A cheap plumb-bob to keep hanging around

[SkeeterHawk]

I just realized that I forgot to post this little ditty, so here it is:

I wanted to put a plumb-bob that was permanent to my farthest distance so that I could level my scope any time I wanted to, so I made something out of the following:

• An Old Pellet Tin (The bigger the better)
• Some easily visible thick Nylon string (I believe what I used was for marking property lines)
• A small washer
• Some sand

Steps:

Drill a hole just bigger than your string in the bottom of the pellet tin just where the top meets

Thread the string through the hole and tie off the washer as shown

Steal some sand from some unsuspecting victims somewhere...

Fill it to the top and pat it down firm...

I put some electrical tape on the outside to keep it closed and hung it from a tree right next to my benchrest target. I kept it pretty close to the ground, but it seems like Nylon stretches relative to humidity, so I gave it a few inches slack.

Here it is, "hanging out" just to the right of my targets, always available to check the vertical cross hairs.

Here's to keeping your sights square!

 

[Kgphotos]

I like it. Nice tip. Thanks.

 

[ThomasT]

Are you ever tempted to shoot the can? Sure looks like a good target

Be safe and have a great day,

ThomasT

 

[shambozzie]

Nice setup. You know that string would be very tempting to clip. Lol

 

[OldSpook]

How about a fishing weight on a string you can shoot that and if you tie a little surveyor tape on it it doubles as a wind flag.

 

[douger]

Nice setup. You know that string would be very tempting to clip. Lol

i was thinking the same thing 

 

[Peashooter]

Fair warning, if that string is anything like the one we used putting up the G - scale track foundation, it is not UV tolerant and will get weaker than snot in a year.

Personally i use a length of thin stainless chain, about the size if the chain you will see hold the weights in grandfather clocks, also if there are no wind, you dont really need a weight in the end.

I think the eyes in the chain are 10 mm

 

[SkeeterHawk]

Thanks for the feedback!

Good idea on the chain, PlingPling!

I used the property line string, and I have had cans hanging from it outside for over a year, so I have high hopes. I have actually clipped the string with the cans a number of times and amazingly it is still holding up without any signs of damage. VERY surprising!!

I totally know what you mean about wanting to shoot the pellet tin and see the sand come spewing out. I told my son very explicitly that he was NOT to shoot that, and he was like "Aw man!". ALL us boys have that tendency.

 

[SkeeterHawk]

I've had this thing "hanging around" four about four months now as I posted it, and here is what it looks like now. Not too shabby...

 

[SilentSquirrel]

@SkeeterHawk
Do you have any good photos of you shinnying up that tree to hang the plumb bob?

 

[SkeeterHawk]

LOL!

That is a skinny little Aspen tree. I'm sure that wouldn't have ended well.

I cheated and tied the end of the string to a big screwdriver and just tossed it over the limb that I wanted to use.

 

[nervoustrig]

Living in the southeast, we always have a supply of Mardi Gras beads. They make a satisfying reactive target so I keep some hanging at various distances and they double as a plumb line.

 

[Ezana4CE]

Nice! I use water bottles. These are real cheap tools that comes in handy.

 

[Privateer]

I've shot some of nervoustrig's Beads!
Forgot all about those but think there's some around here somewhere.

 

[ToddGeddes63]

I have been using a chalk box w/ large washer tied to the end. I don't use it every time I shoot, only when I first mount the scope, or if I bump the scope.

 

[Motorhead]

I use Nothing more than a 4 foot length of 3/4" PVC pipe with a short hang wire on one end & secured over a tree branch.
Mid pipe is wrapped around with RED electrical tape. It's been hanging out in the weather for @ 8 years now w/o issue.

It hardly swings in the wind. easy to see your retical superimposed against the white of the pipe when cross hair is on the red tape. EASY PEEZY !!

 

[Airgunmann]

I like plumb bob ideas but for me they would become targets shortly. Lol

 

[SkeeterHawk]

they would become targets shortly. Lol

I'm really surprised that the pellet tin full of sand has made it as long as it has. It's not right next to any targets, so it would be hard for me or my son to say that we "accidentally" did it. If I had a piece of PVC hanging in the yard, I don't know how I would be able to help myself. I'd coat it in neon spray paint and tag it regularly to "test my elevation". I'd be purposefully trying to cut a piece off of it, like I do the cans in my DIY Field Target Rack.

 

[.20calguy]

Are you ever tempted to shoot the can? Sure looks like a good target

Be safe and have a great day,

ThomasT

I have about half of my targets hanging that way, but they'll blow all over the place in the wind.

 

[SkeeterHawk]

they'll blow all over the place in the wind

That comment was right on time, @.20calguy . I just posted this evening my shooting a bunch of cans swinging wildly in the wind here. Too coincidental!!