Portable target stand using PVC pipe

[Michigunner]

The May/June 2006 American Handgunner contains a wonderful plan for constructing a portable target stand using 1.5" PVC pipe components.  The plan was written by Jim Gardner.  Here is my experience making the stand.

The entire assembly cost me $11.02, which included cement.  It is extremely easy to make, using one and a half inch material.

8 feet of 1 1/2" schedule 40 PVC pipe (I had to buy 10 feet)
two 1 1/2" Tees
two 1 1/2" 90 degree elbows
two 1 1/2" caps
PVC cement

Rather than glueing it all together, it is good to make five pieces, easily transported, which will be quickly assembled at the range.

Cut four pieces 12 inches long.
Cut three pieces 16 inches long.
Trim the ends with a knife.

Glue a 90 degree elbow on each end of a 16 inch length of pipe. Make absolutely sure the elbows are each facing the exact same direction.  There may be a line on the pipe to help you make them identical.

Glue a 12 inch piece on Each side of a Tee.  Glue one cap at the end of one of those 12 inch pieces.
Do it again.  That is, glue a 12 inch piece on Each side of a Tee.  Glue one cap at the end of one of those 12 inch pieces.

You now have five components that can be carried to the range.

Take the two pieces with the caps, and insert their open end into the 90 degree elbows, being sure that the open tees are facing up.  The result is a "U" shaped base which sits on the ground.

Now place a 16" pipe in each of the openings of the tees.

Buy a few pieces of 8' furring strips, and cut them in half.  One end of each will have to be trimmed some to go about 12 inches into a pipe.  Place a furring strip in each end of the two vertical pipes, and attach the target to the furring strips.

Bill

[MountainMan]

Bill

Give us a picture after you build on.

Dave

[R9SCarry]

Bill - have seen a post or two elsewhere about that article - sounds pretty easy and efficient too.  Indeed, do take a pic later if you can to show the unit - be most useful.

I really need to make some new target frames/stands - my old ones (don't ask how old ) really do need replacement!

[Michigunner]

Here it is, but I don't have the furring strips yet.
This breaks down into five parts.  The three sides of the base disconnect, plus the two vertical pipes.

[R9SCarry]

Bill - pic, he no show!!!

I put that URL into another browser but still no luck - something in that URL must be wrong.  Check it can you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ahah - that's better - you must have tweaked that URL  - whatever - great - coming on well.  Thx for that.

[Michigunner]

Thanks, Chris.

I changed JPG to jpg, and it worked then.  Strange.

Bill

[R9SCarry]

If server has an extension for the file of lower case and you put upper case in your URL - yes that can happen - Unix servers are fussy about case!!

I make a policy these days with web work to only use lower case for everything!

[Michigunner]

I glued the two vertical pipes, and now have three sections for transporting.

Please excuse the shoddy photography.

[MountainMan]

Thanks Bill - does look easy.

[R9SCarry]

Photos show just great Bill - thx for that.

Time I threw one or two of these together myself.

[WoodstockDoug]

I'm thinking that I might use that design for something more permanent on my buddy's land where we shoot a lot.  I'd use 2" PVC, I think, to make it sturdier, and I wouldn't cap the feet, so any water that got in could drain out.  But even on a portable design, I probably wouldn't cap the feet, or at least I wouldn't glue the caps on the feet so I could get anything out that fell into the open tops.


Thanks for the design and pix.

[Rocnerd]

Hey, that looks great.  I will definitely put that into use.  Thanks.

[Michigunner]

If I make another, maybe the 2" pipe would be a good candidate.

Knowing little about wood board sizes, it would be handy to have a nominal 2x2 that could be inserted into the pipe without modification.

My furring strips were 3" wide, so the end had to be reduced to 1.5 inches for insertion into the pipe.  Maybe 3" PVC pipe would have been better, if there is such a thing, commonly available.

Meanwhile, the 1.5" pipe is light and highly appropriate for the intended task.

Bill

[Brenden]

Bill,
Thanks for the pics and info!!
I had seen the article and this is great that you "followed" up..

There are different size's (width) of "furring" strips available..

I have a couple of these made up that are stands for "shooting off" 4th of July fanfare!! (Bottle rkts,Roman candles)

PVC is great for a LOT of projects!!

I will do a couple of these when it stops  being Winter in my parts..

The biggest problem I have had with portable stands is that they want to tip with the wind too easily-have to stake them down or,put weight on them..

I will look at filling the base with sand to see if this helps!!

Thanks again for the pics and the info-this is a great place!!

Anyone have plans for an economical shooting bench?? Mine has "fell apart" this winter and I need to"rebuild"!!

Brenden

[Richard S]

Bill:

That certainly beats the construction pallets I've been using to support my targets at the range on my wife's family farm.  I'm going to build one and stow it in the trunk of my car.  

Thanks for the post!  


(By the way, that appears to be one serious artist's easel to the side of one of your photographs.  Are you the artist, or is it one of your family members?)