Hanging a gong target (how to?)

[Dan in MI]

I've been a knock 'em down kinda target guy for a long time, but now I have some gongs to hang.

Looking for pointers. Here are my current thoughts. Poke holes in them if need be. (portability is a big deal)

I'm thinking a portable frame that doesn't break the bank of my back. ------ Black iron A frame? Appropriate leg length, 45* elbow, close nipple, T, close nipple, 45* and leg. Two of these with appropriate span inserted into the T's

Chain? Heavy duty or cheap easily replaced? ------ I've seen HD chain get shot up just as much as light duty. Seems to be an expendable so why not go cheap ??

 

[gramps]

Wear steel toed boots while hanging!
gramps

 

[Mobuck]

My rim fire steel target frames are made of sawmill scrap nailed/screwed together.
Centerfire rifle frames are T-posts with angle iron crossbars wired or clamped across.
Handgun swinger frames are plain old angle iron or re-bar bent into shape.
I use cheap grade 40 chain with GR5 bolts through the plates.

 

[RolandDeschain]

Mine just hangs from a wood frame with 4x4 posts and 2x6 cross members. Not a problem because if you are such a crappy shot you hit the frame you aint shootin on my range. :lol:

I just use cheap chain, but keep a couple of cheap threaded replacement links in my truck for the rare case in which the chain gets shot away.


I plan on installing one of these hostage type targets this month - should be a ton of fun. 8)

https://www.amazon.com/Steel-Hostage-Reactive-Shooting-Target/dp/B07JZJ89NH

 

[powder smoke]

Mine just hangs from a wood frame with 4x4 posts and 2x6 cross members. Not a problem because if you are such a crappy shot you hit the frame you aint shootin on my range. :lol:

I just use cheap chain, but keep a couple of cheap threaded replacement links in my truck for the rare case in which the chain gets shot away.


I plan on installing one of these hostage type targets this month - should be a ton of fun. 8)

https://www.amazon.com/Steel-Hostage-Reactive-Shooting-Target/dp/B07JZJ89NH

Bingo! looks great Roland. ps

 

[contender]

I own several steel swinging targets on my range.
I have built my own frames etc. Mine are not as "portable" as you may want, but are movable around. I have plate racks etc.
Here are a few thoughts;
Do not put anything down range if you are not willing to get it shot.
If you never miss the target, you are not challenging yourself enough.
Other people will not be as accurate as you'd like.
Everything will get shot OR,, hit by splatter.

I use targets hung by chains,, and make them where the frame work is out of the way as much as possible. I use a lot of heavy duty angle iron as I can,, with the point of the angle facing the shooter. That's for bullet deflection. If a flat side is presented,, try to place it where splatter or ricochets are deflected downward into the ground. Try to not have a totally flat surface facing the shooter, except the target itself,, which will move if hung by chains.
I use heavy chains & heavy quick links. And I do keep spares. Especially to use where the target attaches to the chain. Heavy chain doesn't damage as easily & lasts longer. The longer the chains,, the more the target moves when hit & it can flop around a lot for sure. My chains are usually only 12" or so in general.
Using quick links helps make things portable too. Even if a chain is damaged,, a quick link at the other end allows the removal of the heavy plate for transport & storage.

 

[BDM1]

Excellent!

 

[Mus408]

I hang mine on hooks. Hanging with two hooks can dampen out the ring of the gong.
The 3 plates in center swing on the center steel pipe...swinging plate rack.

Large tombstone gong hangs from single hook on old swing stand.

 

[mishtub]

I use these to hang gongs made with 1/4" AR500 steel;

also use a shorter version made the same way;

then use these;

with pipe to hang them so the whole setup looks like this;

I keep spare nuts and grade 8 bolts.

 

[Dan in MI]

That is what I am looking for. A slap together frame and durable hangers. Very nice.

 

[Arctos]

Another option is rubber straps: https://shootingtargets7.com/accessories/target-hangers/rubber-target-hanging-straps-256.html

The same site also has some target stands.

 

[blume357]

Wish I had a video of the first shot at my group's shoot we did last September. Guy shot a 50 cal barrett at a gong... (yes, I know he should not have) but he shot high and hit the 4x4 that was holding the chains holding the gongs.... took us about 20 minutes to figure out how to splice that 4x4 back together......