Target Backer Material

J

Joe Woosman

Member
What would be a recommended target backer material for BR targets? I've built a 12 bench 600 yard range and we are getting ready to start a winter league on paper targets. We've been shooting steel matches up till now. The current plan is to bore 4X4 posts into the ground at 8 foot centers, then frame out the top 2 foot section and attach a backer material. On other less official backers I've been using a 3/8" thick corrugated black plastic. It's light, rigid and somewhat self healing. Just wondering if there is something better to use before I get too far into this project.
 

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Our range has had good results using heavy barn stall mats. They self heal well. If you shift your target placement around anything will last a bit longer.
 
Is this for counting shoots or sealing the back for less light?
Counting shoots is thick paper. Almost cardboard.
Sealing the back for less light. 1" behind for SR BR. Rubber inner tubes from trucks. Usually free.
Big Targets 600y. Conveyor belts from a steel factory or Quarry. Would last a year or more...Prolly free.....
Make your target system with 8 X 8" posts. 1 X 6" cross members. Cut conveyor belt to protect the front of posts. Conveyor belt 1/2" min. Or mild steel sheet metal. Space Cross members for 4 x 8' sheets of celotex with water proof or tar coating. Don't buy the cheap stuff.
You will not believe the amount of people who will staple a target to the post.
Another backer material is "R" Board. Water Proof.
 
Not sure what "counting shoots" is. I'm looking for a practical material to be used for registered benchrest type shooting. These would probably not see a lot of club type moron abuse. I've used the rubber stall mats before and though they are very durable, staples don't go in as easy and don't like to pull out either.

The last I looked for celotex I couldn't find it. I'm thinking they aren't using it as much in building construction in my area opting for insulation board products for their R value.

I searched for R board and came up with ridged foam board. Is that what you were referring to?

8" X 8" posts are an odd size here. In pressure treated the common sizes are 4X4, 4X6 and 6X6. I thought 4X4 would be sufficient. Is there a problem with that I should be aware of? I did plan on using 1X6 for the cross members.

Thanks for the replies.
 
Corrugated plastic seems to be the better option without breaking the bank.
Make your stand with slide in tabs so you can turn and flip the backers to keep
it looking cleaner longer. However......keeping people from shooting the tabs
is another thing. Just reamed a club member for stapling a target on the wood
uprights.
 
If you can find a company that does roofing the black membrane that is what I used when I ran NBRSA matches hope that helps I keeps the target the light from coming through the target
 
Joe Woosman said:
Not sure what "counting shoots" is. I'm looking for a practical material to be used for registered benchrest type shooting. These would probably not see a lot of club type moron abuse. I've used the rubber stall mats before and though they are very durable, staples don't go in as easy and don't like to pull out either.

The last I looked for celotex I couldn't find it. I'm thinking they aren't using it as much in building construction in my area opting for insulation board products for their R value.

I searched for R board and came up with ridged foam board. Is that what you were referring to?

8" X 8" posts are an odd size here. In pressure treated the common sizes are 4X4, 4X6 and 6X6. I thought 4X4 would be sufficient. Is there a problem with that I should be aware of? I did plan on using 1X6 for the cross members.

Thanks for the replies.
Click to expand...
In Benchrest Group. Need to count the shoots for record. So a backer system is used to move slowly back and forth behind the target. And then you can count the shoots. This is a carrier system and a thin card board is used.

NONE NBRSA/IBS.
I miss typed the posts. I believe we used 6x6 last time. The time before it was 4x4 and got shot up real quick.
Yes. On the "R" board.
My clubs are in SE MI. So we can usually get what we need.
1 club has movable target frames made out of 1x1 and the R board. With orange plastic pipe in the ground.
The other club has a Wall with the 6x6's and celotex. Bigger club with dedicated ranges.
Both have advantages and disadvantage.
Another club in the area. Found a company in the 80's that had old telephone/power poles. That system is still running.
 
find out the rules for the org you are going to shoot with. moving backers for 100/200/300 short range br.
ask lou murdica, he just built a new set of portatble 5 target frames that sit in footings level to the range. i think we have 12 for 60 shoutable targets per relay. this setup has the moving backer built in, tho driven from and outside source( cycling cable)
 
I should have been more specific. We will not need moving backers. Our winter league is going to start with 600 yard centerfire in IBS format combined with a 200 yard rimfire on the same 600 IBS targets. Our club has a lot of long range interest and I'm thinking 200 yard rimfire on the 600 yard targets will be similar to 600 yard centerfire.

This range does not have a 100 yard berm but it's suited very well for 200 and 300. My original intention was IBS registered score shooting at those ranges but the locals and their interests have steered it in this other direction for the time being. If the interest developed, we could certainly add to our shooting programs.
 
Joe..... What town is the range located at ?? I'm over in Erie. Get that 100 yard berm
developed, That will be key to many idea's and venues. I mainly shoot at Anderson
Creek south of Dubois Pa. They shoot 100/200 thru the winter and come Spring thru
Fall, a match is every week. Favored is the UBR, ground hog and deer match. Here is
their downrange layout to 400 yards. We also hold the Pa. Tack Driver Lite.
 

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Fuj, I'm a long ways from you. Northeast PA on the border between Scranton and Binghamton, NY.

100 yards can't happen on this range unless we did away with the trap fields which won't happen. Also, there isn't much interest in short range BR around here. The interest is in long range stuff, both centerfire and rimfire. We ran a benchrest steel program this summer which went really well. I'm trying to get people into paper shooting now and hook them into pursuing accuracy with their current equipment. If I went straight to registered BR, the locals wouldn't participate and I'd be dependent on outsiders traveling to the shoot.

Here's a pic of the steel we have at each berm out to 600.
 

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