Indoor Range Target Construction??
 

O.K. - I am looking for info on the best / most cost effective way to set up a commercial indoor (20 lane) range for a good friend;)

Any tips on material / filler would be a great help.

Are any ranges using the modular block systems or bag systems? Are they worth the up front cost, or are home made butts a better bet?

Any links to construction sites that I could access?

Thanks boys:D

RE: Indoor Range Target Construction??
 

It may be implied, but field tips only?

If not, may be a good idea, with liability issues concerning broadhead use.

Best bales I've ever seen were the plastic pallet wrap kind, wrapped in more pallet rap :)

Do enough dumpster diving behind furniture/grocery stores, and you'll have all you want in no time :)

RE: Indoor Range Target Construction??
 

The indoor range I shoot at has built their own. They are bag style but with a wooden frame in them. They are stuffed with mostly garbage bags and window screen material. Kind of made me wonder when I seen what was inside for the first time. They put new face material on about once a year, but they hold up really well. They would last a lot longer but too many guys shoot arrows as big as my thumb. Those really take a toll on the faces.

RE: Indoor Range Target Construction??
 

Yes field tips

Would boat shrink wrapping be the same??

Lots of that stuff around here. Maybe compress it down with boards on top and large threaded rod.

RE: Indoor Range Target Construction??
 

Would boat shrink wrapping be the same??

Lots of that stuff around here. Maybe compress it down with boards on top and large threaded rod.

RE: Indoor Range Target Construction??
 

One of the ranges I go to uses a Material from American Whitetail, Inc. It comes all rolled up and they Unroll it to make a layered target face. Kust like a giant Block type target. And when one section gets shot up they replace it and then take up the shot up portion and reuse what they can for smaller practice targets on their 3D range outside. It stops the arrows great. Next time I talk to them I'll ask what exactly that material is and how much it goes for. I think they order it from Kinseys Archery In Lancaster PA.

RE: Indoor Range Target Construction??
 

Hey Rack here is a Link to the stuff I was talking about Thay also buit their own wood frame to hold it and all they have on top is just a bunch of 2 x 6's to compress it.
http://www.archerytargets.com/RangeMaterial.aspx

RE: Indoor Range Target Construction??
 

Thanks Pa - that would be great.:)

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RE: Indoor Range Target Construction??
 

No idea...

Easy way to tell, get a butt load of it, stuff it to the max in a cardboard box, duct tape it shut and shoot into it.

If it stops and allows easy removal, I'd say yeah... :)

RE: Indoor Range Target Construction??
 

Rack, I dont know if this would be an option, but if you contact the "BLOCK" company, they will send you one about 8x8 feet. One giant block target. I have shot them and they are awesome. They are pricey, but they will last a LONG time. Theye are around $500.

RE: Indoor Range Target Construction??
 

Well, I feel pretty stupid. I mentioned above that the range I shoot at makes their own targets. What I didn't know is that they manufacture them and sell them under the name "Arrow Brake". I must admit I feel bad not knowing that since I talk to the owner every week. Anyway, if you want to talk to Fred about the targets and what is on the inside I am sure he wouldn't mind. They even have a model made just for indoor archery ranges.

The Arrow Brake "Answer".
The second generation ultimate indoor range target with two finger removal. No more messy or hard to pull out arrows when using the Arrow Brake Answer. The range target measures 24'' X 24" square and comes with five bullseys on each of the six sides. The Arrow Brake Answer was designed for the indoor ranges to help keep the range costs down and make more money. This target will take tens of thousands of shots and stop any arrow from any bow with ease. It comes with a target holder for the target face.

I can now confirm that this is what I have been shooting into for the last couple of years and they are great.

You can call Fred at Streiff's Sporting Goods 800-817-2590 or shoot an email to [email protected].

RE: Indoor Range Target Construction??
 

I bet if you contact Morrell they will afford you a quantity discount on their 'Eternity Target,' and if you'll do a little advertising for them they may shave a little more off. The target itself never wears out, it's made out of scrap string and fabric as best I can tell, wrapped in a plastic burlap or the same stuff that we buy grass seed or feed in. When the cover wears out, just replace it for a couple of bucks or wrap an old sack over it and bind it. It's what we use at the indoor range. Arrows usually bury 4 or 5 inches with EASY removal. You won't be able to do any broadheads, becaue they'll shred the wrapping in a heartbeat.

Just my (most humble) opinion...

RE: Indoor Range Target Construction??
 

I looked through there site - 8x8 is huge.......for 500 thats not so bad........thanks

Thanks - I will keep him in mind

A local range uses the big block Morrells, they do seem to hold up ver well, and they can be rotated on all 4 sides. If he was to go comercial targets I think this would be the one. Than maybe a few lanes with the block for broadheads.

Thanks guys

Any one else???:)

RE: Indoor Range Target Construction??
 

hoyt-boy:

Quote:

---

"The target itself never wears out, ...."

---

I'd have to totally disagree with you. We have been using the Morrell range targets for year and they do wear out. What we do is catch them before they're beyond a certain stage and sell them as 'used' to customers.

We recently tried the Magic Stop range target and it can be used on all 6 sides. I'm thinking about switching to them on my next purchase of 50 range targets.

RE: Indoor Range Target Construction??
 

Len - thanks for responding:D

How long are the Morrell targets lasting??

have you used the layered block type targets?? I am sceptical how they will hold up to 2512's.

Magic stop........thanks I will check it out...........

if you don't mind........what are you using as a target face over the targets??

RE: Indoor Range Target Construction??
 

After thinking about the ones I saw for $500.00, maybe they were 5x5 feet. I was looking at my 8 foot ceiling and had to think again.:)

RE: Indoor Range Target Construction??
 

Morell had some serious issues last year. I went through 4 different Eternity bags in two months, including a free one for all the trouble I had with them. The shop had several others come back from other customers too. Kind of put me off, and I've been shooting Morell targets for years :(

My dealer gave me a free magic stop to test for them. Fairly impressive. Not as good as the Morells used to be IMO, but a good bag.

IMO Rack, go with "Block". Our range converted to them about a year or so ago. They RAWK! In fact give Mike a call at Flying Arrow up in Carmel, NY and talk to him if ya want some info..tell him I sent ya. (www.flyingarrowsports.com has the number..I don't have the # handy at the moment)

RE: Indoor Range Target Construction??
 

Len,

That's interesting to me, I never heard of the actual target wearing out. Is it just the covering of the guts of the target or is it the guts themselves that is wearing out? Like I said earlier, when the outer 'bag' wears out to the point that the stuffing falls out then they just replace the covering for next to nothing. The ones I'm familiar with have been in place since '97 I think - it's not a huge club but there are several members who do make regular use of it year round. They usually last 6 months or so before the stuffing starts falling out, the guys who own the range turn the targets over about everyday or every other day. I've also seen them jumping up and down on them :D:D to rearrange the stuffing when the arrows start going a little deep. But the targets themselves take forever to wear out from my experience, especially since they are filled with that string and fabric which doesn't lose mass with shots like the layered targets and 3-d targets do. But that's just my personal experience, and I'm sold.

Just curious, how long is it taking for your targets to wear out, and what part of the target is wearing out? Thanks...

Again, just my humble opinion...


To elaborate on what JeffB said, I don't have experience with the ones made/sold in the last year - just the older ones. I do have one that is a couple of years old and is mine personally, but I can't give a good review on its performance because since I got my Tuff Buck 3-d target I just haven't shot at the eternity target much. However, in the couple of hundred shots I've put in it, it has been fine. But that's not really enough to give an accurate review.

RE: Indoor Range Target Construction??
 

Thanks Jeff. How go they handle big arrows pounding the X, over and over again.............after all, you know, thats how I shoot.......:D:D

RE: Indoor Range Target Construction??
 

Rack, all you gotta do is back up to say 20 yards or so... No target can take shooting from 2 feet at the same spot over and over...

:)

RE: Indoor Range Target Construction??
 

He's got to be careful backing up to 20; might trip over those boot laces. At 2 feet you can just shoot and pull without risk of falling.

RE: Indoor Range Target Construction??
 

TRY THIS WEB SIGHT IT HAS SOME GOOD ADVICE
http://thunder.prohosting.com/~mfost...y/targets.html
LET ME KNOW HOW IT GOES. I HAVE USED CARDBOARD SET UP ON END AND, COMPRESSED, AND IT WORKS PRETTY GOOD BUT I AM ALWAYS LOOKING FOR BETTER TARGET MATERIAL.

RE: Indoor Range Target Construction??
 

Our small indoor has built a backstop of 12" wide carpet strips compressed between 2"X12" planks squished down with all thread every 4' and faced with cardboard. We have enough room for 10 lanes for paper shoots and we also have 3Ds we set up for our weekly competition shoots using the wall O carpet crap as a backstop. It works well and just about any construction outfit is looking for a cheap way to get rid of old carpet.

That plastic shrink wrap is the cats pajamas! It self heals and any dumpster diver knows Home depot, Sutherlands and just about all the other home repair and (boat dealers) pitch the stuff daily.

Plastic grocery bags stuffed into burlap seed sacks works well for individual targets and if you hang em right, the Product logo (ralston purina) makes excellent target reference points.

OR you could spend the big bucks and back everything with the Infinity Target blocks and make a wall out of them[8D] just kidding ouf course.

RE: Indoor Range Target Construction??
 

The stuff in mine was old sleeping bags, they never even took the shell off the stuffing or the label off the old product!! Coleman!! sleeping bags. Old coleman sleeping bags! I like the way i can pull my arrows from these targets, regardless of your poundage the arrow stops and two fingers pull it out. Very nice idea for a target.

I have shot mine enough to have an arrow pass through into my backstop though. You might want to keep an eye on that. Plus after you shoot a series of arrows, 30+ you can place the target on the ground and walk all around on the face of the target to redistribut the stuffing.

RE: Indoor Range Target Construction??
 

Strictly from a consumers point of view (the guy laying down cash every week to shoot countless arrows) , it's very nice to be able to grab an arrow with two fingers and pull it out of the target with ease which is why I'd suggest the Morrel bags.

RE: Indoor Range Target Construction??
 

We are using the Longhorn Stanley hips indoor Super Bags 48x48x18,
Very nice looking and easy to pull an arrow from.

www.longhornarchery.com
Sell for around $319.95......

RE: Indoor Range Target Construction??
 

I agree - and they are at the top of the list

Thanks - looking into them

RE: Indoor Range Target Construction??
 

Rack,

Where is your buddy looking to set this range up? Would this be in the Calverton area?

RE: Indoor Range Target Construction??
 

Oh I know, you've told me time & time again!! So it must be true, right?! ;)[8D]

Seriously, if you can dish it out, they will take it AFAICT. I find alums quite easy to pull out, but carbons can be tough..at least out of 70 pound bows :). I about popped a vein trying to pull ST AXIS out of them..but I wasn't using a gripper either. Haven't tried any carbon "fat shafts" personally in them.

RE: Indoor Range Target Construction??
 

http://www.archerytargets.com/RangeMaterial.aspx

american whitetail sells this stuff to make your own range target works for indoor or outdoor butt and last a very long time

RE: Indoor Range Target Construction??
 

If you are still looking and if you would like to add another suggestion to the mix, the local shop just picked up some new bag-style targets this past winter. They were using block-style targets up until this point but decided to pursue a different route. I don't have the specific info for you now but can find out when I head down later today. From memory, they are about 4 foot long by about 2 to 3 feet high and 2 feet deep with a burlap style outer covering and some form of wood chip material as stuffing.

They stop arrows very well and durability has been good so far. After they are broken in a bit then arrow removal is not that much of a concern though initially they are a bear...;)

RE: Indoor Range Target Construction??
 

Rack - One of my local archery shops have constructed, what I would guess to be the most "inexpensive", yet durable archery stops that I've seen. They went down to the local SBC (Telephone Company) and got approximately 150-200 phone books (last years editions-free) and stacked them tightly together and then placed a 2x10 on top and wrenched it down on threaded bolts.

It's been there for two years and still going strong. The only thing negative that I've noticed is that you get a paper residue on the end of bare carbon shafts. However, it does scrape off easy enough. I haven't seen that problem on aluminums.

They placed the books so the binders would all face to the left of the archers.

RE: Indoor Range Target Construction??
 

RA,

It appears my suggestion is going to take a little more research. I asked the shop owner about the targets when I was at the shop yesterday. He explained that they were actually from a small, local manufacturer. The target company owner stopped in the shop late last year and asked the shop owner if he was interested. They are about $100 a piece. The shop owner was unsure of the name of the shop that he purchased them from but was going to check it out and get back to me with the info.

Sorry I did not have more for you just yet.