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Challenge Target to the Top Dog Marksmen

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Bigragu

Bigragu

Member
Jul 8, 2018
4,887
2,362
CA, United States
Ha, not really, lol. I wanted to share on a reactive target I built today. I’ve been stewin’ On building some sort of reactive target, and the inspiration came about when I realized that I’m really tired of just shooting paper. So off to the local ACE hardware I went, armed with a plan that I sketched out.



My plan was to hand balls that swiveled. So my “balls of choice” were Foosballs, and golf balls both. But I had to design it so when these balls decide to shatter, I could change them out easily.



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So, to hang 6 Foosballs, I chose to mount them on eye bolts, and for the golf balls to go in between the Foosballs, I chose eye lags, and all those hangers were to slide onto a 5/16” steel rod, and be retained to spin in there spot by locking them in with 5/16” shaft locks(I think that’s the term”.





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Eye bolts are all threaded thru the Foosballs, eye lags into golf balls, and frame stand all mocked up.
 
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Golf balls were given to me by my son, whose beaten them up, so each of them got a shot of primer gray. Foosballs stayed their factory color. When paint was dry, Foosballs get the letters, golf balls bet the numbers, all at both sides of the balls. Here’s a view of how I evenly spaced the Foosballs, and locked them in with the 5/6” shaft collars(proper term, just came to me, lol) at each side of the eye bolt. I gave it a 1/16” gap, to allow the eye bolt to spin without resistance.
 
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Here are three pics pics showing the finished product. Well, almost. I feel the need to paint on with high visibility yellow off of a paint pen, written right on the face of the 2”x2” horizontal top support “ IF YOU HIT THE WOOD FRAME, YOU SUCK”. Something, that’ll be easily seen thru a scope at a 100 yards, lol.



Anyway, the paint is still tacky, so I’ll give it overnight before I start slinging lead at it. Can’t wait to try it out!
 
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Watch out with the Golf Balls !!! They will rebound pellets right back at you !!

Generally it is a BAD IDEA to shoot golf balls with air guns.



You will find out soon enough so wear eye protection PLEASE !
Click to expand...

Should not be a problem with balls that are free to swing at 100 yards as was mentioned.10 yards possibly but not at 100. 

I shoot golf balls but my guns just bury the pellet / bullet IN the ball! ;)
 
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Guys, 

Just a FYI, I'm glad you guys are safety minded, and that's a good thing, but, here's something that happened to me.

I shoot only 12 ft Lb guns in .177 for Field Target WFTF PCP division. I was shooting at golf balls at 55-75 yards at my home range. I had the golf ball on a string hanging from a tree at 55 yards, and and another at 75 yards. Was plinking at the 55 one for a while, then moved on to the 75 yard one. Hit it repeatedly, and about the 6th or seventh shot at it, I heard something whack my car, which was 15 yards behind me. Put a decent dent in the back hatch. Wasn't too upset, this was a beater that I had a few years back.

Bottom line, this was a few years ago, and after that incident I NEVER shot at golf balls again. That shot travelled 90 yards back to me to hit my car. To think it won't come back that far would surprise you.......it sure surprised me. And remember, that's only a 12 ft lb gun.

Have fun, but stay safe, don't underestimate the spring back of a golf ball.

Tom Holland 

Field Target Tech 
 
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Thanks for the warnings, fellas. Now you all got me all paranoid, lol. When I take it out for the first time, the first signs of ricochet and the golf balls will get removed, period. What I’m wondering is how the Foosballs will do. If the Golfballs don’t work out I’ll try and source some old school cork ball bobbers from amazon, about the size of these golfballs. 



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Got it all done 100%. With some goof off, I was able to correct the number and letter sequence from my screw up of one side backwards. So, on one side all letters and numbers in black, other side all red, and I secured the golf balls from moving along the support rod side to side by zip tying at each side of the eye lag. Either tomorrow or later this week, I’ll put it to the test.



I was at Bass Pro shops the other day, and any spin style reactive target of good quality were all in the $100-$150 price range. All in all, I have $69.11 in material cost, but that’s all in hardware and the Foosballs. The wood I already had laying around, and the golf balls my son gave them to me out of his practice ball collection.

ACE hardware is a great source for odd ball stuff, but you definitely pay for it. If I wouldn’t have been too lazy I should’ve gone to Home Depot and probably saved a bit on the hardware. In fact I know I would have. The most expensive piece of hardware in this entire thing are the shaft collar locks that secure the eye bolts from moving along the rod support. 
 
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Ok that’s it! I’m not gonna even try it, lol! Cork balls it is!
Click to expand...


You WILL thank us later .... by all miens sometime in a very open space and wearing safety gear DO SHOOT at golf ball. Nothing will imprint your mind like actually doing it and seeing first hand the net result.



Just do so safely and then don't do it again ... Lol
 
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