Fabricating Metal Shooting Targets

[powderbrake]

Well I didn’t do much driving of the se7en this past summer, and now it’s in cold storage in the garage. The reason for the lack of use was my son & I starting a new manufacturing business. My son decided to start a company to build metal shooting targets, so I jumped right in with him. I have been retired for 10 years, so I’m not sure why I am working every day now, but it’s too cold to drive the se7en, so I might as well work.

 

On September 1, 2010, we leased a 3800 sq ft shop in an industrial park. We were fortunate that we took over a space being vacated by a tool maker, so we bought his CNC vertical machining center, a big 19” LeBlond lathe, a couple of Bridgeports, and a Powermatic band saw. The big advantage was that all the 3 phase electric was already there, so we saved a bundle on wiring costs. We bought a horizontal band saw to cut the angle iron we would need for our target stands. We also bought a new MIG welder, and I brought my TIG machine from home and we fabricated a 4 X 8 foot welding table.

 

We then bought a 5’ X 10’ “kit” CNC plasma cutter which came all in pieces on a skid. We assembled it, and proceeded to build a 5 foot by 10 foot water table to support the plate being cut by the plasma. The table is 4” deep, and has 40 4” high X ¼ thick slats which sit in the water and support the work piece. We placed this under the plasma cutter and we were almost ready to go. We needed a crane to lift the 500 pound 4 X 8 sheet of 3/8 thick armor plate that we use for the targets.

 

We then built a 16 foot long I beam crane similar to a jib crane, but supported at the end with rollers, so the whole crane could swing around the table, and we fitted the beam with a traveling hoist. Now we can lift the full sheets on and off the table.

Here is the plasma table.

 

And here it’s cutting. The water absorbs all the smoke and most all the splatter.

 

Here are some typical targets we make. The target faces are all AR500 steel, which is a through hardened 500 Brinell plate. The “mini pepper popper” is typically used in action pistol competition, and falls when it is hit. We added a twist to that by spring loading the pivot so it leans back after being hit, and immediately returns to its upright position to shoot again.

 

The static targets we mount on a stand which is angled to direct the splatter downwards. We can cut any shape on the plasma cutter, so we do rounds and squares and chickens, pigs, turkeys and rams for silhouette shooters.

 

 

Other assemblies are dueling trees and swinging targets, and we are prototyping a plate rack that should be done in a few weeks.

 

We also display at the local gun shows, here we are at one last weekend.

 

 

We do custom work, so if you need a part cut out for your Se7en, or need a silhouette of a horse for the side of your barn, give us a call. Take a look at our website, which has all our products http://www.CustomMetalProd.com

 

Hopefully, by summer, business will be going well enough to hire a helper, and I can go back to sleeping late in the mornings, and driving my Ultralite in the afternoons.

[locost7018]

Jerry I sent your link to the President of Mill Creek Rifle Club (Chris Hodgdon) to see if he is interested. Looks like you're going to have fun. Russ

[DeanG]

We need a meet where there is a side event involving shooting. Then you can supply targets in the shape of SUVs, Porsche and other undesirables.

[locost7018]

I'll shoot to that!!!!! I'll check with the host hotel for the 2011 Midwest Se7ens Gathering to see if is OK to bring guns also. Teehee Russ

[powderbrake]

Jerry I sent your link to the President of Mill Creek Rifle Club (Chris Hodgdon) to see if he is interested. Looks like you're going to have fun. Russ

 

Thanks Russ. It's a major task to get the word out, and we appreciate all the help we can get.

 

It has been a lot of fun. Sometimes I'm the designer, sometimes the lathe operator, other times the welder, sawer, or floor sweeper.

[Arya Ebrahimi]

Jerry, this is awesome! How do you like your torchmate!? I have a 2'x4' model that I bought for hobby/side job use.

 

In case you were unaware, there is a support forum for Torchmate's on http://www.pirate4x4.com/forums It's near the top, under "Vendor Forums"

[powderbrake]

Arya:

 

Thanks for the info, I have passed it on to my son (official Torchmate operator).

 

We are very pleased with our Torchmate, and the water table really does keep the smoke and debris to an absolute minimum.We had people comment on our cut quality on the armor plate that we use for the targets. All we need now is more customers to help pay for the darned thing.

 

Tell all your shooting friends to check out our webpage

www.CustomMetalProd.com