Bowling pins

[Slyk Willy]

I picked up a few bowling pins and will be taking them to the range tuesday. I guess I've gotten bored with just killing paper. I thought I'd insert a eye-screw into the the top and hang them by a chain to get some action from them.
What other ways have you used to shoot some pins

 

[Mobuck]

Just stand them up and knock them down is all I've seen. I've never used them--much prefer steel hanging plates. Most of my steel plates are hung from wooden frames using strips of baler/conveyor belting--reduces the chance of 'bounce back' vs plates with hinges/or metal hangers.

 

[Bigbore5]

We used to shoot bowling pins matches. You had to knock them off the table for it to score. A 357 or 45acp would do it. I liked the 10mm for it. Great fun

 

[eveled]

Amazing how tough those pins are. I stood some up at 100 yards shooting with my Enfield. I couldn’t knock one down. I thought I was missing. Nope the first hit drove it between 2 tires and it was wedged in there good. I had hit it 6 times and it still looked like a good pin from 100 yards away.

If I’m ever in a fire fight and I see a box marked bowling pins I’m hiding behind it.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

A buddy had a supply of pins have no idea from where. He had them on a board. Ten of them about six inches apart. He fastened them to the board with hinges. They fell back and you just had to push them back up. He had both ten pin size and duck pin size. That was a long time ago.

 

[BULL'S-EYE]

Great fun! My beloved 625 has slayed many a bowling pin...

 

[XUSNORDIE]

I wish I had this GP100 back when my buddy had the pins set up. It's been a blast on steel plates.

 

[contender]

As noted,, bowling pins can take a lot of hits before they are no longer usable. And a pin match, as noted required them to be knocked OFF a table,, not just tipped over. And the spacing of the pins on the table allowed for the pins to fall, but often,, not off. A solid hit was used to "push" them backwards, with enough energy to knock them over and off.

The idea of hanging them is a good one. But you may not know if you hit one, depending upon caliber, distance etc.

 

[coach]

It's been a while but it used to be fun. Pins at 7 yards and they had to be knocked off the table. They did get a little heavy and hard to clear later in the match

 

[gnappi]

When the pins got full of lead and would not stand up anymore we used to cut the heads off and use them for small caliber "pin" shoots with anything UNDER .380.

 

[Jeepnik]

Just stand them up and knock them down is all I've seen. I've never used them--much prefer steel hanging plates. Most of my steel plates are hung from wooden frames using strips of baler/conveyor belting--reduces the chance of 'bounce back' vs plates with hinges/or metal hangers.

I’ve always hung plates so that they slope slightly away from me. Not uncommon to see a bit of dirty fly after the plate is hit.

 

[gunzo]

Had some pins, told a bud we might have a big cleanup after shooting them. Let's try he said. Surprised they hold up so well. They can stay intact after many hits, but,,,,,,,,,,, if left outside for any length of time the insides rotten quickly.

Kind of weird for something so tough.

 

[Bigbore5]

I wonder what wood they are made of. I know it's solid. They can take alot of abuse.

 

[Dan in MI]

I don't know the outside but they are maple inside.

 

[gnappi]

I wonder what wood they are made of. I know it's solid. They can take alot of abuse.

Those I saw split from many rounds were oak but I suspect they can use maple also.

 

[Gopher]

The alleys I used to get pins from have gone out of business. You don't see many bowling alleys anymore.

 

[gnappi]

The alleys I used to get pins from have gone out of business. You don't see many bowling alleys anymore.

With all of the retirees that watched the Honeymooners in Florida, there's LOTS of bowling alleys. As a matter of fact most townships here have one, generally very close to a good pizza joint making pizza pickup a pain because there's so little parking!

 

[tazbigdog]

Used to get them free from the local bowling alley. Loads of fun. We had them on the ground when we shot.

 

[Slyk Willy]

Thanks everyone! I think I'll start by hanging them to see some action, may set-up a stand to just set-em-up too.

 

[freakindawgen]

I remember these!

 

[Bigbore5]

Yeah. Those didn't work out as well as advertised. Also never saw a 380 that would clear a pin! Hard enough to do with a 38 Super every time.

 

[Slyk Willy]

How about an update? the bowling pin spun nicely with my 38/357, the 357 injured it (GP100 6") my 9mm (LC9, close range) made it sway quite a bit, 9MM (S&W PC carbine) injured it nicely, 22 (MKIII 6") tickled it, 45 (Lightweight commander) did the most damage.
This is more fun than killing paper.

 

[coach]

After seeing the ad for pin grabbers I remember one time when a bullet bounced back from a pin and hit a guy in the forehead. It hit him hard enough to break skin and he had a nice trickle of blood running down his face. I think he was shooting 9mm.

 

[Bigbore5]

Been hit with a bounce back 38sp before. It hurt and left a softball sized bruise

 

[gnappi]

Yeah. Those didn't work out as well as advertised. Also never saw a 380 that would clear a pin! Hard enough to do with a 38 Super every time.

We shot the HEADS only, they were a lot of fun.

 

[AJGUNNER]

If you are going to shoot them with a 22, you better put them out there a ways. I solid dead center hit will bring those little 36-40gr pieces of lead flying straight back at you. Yep---only did that once!!!

 

[Bob Wright]

Bowling lanes are disappearing in the Memphis area. Seems to be a dying endeavor. Maybe folks can't pull themselves away from the TV and/or cmputer.

But I wasa bowler at one time, even won a trophy. That trophy fell apart about ten years ago.

Bob Wright

 

[Terry Baird]

I wonder what wood they are made of. I know it's solid. They can take alot of abuse.

All of the ones I have seen have been maple.

 

[Terry Baird]

I picked up a few bowling pins and will be taking them to the range tuesday. I guess I've gotten bored with just killing paper. I thought I'd insert a eye-screw into the the top and hang them by a chain to get some action from them.
What other ways have you used to shoot some pins

My wife and I make various courses, some using bowling pins. For example, on a timer, we run about 10 feet and put three rounds on a B-27. Two to the body, one to the head. Then we run about 15 feet to shoot a pin hanging from a target frame. Then we run again to another B-27. Scoring is on points and time. Hitting the pin scores five points. Missing the pin costs a 10 point penalty. We shoot 9mm and .45 ACP. The .45s are much more impressive in swinging the pin, but the pins last A LOT longer with 9mm. Either way, it is fun.
Sometimes we shoot pins, hanging from about 18 inches of paracord, at 25 yards. The goal is to hit the pin repeatedly and quickly as it swings. We have no way to score this one, it is just for fun and bragging rights.

 

[Terry Baird]

Just stand them up and knock them down is all I've seen. I've never used them--much prefer steel hanging plates. Most of my steel plates are hung from wooden frames using strips of baler/conveyor belting--reduces the chance of 'bounce back' vs plates with hinges/or metal hangers.

I like to shoot them hanging from about 18 inches of paracord. After the first hit, you have a moving target. Much fun and good practice.