff and have broken pretty much everything. I have access to fire hose and agree it works well but even that only lasts so long and I got sick of dealing with broken bolts and cracked plates. Chain and regular t posts were about useless with any real use.

The below is what I have moved to for a portable target stand. Short of ar500 t posts I havnt found better. For someone shooting matches the bottom stand mimics an ar500 t post in target reaction, which is nice for learning to read impacts.

For long range public land I’m moving to the conduit stand and 1/4” steel.



 
Joined
Feb 16, 2021
Messages
1,364
Location
Eastern Oregon
I've been using a single t-post with a stainless s-hook from amazon. Hammer one end of the S-hook around the eye on the steel and drill a hole in the t-post that fits the other end of the hook.
 

Dogone

FNG
Joined
Dec 25, 2023
Messages
64
Our range has drill stem stands. About 4 ft high and 8 ft wide. On the back are welded chain hooks for 1/2 in boomer chain. Each swinger has two holes and a long bolt through chain. Hook on crosspiece. Use two inch bolts and don’t tighten all the way so swinger angles back.
15 years and 100s of thousands of rounds. Only ever change a bolt once in a while. I don’t think some of you are using heavy enough chain.
The uprights are pounded in to the ground and crossbar welded on.
 

Beendare

WKR
Joined
May 6, 2014
Messages
9,034
Location
Corripe cervisiam
Those look interesting and I'll have to order some for my range to try out. Do you happen to use them to hang smaller targets, like 3 inch or so? I'm wondering if the smaller targets wouldn't flip off of the shallow hooks?
I had to put more bend in the ‘S’ hooks holding my Steel plates- then, no problem
 
Joined
Aug 19, 2019
Messages
832
I’m gonna hang a couple with old baler belts this summer. Planning to bolt to the steel and go from there.
Or I’ll just mount em in a T post


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Joined
Apr 18, 2024
Messages
24
We also use old fire hose. I got tired of replacing chain and have found it to be a great alternative.
 

ID_Matt

WKR
Joined
May 16, 2017
Messages
1,556
Location
Southern ID
I like T-posts and the slotted hooks from JC steel. I have not used any sort of rubber strips but I don't think I would like waiting for the target to settle before I could shoot again.
 

FLS

WKR
Joined
May 11, 2019
Messages
826
T post and hangers. I’ve run 3 gun matches, precision matches and pistol matches.
T posts, hangers and a slotted plate have held up better than anything.
 

nubraskan

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Dec 9, 2023
Messages
154
2 T posts with a treated 2x4 across the top, then I'm hanging the gongs with some heavy gage wire or chain. The wire is nice for smaller gongs, it holds up to spall and you can replace it very quickly and cheap.

I do have some old horse stall mats and tires I've been considering cutting up to try hanging with those based on a few suggestions.
 

PineBrook413

WKR
Shoot2HuntU
Joined
Nov 26, 2020
Messages
625
Location
Northeast
My rifle range at home the steels 100-200 yards are hung with chains and some scabbed together 2x4 frames to hang from. Simple and works pretty good, but i do occasionally need to repair broken chains

On my pistol range 5-35 yards i'm using t-post hangers and i've got some smaller 2"-8" gongs hung using Shepards hooks. That has been working very will and has taken many thousands of rounds. The Shepards hooks will fail if you shoot them a few times.

I got a large roll of conveyer belt from a buddy and i'm looking forward to trying some strips of that soon.
 

swavescatter

Pain in the butt!
Joined
Apr 3, 2021
Messages
1,267
Hanging steel targets are commonly used for shooting practice and training. They are durable and provide immediate feedback with the sound of the bullet hitting the target. When setting up steel targets, it's essential to ensure a safe shooting environment by following proper guidelines for distance, angle, and caliber restrictions to prevent ricochets and ensure safety during target practice.

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