Target Build Along

[KellyG]

Ok today I decided that if I get a bow I don't have a target. I had mentioned this target to one of the other members here. I thought to myself I need a target for I am awaiting my fist tradbow (I will talk more about this in PowWow later).  I made one of these types when I first started shooting a bow. I did not have on and a friend told about it. I know it will stop a arrow leaving an old PSE Polaris pull 60lbs when the target is less than 5yrds. I know because I started in my basement in AK during my first winter there and only had 30ft diagonal across the basement. I would shot at 15' the 30' every day and it lasted all winter.  Enough about it meager history.
No for the target.
Materials Cardboard lots of Card board, zip ties or other banding material, and a knife or box cutter.
In this pic you see my stack of card board, we have a lot of these for ship our gear over it is thicker than normal but it should work.
 
I used 18" by 151\\3" because that meant I did not waste any  and made less cuts. You can make it as big or as small this on will be an 18"widex18"tallx151\\3"deep
 
Now a small stack of cut up rectangles
 
uncompressed it is 21" tall
 
compressed it is no 171\\2" tall
 
use zip ties to go around the width, I am going to go back and us 550 cord (para cord) and go around it and then us a stick and twist it to compress more.   The only reason for this is I have some thin and cheap zip ties Use the biggest one you can handle. I had to use 6 to get around the stack

I am using my weight to compress the stack and tighten up the zip ties, if they keep breaking just snug them up and us some kind of cord and use above solution.
 
do a second row or even a third if need and your done
 
They aint pretty but keep them dry and they will last months repair as need by stuffing in newpaper.

[Roy from Pa]

I've used a card board target for years, works great.

[hova]

my target up until the last good storm blew it away , was a big pink ball that one of the kids brought over. it was a soft rubber type deal  , and one of the kids sat on it and it lost some air.

half-deflated ball works great!


-hov

[Rattus58]

Next time you've some extra cash, look for some long threaded rod and some scrap wood. This is what my buddy did to compress it, and it is still standing years later... He also built a covered shed to keep it out of the weather (I know anal)but it held up to hundreds if not thousands of arrows.

I don't use cardboard anymore, I use whatever foam I can find, but the cardboard is about the most durable target material I've seen... much better than a hay bale.

Much Aloha...  

[KellyG]

Rattus,
I have seen it done with thread rod and carpet. I wanted to show one that could be move around. Cash is not my problem for now on the thread all. I just cant make it too a hardware store.

[Rattus58]

Originally posted by KellyG:
Rattus,
I have seen it done with thread rod and carpet. I wanted to show one that could be move around. Cash is not my problem for now on the thread all. I just cant make it too a hardware store.

Well you've done a great job of it....    

The nice thing about cardboard, when you can find it easily, is that you actually have a truly multi-sided target...

Much Aloha...  

[vermonter1]

years ago I made and used many compressed cardboard targets and they are extremely durable and long lasting.  The only downside that I could see about them is that if I shot at close range and before I got the arrow tuned to fly straight, I had a tendacy to bend my aluminum arrows as the cardboard has a definite grain and the wobbling arrow would whip dramatically on impact with the target.
I now like to use burlap or tarp material and sew it up on three sides and stuff it with plastic or even old rags, then close up the top.  These are easy on my arrows even when shooting for form at point blank range.

[J. Holden]

Hang in there Kelly, I'm going to PO tomorrow to figure shipping.  It'll be coming your way soon!  You have my word.

-Jeremy    

P.S.  Do you have a stringer?  If not I think I have an extra one.  I'll throw it in.

[KellyG]

Vermonter 1,
I have used old sand bag when they were burlap. They dont make them like that any more and they can be a little on the small side. I never had the bending my arrows problem unless I hit it with another arrow. It was neat the first time I did it but got costly by the end of that first winter. xx78 super slams were not cheap back then.


Jeremy,
Nope on the stringer, Cant waite and then I will post pics of how this works. I will have to got powwow for that part. x-mas is come and I am so excited.
Kelly