DIY archery back stops/target

[greatwhite]

I have some conveyor belt mat. But doesn't hitting those rubber stall mats damage your bolt?

I have a 4x6 wood pallet that I stand up and screwed on a 3/4" rubber stall mat (4x6) from the feed store for $30. Works great as a back stop and will last for a long time (mines been up for 15 yrs).

They sell these mats at TSC and most livestock feed stores...stops an arrow dead with no damage or deep penetration.

[Mdiddi]

I used blue foam from home depot... attached a hole bunch of end together.. worked good for field tips.. but was hard to pull out.. also after a few hundred bolts in the same area it was pretty destroyed... haven't tried it with a broad head yet...

I always found it hard to pull out but with archery I spray the first 4 to 6 inches with silicone spray. Doesn't effect penetration too much and slides right out. I do this with my own targets and if I go to wolf's den. Saves your back and shoulders.

[MikePal]

I have some conveyor belt mat. But doesn't hitting those rubber stall mats damage your bolt?

The rubber in the mat is dense enough, even the broadheads from the crossbow only go in about 1/2 "...

I don't hit the backstop very often so I haven't really been able to notice if after many hits there is an damage to the bolt. I always sharpen the broadheads (fixed) after I'm done practising and have not seen any adverse damage to them from hitting the backstop/rubber.

Yes a stall matt is heavy..close to 100lbs ..

edit add; I'm not sure a conveyor belt would work make a great backstop...the rubber isn't very thick and it may be too hard. These matts are 3/4 " of very pliable rubber (they're meant to add comfort when standing on them)

[greatwhite]

OK I see but you guy's are still using one of those foam blocks for the actual target.

[MikePal]

OK I see but you guy's are still using one of those foam blocks for the actual target.

I use that one for my compound bow, I just grabbed it for the pic. I use another 'block' for the crossbow.

[Snowwalker]

Do you have to order the net online?

A google search will show you a list of suppliers. You can also talk to the local shop, and see if they can find any from their suppliers. Precut are easy to find but a 20 by 60 foot net like they use in a school gym is too big, though a custom cut 10 by 10 net is perfect it may cost a few pennies.

By the way those silk cloaks you see asian warriors wearing in to battle were not for show. The bellowing cloak would stop an attacker's arrow from hitting the rider in the back as he withdrew and prepared for another charge. The netting works the same way. The net is too light to provide any real resistince to the arrow, so the arrow head does not go thourgh the net. The arrow uses up it energy pushing the net in front of it for a few inches and the falls down.

[Snowwalker]

OK I see but you guy's are still using one of those foam blocks for the actual target.

I use to shoot in my empty 53' trailer with a black block and no backstop. This is only safe in a refeer trailer with a high density plastic air chute at the front..arrows will not go thru them. They darn near will not come out too.

[Mdiddi]

On the topic of DIY targets any of you guys stuff old feed bags with tshirts or plastic bags. I have two ready to go at the camp with one being cloth and the other bags. I saw it online somewhere. I was going to get the wife to hit them first with her compound and I was gonna try a couple of shots with the camp recurve first.

just wondering if anyone has experience in hitting these bags with heavier bows in the 300fps range?

What about the tshirts in winter frozen? Damage to arrows?

Trying to set up a bit of a walking range for.distance and height changes without having to carry blocks and at the same time recycling and keeping costs down.

[onelessarrow]

On the topic of DIY targets any of you guys stuff old feed bags with tshirts or plastic bags. I have two ready to go at the camp with one being cloth and the other bags. I saw it online somewhere. I was going to get the wife to hit them first with her compound and I was gonna try a couple of shots with the camp recurve first.

just wondering if anyone has experience in hitting these bags with heavier bows in the 300fps range?

What about the tshirts in winter frozen? Damage to arrows?

Trying to set up a bit of a walking range for.distance and height changes without having to carry blocks and at the same time recycling and keeping costs down.

Field tips work great in a bag but not for broadheads.
You can use broadheads when using clothes in a cardboard box, just leave the top of the box open and unscrew the head before removing.

[greatwhite]

I have tried that and my bolts have gone right through.

On the topic of DIY targets any of you guys stuff old feed bags with tshirts or plastic bags. I have two ready to go at the camp with one being cloth and the other bags. I saw it online somewhere. I was going to get the wife to hit them first with her compound and I was gonna try a couple of shots with the camp recurve first.

just wondering if anyone has experience in hitting these bags with heavier bows in the 300fps range?

What about the tshirts in winter frozen? Damage to arrows?

Trying to set up a bit of a walking range for.distance and height changes without having to carry blocks and at the same time recycling and keeping costs down.