1,000 Yard Target Frame Design Search

[Killick]

Looking for an economical yet sturdy design for 1,000 yard target frames. I estimate E-Targets would run approx. $16-18,000 for a 4 position set up. Our ranges 1,000 yard area can only accommodate 4-6'x6' target frames. The most user friendly manual target system I've used are the pipe-in-pipe, counter weight Coalinga frames. The've been there for decades and run up and down like butter (with a little diesel oil spray to prime them). Pics and links would be appreciated.

 

[Keith Glasscock]

For manual frames, I really like the cantilever design of Ben Avery's frames. The downside is the tendency to blow down under high headwinds. On the other hand, that may protect the targets from getting shredded during a big gust.

 

[Immike]

The most user friendly manual target system I've used are the pipe-in-pipe, counter weight Coalinga frames. The've been there for decades and run up and down like butter (with a little diesel oil spray to prime

That's the best space efficient and everything considered design I've found.

 

[Killick]

For manual frames, I really like the cantilever design of Ben Avery's frames. The downside is the tendency to blow down under high headwinds. On the other hand, that may protect the targets from getting shredded during a big gust.

I agree, Keith. The other downside is they are not space efficient and can get cockeyed and interfere with neighboring targets.

 

[DRNewcomb]

Most of the carriers I've used have been less than really satisfactory. Here's another forum's thread on the topic. https://www.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=9&f=14&t=232555

 

[Rick Ratzlaff]

It take a lot of steel to engineer cantilever type frames and have them rock solid. I'l see more than .5" flop in very little wind.

The best is tubing (round or square) cemented in with sleeves to run up an down on a pulley / counter weight system. You don't need the full length out sleeve. Just a foot or so in length. But make sure the pipe is heavy enough, probably 3/8".

 

[Steve Blair]

Looking for an economical yet sturdy design for 1,000 yard target frames. I estimate E-Targets would run approx. $16-18,000 for a 4 position set up. Our ranges 1,000 yard area can only accommodate 4-6'x6' target frames. The most user friendly manual target system I've used are the pipe-in-pipe, counter weight Coalinga frames. The've been there for decades and run up and down like butter (with a little diesel oil spray to prime them). Pics and links would be appreciated.

Coalinga's target frames are the easiest I've ever pulled. The diesel smell is often not noticeable when there's an easterly breeze.

 

[Killshot]

Steve, that hydrocarbon smell is from the oil derricks, not the lube!

Coalinga and Sacramento Valley use the pipe and pulley design, way easier to half-mast the targets than the cantilevers at Ben Avery and the like. Not a very expensive design, either.

PM me your email address if you'd like some photos.

 

[SF-Guy]

Looking for an economical yet sturdy design for 1,000 yard target frames. I estimate E-Targets would run approx. $16-18,000 for a 4 position set up. Our ranges 1,000 yard area can only accommodate 4-6'x6' target frames. The most user friendly manual target system I've used are the pipe-in-pipe, counter weight Coalinga frames. The've been there for decades and run up and down like butter (with a little diesel oil spray to prime them). Pics and links would be appreciated.

I have AutoCAD drawings of the cantilever target frames I can send you. I will send it as a *.pdf so you can open and view, print etc or take to a blueprint supplier and get them printed out. 24x36 "D" format

 

[SF-Guy]

It take a lot of steel to engineer cantilever type frames and have them rock solid. I'l see more than .5" flop in very little wind.

The best is tubing (round or square) cemented in with sleeves to run up an down on a pulley / counter weight system. You don't need the full length out sleeve. Just a foot or so in length. But make sure the pipe is heavy enough, probably 3/8".

There are some problems with telescoping round or square mechanical tubing. from an engineering standpoint they only work well until wind bends something or an errant bullet pings off the frame and dimples it...then it is stuck. anything that slides has to have lube. At Ft Gordon years ago I have a mental image of Jim Kay walking from frame to frame with a tank sprayer and lubricating frames with a grease / kerosene mix to keep them working. Then there is wind...which seems to follow me everywhere i shoot like a big dark cloud (LOL) and that stirs up dust which sticks to the lube. I have always liked the cantilever design. The mechanical designs with chains and sprockets worked well at Perry and most every military range with a front and back (counterbalance) targets. Parris Island had these and they put the 200 yd in front and the 300 yd in back and after they put the 500/600 in place of the 200 targets. worked well but again, mechanical stuff needs attention. also, these designs are usually bound up as multiple targets and not independent. The cantilevers are independent individual frames. Rocket scientists at Oak Ridge ORSA have nice cast block counterweights.
At Blanding there are 5 gallon bucket counterweights and we add rocks or bricks as needed. if yu wanted to improve on the design use a counterweight that i adjustable for its "X" axis position so it can move in / out from the target frame's centerline. out = more weight In = less weight

Cantilevers need a boss welded to support the frame where the fasteners go through to pivot. The holes will wear a little faster without. the parallel angle-iron frames which cause it to go up and down vertical ( or an angular inclination of a couple of degrees forward or back ( more light) can be built in just be where the holes are located) this is a fairly critical hole location to make them do what you want. me? i'm not much for long walks on the beach, holding hands and cuddling ...but i do like neck ties, long hair, turbans with a little fabric blowing, and smokers...as they walk around with these personal wind flags and makes my job easier.

 

[243Mendoza]

Looking for an economical yet sturdy design for 1,000 yard target frames. I estimate E-Targets would run approx. $16-18,000 for a 4 position set up. Our ranges 1,000 yard area can only accommodate 4-6'x6' target frames. The most user friendly manual target system I've used are the pipe-in-pipe, counter weight Coalinga frames. The've been there for decades and run up and down like butter (with a little diesel oil spray to prime them). Pics and links would be appreciated.

The SMT cost $3K/target. How much would it cost to build pits and target carriers (and maybe target pullers)?

 

[Steve Blair]

The SMT cost $3K/target. How much would it cost to build pits and target carriers (and maybe target pullers)?

Electronic targets don't need target stands or pits? No shed to house them when not used? No target faces? No ongoing maintenance or part replacement? Or, does $3k per include all that?

These are obviously rhetorical questions. The intent is illustrating that no system is without cost.

 

[243Mendoza]

Electronic targets don't need target stands or pits? No shed to house them when not used? No target faces? No ongoing maintenance or part replacement? Or, does $3k per include all that?

These are obviously rhetorical questions. The intent is illustrating that no system is without cost.

I don't see why you need pits. Maintenance is minimal. You replace centers if the x-ring is shot out so it takes hundreds of rounds between center replacement.

Who implied that this system is with no cost. The implication that SMT would be a cheaper way to go when building from scratch.

Do you have a SMT system. This obviously a rhetorical question.

No need to be snarky.

 

[Ringostar]

The single I beam system used at Winnaquah is the simplest to build. It has no greasy mess and pull very easy.

 

[Steve Blair]

I don't see why you need pits. Maintenance is minimal. You replace centers if the x-ring is shot out so it takes hundreds of rounds between center replacement.

Who implied that this system is with no cost. The implication that SMT would be a cheaper way to go when building from scratch.

Do you have a SMT system. This obviously a rhetorical question.

No need to be snarky.

Odd that you admonish me as snarky by making a snarky, ad hominem comment. Are you a Democrat?

Your original post stated that the cost was $3k per target. Does that include target stands? Where are they stored between matches? Is that shed behind the firing line? Pits and target stands are an excellent way to conduct matches regardless the target used. If there are no manned pits and something happens to a target during the match, is the match stopped? Perhaps the entire match is shot again? When targets need refaced, are all the supplies hauled from the firing line and back again?

 

[DRNewcomb]

Electronic targets don't need target stands or pits? No shed to house them when not used? No target faces? No ongoing maintenance or part replacement? Or, does $3k per include all that?

These are obviously rhetorical questions. The intent is illustrating that no system is without cost.

You need a berm to keep the electronics, wires and target-frame bases from getting hit by stray rounds. That berm can be just a couple feet high. The targets can be hauled downrange from the storage shed before the match. If there's enough activity that faces become torn up or a sensor gets damaged, you can call a break and someone can drive to the targets and paste up centers, make repairs, etc.

I still would like having pits and target carriers, of some sort, but the electronic targets really are not only a game changer; they're also a range changer.

 

[Heman]

Looking for an economical yet sturdy design for 1,000 yard target frames. I estimate E-Targets would run approx. $16-18,000 for a 4 position set up. Our ranges 1,000 yard area can only accommodate 4-6'x6' target frames. The most user friendly manual target system I've used are the pipe-in-pipe, counter weight Coalinga frames. The've been there for decades and run up and down like butter (with a little diesel oil spray to prime them). Pics and links would be appreciated.

A little over $12000 will get you 4 G2 SMTs that is what we use at our range and what the NRA is looking to put in at Camp Atterbury for 2018.

 

[Bob Sebold]

Get ahold of Earl Liebetrau. Before we got electronic targets we had the best pulling manual frames I have seen. They beat the hell out of cantilever types. They are adjustable for weight and you can pull them with one hand. They also use less steel then most types.