Simple rubber mat backstop design

[Yaremkiv]

We've seen the stall mat backstop a thousand times but this simple portable design might work for someone so I thought I'd post it. Pressure treated 4x4 and 2 6'x4' rubber mat's. I made sure the matts had room to swing freely above grass, brush and snow. I could easily bolt on another 6" strip to the bottom to lower it if the kids or I keep losing arrows under the targets.

 

[survivalistd]

Nice job thanks for posting pictures

 

[Alpineelk]

I need to build one. How thick of mats are those?

 

[Yaremkiv]

I need to build one. How thick of mats are those?

The mats are 3/4" thick and a carbon shaft field tipped arrow shot from a 70lb bow from 30 yards, penetrated about 30% of the way. Quite difficult to remove the arrow I'll admit but its easier than looking for it in the dirt and MUCH easier than telling your neighbor you skewered his dog.

 

[spike camp]

You could always just hang it lower, if that would be easier.

The stall mats certainly will stop an arrow, but damn they’re tough to pull, and if you’re shooting BH’s…forgetaboutit!

 

[Alpineelk]

Ya that's wat Im worried about is pulling them. But I've done my fair share of grass looking and that sucks. I've dug arrows out of fences and trees that also sucks

 

[CMF]

Quite difficult to remove the arrow I

but damn they’re tough to pull, and if you’re shooting BH’s…forgetaboutit!

Ya that's wat Im worried about is pulling them.

Pulling them is a breeze with a little shot of WD-40 on the backside. Just screw a cupholder on the back side of the 4x4 and leave a small can down there.

 

[Yaremkiv]

Pulling them is a breeze with a little shot of WD-40 on the backside. Just screw a cupholder on the back side of the 4x4 and leave a small can down there.

Damn ok thats good to know

 

[insanelupus]

I over built mine using two layers of stall mats. Next time I'll just use 1. I used a swing set frame to hang it. Cheaper than buying the steel to build my own frame, though not as stout. But the mats are close to the max rating of the swing set. Lol.

Pulling arrows can be tough. I've found if i dribble a little dish soap above the arrow on the far side of the mat (unscrewing the broadhead too) they usually pull backward without too much issue. Bonus, rain washes the soap off eventually with no damage to the rubber and no oily residue.

 

[Mighty Mouse]

Unscrewing the broadhead (sometimes field point too depending on the size/shape of the FP) then tapping the arrow backward with a mallet has worked pretty well for me to remove arrows from a stall mat backstop. I haven't used any lubricant as others have suggested, but I'll give that a try next time.

 

[hoyt-guy]

Looks good!

 

[beretta_man11]

Nice work.
I've built a few backstops like that in the past and in those experience I've learned that those mats will make you look like an uncoordinated toddler when trying to load them in your truck by yourself. It's like loading a wet spaghetti noodle that weighs as much as a bag of quickcrete!

 

[Yaremkiv]

Unscrewing the broadhead (sometimes field point too depending on the size/shape of the FP) then tapping the arrow backward with a mallet has worked pretty well for me to remove arrows from a stall mat backstop. I haven't used any lubricant as others have suggested, but I'll give that a try next time.

I've also thought of using a mallet to help the insert get through the mat.

 

[Shraggs]

These are what we built for our club they really work great!

We’re considering these for our long range rifle project. Similar to how some indoor ranges capture bullets - hard back like steel or 8x8 timbers with two layers of 3/4” horse Matt’s spaced an 1” or so apart.

 

[doc holiday13]

The mats are 3/4" thick and a carbon shaft field tipped arrow shot from a 70lb bow from 30 yards, penetrated about 30% of the way. Quite difficult to remove the arrow I'll admit but its easier than looking for it in the dirt and MUCH easier than telling your neighbor you skewered his dog.

X2. I have one of these at my house

 

[nubraskan]

I'm going to have to give that WD40 trick a go next time...
Typically I've been giving my RIP TKOs a hit of turtle wax hybrid a coulple times a year (same stuff meant for cars), works great for removing them from normal targets but doesn't help much for the horse stall mats.

 

[ianpadron]

One of the seemingly infinite advantages of traditional archery is that with a standard field tip my arrows bounce right off a horse stall mat past about 10 yards LOL