compressed straw bale

[Pete McMiller]

FYI - the compressed straw bails at Tractor Supply were on sale last night for $9.50, picked up three of them.

[bluemoonrising]

Not trying to steal this thread... Years ago--wheelie days--I would buy corn cob bales from The Andersons in Maumee, Ohio. They worked well and lasted a long time. Unfortunately, Andersons stopped making them. Anyone remember these bales?

[DarrinG]

How are these compressed bales for shooting broadheads into?

[Pete McMiller]

They won't last long if you shoot broadheads into them.

[DarrinG]

Broadheads hard to remove from the bales?

[iohkus]

Broadheads hard to remove from the bales?

 Ooooooooyeah  

[DarrinG]

I usually use straw bales ratchet-strapped tight to shoot BH's and usually have no issues. The BH usually sticks through the back and it's easy to just pull the arrow on through. They can get shot-out in one spot easy if you keep shooting at the same spot, so just keep moving a dot around on the bales. Sounds like the compressed bales are not a good idea for BH's! Thanks for the info!

[slowbowjoe]

I shoot broadheads into compressed bales. Out of my 45# hybrid, my hesds only penetrate about the depth of the head. They are a little hard to remove (I brace my knee against the bail, and it takes a good pull to get 'em out), but I like to think that speaks of their durability.

Had the target for less than a year, so don't know the longevity yet. I have a cover with good overhang on mine, and I use only one bale. Have a dirt bank behind it, so I'm not really worried - unless I hit the wood base it sits on!

[Tedd]

Update -
The bales are holding up well. The rubber horse stall mat has become an important part of the target that I didn't need in the past. I switched to smaller diameter shafts this year. .300 spine Black Eagle Rampage (same diameter as axis). The penetration increase over standard diameter shafts is remarkable. I couldn't tell you if it is the smaller diameter or the FOC. (350 grains up front for a 650 grain arrow).
My standard diameter shafts don't stick through. But about 50% of the time the Black Eagle shafts go in deep enough to tap the rubber horse stall mat. The space between the back of the bale and the horse mat is just right for full penetration without the feathers going in.
 
   

[Tedd]

Depth
 

The bales are the farther shot from the practice tree stand. 35 yards to the bales. That is about my limit for accuracy. Some days it's almost easy to drill that bulls-eye and somedays you wouldn't want to be walking around behind that frame!
   

[J. Cook]

Great looking range you have set up for yourself Tedd!

[Car54]

Holy Cow! Y'all get that much penetration with those compressed bales...what the heck are y'all shooting..LOL

[DanielB89]

I went and bought 2 lst week.  I have been shooting one pretty much every evening to test durability.  I am pretty pleased so far.  No pass throughs, but I have started to poke through the back a little.  Overall, I think they're a great target.  

FWIW, I didn't put any straps around mine and just left them as is.  I will have a few more set up in the back yard before too long.