Build Your Own Target Stand with Inexpensive PVC or ABS Pipe
Assembly Diagram: Here are all the components of the target frame. The overall maximum assembled dimensions are roughly 26″ wide, 41″ deep, and 66″ tall (the cardboard is 2 x 3 feet).
One of the easiest ways to build a portable target stand is to use PVC pipe and connectors. Utah .308 Shooter “Cheese” has created a simple yet sturdy target frame, and he’s shared his design so you can build a similar frame easily and at low cost. The components are wood furring strips, 2″-diameter PVC pipes (and connections), and a 2’x3′ sheet of cardboard. The PVC base can be glued together, or, for easier transport and storage, you can leave some or all of the connections free. “Cheese” tells us: “I didn’t glue any of it together so I could disassemble it, shove it in a bag and take it anywhere.”
“All the parts are just pushed together and not glued. That way I can break it down and carry it all in a bag. Also, if a buddy (not me!) happens to shoot the stand, I can easily replace just the damaged piece. The last 6 inches of the furring strips are wittled-down a bit so they can be pushed into the upright pipes with a little friction. The cardboard is 2 x 3 feet, and I use a staple gun to attach it to the furring strips. Then I just staple the target onto the cardboard and go at it.
Of course you can modify the dimensions as desired. I chose the black ABS pipe over white PVC simply for cost — black ABS is a little cheaper. You can also glue some or all of the parts together, it’ll just be larger for transporting. In windy conditions, the thing likes to come apart. Duct tape might work well.
For weight, I thought about filling the two end pipes with sand and gluing test caps on each of their ends. The test caps still allow the pipes to slip into the elbows.”
Add Anchors or Internal Weight for Stability
On a very windy day, a PVC stand can shake or even topple over. There are a couple solutions to this. Some people fill the PVC pipe sections with sand to add weight, or you can put short sections of Re-BAR inside the long legs. One GlockTalk forum member noted: “I built [a frame] almost identical to this. I also take four pieces of wire coathanger bent into an inverted “U” shape to anchor the frame to the ground. It is so light that wind will knock the stand over [without anchors].”
You can find photos of a similar home-made PVC target stand (with a slightly different rear section) on the Box of Truth website. This also employs a PVC tubing base with wood uprights. We’ve also seen all-PVC target stands, but we’ve found that it is easier to attach the cardboard to wood strips than to PVC pipe. Also, if the upper section is wood, you can fit different height targets, while using the same base.
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Tags: ABS, do it yourself, Pipe, PVC, Target, Target Frame, Target Stand
Would like to see all the pipes assembled in a video, Please!
The 45* corners may not work ?
They are 90 degree elbows.
Save some materials and improve the lifespan of the stand by shortening the upright 24″ pipes.
6″ is more than enough.
If you cut all the horizontal pieces to 18″, the uprights to 6″, you only consume one 10′ stick of pipe and your onsite setup is simplified since all the horizontal pieces are interchangeable.
I built one this spring. I used sand to weigh the bottom cross braces. Stands very well in our wind.
I added two tees on the base for storing the vertical pieces when not in use. The whole stand goes right behind my seat in my civic.
Hook and loop fastener adhesive tape and core-flute board for target backer. Waterproof, wind proof and you can change the whole backer with pre-stapled targets in 10 seconds
Paint the PVC pipe to prevent UV rot. It takes months for the PVC to become brittle, but it will. Cheap white primer is what I use. This goes for black or white PVC.