DIY duelling tree
Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2014 4:32 pm
I've been looking for some more hard steel to make more gongs and I came across some used grader blades at work. Thinking they would possibly be OK I grabbed one and took it a friends paddock and tried the 223 and 243 on it at 50m and 100m and it barely marked it and also it wasn't to brittle.
So I used a piece of 65x65x6mm angle for the post. Some 20mm OD tube for sockets. 14mm rod for pins and cut the paddles from the grader blade. I kept the hinge sloppy so that it will not bind if it gets rusty or bent. When I make gongs I work the size on multiples of MOA at 100m so you can compare it to targets at different ranges. I cut two sets of paddles 1 set 2 MOA and another at 4 MOA. The hinges and or post need to lean forward about 15 degrees total to keep the paddles forward after flipping, I mounted the pipe sockets at 10 degrees and lean the post forward as needed. Still need to make a base. I used a 14"cut off saw and 9" angle grinder to do all the cutting, don't have enough work now to justify oxy bottle hire. The first test was on the small paddles at 50 m with 22 subs and it flipped them OK, will try them with the 223 tomorrow at 100m and 200m if the weather is OK.
On the web there is a lot of talk about ricochets. With pistols at close range it could be a problem but with the paddles angled and high velocity bullets I have found they disintegrate on impact and go into the ground below. I built this for 50m plus ranges and interested to try it out to 300m(1.3moa).
Cost = scrap metal, a couple of blades for drop saw and grinder and some time in the shed.
Bruce
The wife tried it with the 22 subs (she hasn't shot for a few years) and liked it and wanted a competition. Ohh I said but we'll need another rifle.....
The only problem is that it was only 120 - 140mm wide, 16mm thick and has bolt holes along one edge. So I let it sit for a few days and looked around the web for different metal targets and saw a duelling tree. They're mainly used for pistols but I thought I could make one for the 22 at 50m and centre fire rifles to use at 100 - 200m. Why? well why not....something to practice on.So I used a piece of 65x65x6mm angle for the post. Some 20mm OD tube for sockets. 14mm rod for pins and cut the paddles from the grader blade. I kept the hinge sloppy so that it will not bind if it gets rusty or bent. When I make gongs I work the size on multiples of MOA at 100m so you can compare it to targets at different ranges. I cut two sets of paddles 1 set 2 MOA and another at 4 MOA. The hinges and or post need to lean forward about 15 degrees total to keep the paddles forward after flipping, I mounted the pipe sockets at 10 degrees and lean the post forward as needed. Still need to make a base. I used a 14"cut off saw and 9" angle grinder to do all the cutting, don't have enough work now to justify oxy bottle hire. The first test was on the small paddles at 50 m with 22 subs and it flipped them OK, will try them with the 223 tomorrow at 100m and 200m if the weather is OK.
On the web there is a lot of talk about ricochets. With pistols at close range it could be a problem but with the paddles angled and high velocity bullets I have found they disintegrate on impact and go into the ground below. I built this for 50m plus ranges and interested to try it out to 300m(1.3moa).
Cost = scrap metal, a couple of blades for drop saw and grinder and some time in the shed.
Bruce
The wife tried it with the 22 subs (she hasn't shot for a few years) and liked it and wanted a competition. Ohh I said but we'll need another rifle.....