question about target practice backing
 

the bow i've got will launch a 31" arrow at over 300 fps. , now my question is will straw or hay be a good backing for just a plain paper target , or will the arrow go right thru the bails ??

RE: question about target practice backing
 

Theres only one way to find out.;)

RE: question about target practice backing
 

the reason i asked is because the shop where i bought the bow was trying to sell me a target bag/block filled with cotton fibers . they said that the bow will shoot right thru the bails but , the target bag/block will stop the arrow . i was just wondering if they were telling me the truth or just trying to make a few extra bucks .:)

RE: question about target practice backing
 

From previous experience the arrow will go clean through bales of hay ruin your fletchings;):)

RE: question about target practice backing
 

Your going to need a real target! I tried that route before. I bought two hay bales, stacked um up and put a piece of ply wood behind them just in case I missed. Well I didn't miss but went though the hay and the plywood!!! I'm not shooting 300fps either. Good luck with your new target purchase!

RE: question about target practice backing
 

I agree with Ausie. I shoot 29.5 inch arrows at close to 300 fps and they go clean through hay bales. A bag target (filled with rags by the way) should do nicely to stop your arrows. Either that or a layered foam block.

RE: question about target practice backing
 

I'd go with the layered foam block.

RE: question about target practice backing
 

I was using bails of hay and a home made target, arrows went right through impacting the vanes.

My firiend lent me his target which is the foam with plastic surrounding it.

I've been banging the heck out of it, arrows go in about 6 inches and sometimes it moves some.

Cabela's has the layered foam block on sale for $39.99 in the bargin basement cove. I was thinking of getting one.

T

RE: question about target practice backing
 

The best thing that I have found to stop an arrow hands down is used shrink wrap. Go to Home Depot, or walmart, or a grocery store and ask them if you can have their old shrink wrap. I take and old gunny sack or fertilize sack and fill it to the top with shrink wrap and shoot into it. My arrows blow right through 1ton hay bales, but the shrink wrap will even stop my broadheads. Tough stuff. Quilt batting also works well. It is easier to pull your arrows out of the targer wtih quilt batting and it stops them dead in their tracks. Good luck with your practicing.

RE: question about target practice backing
 

That's a fact. A bag or high density foam target are well worth the money.

RE: question about target practice backing
 

stack 3 bails 2x4 bottom and top bolt 2x4s togather with all thread on each side close to bails cut end of straw toward you and tighten all threads down as possible would last a very long time

RE: question about target practice backing
 

Depends on how tight your bales are!...but layered closed-cell foam is best such as "black hole" targets. They take a pounding.

The compressed straw bale is a good, cheap idea, but never tried it.

RE: question about target practice backing
 

Id say stay away form bails. Go buy a target, it will save money in the long run. Buy a bag for your field points, then when you get ready to shoot broadheads buy a cheap foam target that you dont mind throwing away.

RE: question about target practice backing
 

Just to clarify, we are talking about hay bales and not excelsior bales, right? The latter would be adequate to stop your arrow but the problem, at least in my area, is finding a place to supply them.

RE: question about target practice backing
 

ya i live on a farm and hay bales dont work....I tried it and it went straight through and i had the hay bales set up in front of the barn and gave the siding a new hole......i'd go with THE BLOCK its a great target
;)

RE: question about target practice backing
 

Here's mine. Made from 2"X10"X4' boards, cut, stacked, and compressed carpet. Works great for field points, two finger removal. Not made for broadheads, you'll need one of the foam style targets for broadhead practice. Hope this helps. Be safe.
Shoot Straight
Derbytown :D

RE: question about target practice backing
 

I Shoot a bag target but some times i missed and it would hit the Hay bail
1000lbs It would all most go in my bow was shooting about 300+ but still i would take chances


AND PLEASE WHAT EVER YOU DO DONT SHOOT Broad HEADS AT IT

RE: question about target practice backing
 

Sorry WOULD NOT I MENT

RE: question about target practice backing
 

I'm shooting a 50# recurve that doesn't get near that speed , and it puts them right through a hay bale from 15 yards and sends them 10-15 past the back side . [:o]

Get a foam target or 3-D deer .

RE: question about target practice backing
 

Get a foam layerd target they work awsome. The bag target will work but when your arrows hit the bag they hardly ever stay at the same angle so you will tend to wreck arrows more!

RE: question about target practice backing
 

The Block or The Hole targets work great. I prefer the Block

RE: question about target practice backing
 

If you check your local sign store (a store that makes signs and posters like what people use to put in your yard when running for a political office) and ask them if they have any left over material. They typicaly make signs out of ribbed plastic. If you put this stuff in front and behind the hay bail then the arrows will stop. It's inexpensive and easy to replace. I've never sent an arrow through a bale with a piece in front and behind. It will probably cost around $15 for a sheet that you can cut to size with a razer.

RE: question about target practice backing
 

Everyday run of the mill Hay Bales won't stop a spit wad. Check with your local archery club and ask them where they buy their archery bales. Archery bales are hay, but its compressed really tight and banded with metal rather than twine. You can also call around to farm equipment supply type places and see if anyone sells excelsior bales in your area, they're super tight and last forever. Just remember that excelsior or archery bales will last a couple years, but you have to keep water from saturating the bale. If either type gets soaked there finished.

RE: question about target practice backing
 

I am going to buy the "Black Hole" target block. It's awesome! :D

I was at Dick's Sporting Goods on Sunday goofing around (since it was raining as usual...) and checking out their new bows. I saw a brand new Fred Bear TRX Real Tree Hardwoods camo'd bow on display, and it was a lefty model too! [8D] The salesman let me demo it in their indoor range (about 20 yards long). They had four "Black Holes" bolted to the wall and huge padding and insulation all around the walls as well. Anyway, long story short, I checked out the Fred Bear TRX at $399 on sale. It was a single cam bow, 70# draw, 29" draw length (I'm 30"), with an 80% letoff. At it's peak, it shoots 302fps! [&:] Let me say this.... I was shocked and started when I released the Beman carbon arrow w/field tip. The bow went off like a high powered rifle and, even though I was not use to the bow, and it didn't fit right, I did hit the "Black Hole" at 20 yards. It managed to stop a 302fps carbon arrow from 20 yards away. The Arrow went roughly 3/4 of the way though the Black Hole! Now, THAT is a strong target block!

Butch A.

P.S. I put back the Fred Bear TRX.... It was way out of my league. I'll admit it.... I don't think I could comfortably handle a bow of that power and small size. I am happy and content with my old PSE Edge Series 1000C, 41" ATA dual cam round wheel bow.

RE: question about target practice backing
 

As the others have already said, hay bales are not going to cut the mustard, I use a monster bag and it works great.

RE: question about target practice backing
 

I stack used carpet in layers. 5 feet by 5 feet and 2 feet wide.

I have 3 of them all over the backyard so the kids(me included) can practice.

RE: question about target practice backing
 

I have a bow that will shot close to 300fps i made a home made target i use a card board box and in the box i put that foam stuff called "Great Stuff" thats what they use for cracks amd things like that..... and a field tip amd a broad head will NOT GO IN TO IT!!!

RE: question about target practice backing
 

I just bought a "Black Hole" over the weekend. Awesome target! :D[8D] It stops my XX75's with 125 Thunderheads with no problem! I have "The Black Hole" setup directly in front of a big stack of oak logs, waiting for my lazy a$$ to split them. If I miss the target, the aluminum XX75 will get bent all to heck or I'll end up bending it or snapping it off, should it get imbedded in an 18" - 22" solid oak log.

Butch A.

RE: question about target practice backing
 

hmmm they are alll IDIOTS alfalfa bales work really well (if u set them the proper way) they are to much city slicker 2 figure that out go figure!!!!

RE: question about target practice backing
 

I use the Morrell Six Shooter and it also works great. You can put broadheads and field points into it.

RE: question about target practice backing
 

A cheap way to ake your own target is to buy a heep of poly-fill from a fabric/craft store or a bunch of garbage bags and buy some nylon feed bags. Fill the feed bags with the poly-fill or garbage bags tightly and tie it off. You have just made your own bag target for about $10 to $15 bucks. When you need to replace the outer bag, slip it into a new feed bag. Done. It will stop all arrows EXCEPT broadhead tipped ones.

RE: question about target practice backing
 

no they werent tryin to get some extra $$ out of you...they were tellin the truth..i shoot my pse bow at 48 lbs., 28 draw, alluminum tru-flite 30" arrows....it penetrated straight throught 2 bales a couple times.. theres no way i could of gone with one...the only way u could is if u took the end of the bale and shot at it..it seems to be a lot tighter and the arrow barely goes through. but i suggest putting ur money into a good target at ur nearest archery dealer.