My father and I have built a workshop as hobby work area for piddling on trailers, tractors, bows, etc, and we have settled on the idea of using it to shoot during nasty weather and after dark. I was wondering what suggestions folks have for backstop material. Neither of us is likely to miss that bad on a regular basis, but things happen. Strings break, fletching peels off in flight occassionally, and so forth. Just wondering if anyone else did this and what some backstop ideas were. Thanks for any input!
I have used cow mats as back stops with good success. Suspend them so they give a little on contact. They work well with your typical field points, but broadheads are tough on them. Broadheads will chew through them just like they work on other targets. Double two mats up if your are concerned about a pass through. They are sized about 4' x 6' and 3/4" thick and are heavy. They are usually around $35-$40 each new, and available at most farm supply stores. Used mats work ok too, but only for outside for obvious reasons.
I went to lows and got some 2X4's and a large rug from a thrift stoor.
Made a frame with the 2x4's and draped the rug over it.
I use this in my back yard and it works grate. dont see why it would not work in your shop.
total cost about $40 the wood cost the most.
As Jesse wrote. We used to have an achery shop with 8 shooting lanes. We hung two rugs one attached to the front of the 2x4 and one attached to the back of the 2x4 leaving a small gap between rugs. This stopped most everything that missed it's target.
An old mattress works great. Often can be found for free at curb sides.
I have a big sheet of roofing foam. it is about 3"s thick and very dense. Arrows go thru it for only several inches. i keep it in a corner and shot dianglely across my basement. I found mine at a job site and don't think you can get it at home depot, but anyone who does commercial roofs could lead you to a source. for a target butt i use a bag of shreaded rubber in a nylon sack- works great and can pull arrows out with 2 fingers!
royal mat rubber horse stall mat 4x6 (http://www.tractorsupply.com/equine/horse-stalls-accessories/rubber-matting/royal-mat-rubber-horse-stall-mat-4-ft-x-6-ft--2219003?ddkey=http%3AClickInfo&evtype=CpgnClick&intv_id=15001&mpe_id=12075&cm_cr=No%20Campaign-_-Web%20Activity-_-Cross%20Sell%20Up%20Sell-_-ProductDetail_Espot1-_-Royal%20Mat%20Rubber%20Horse%20Stall%20Mat,%204%20ft.%20x%206%20ft.) A friend built an out door range target with this stuff. Swears by it. about 40$ at tractor supply
I use an old ping pong table, it protects the wall fine. But the arrows arent big fans of running into it nose first!
I hung a Pro Stop Magnum bag from the ceiling and its still in use from 1995. All I did was replace the original outer cover once. The center is shot out but I keep small heavy mats in the back and keep jumping on the bag to tighten up the filling.
Will stop any arrow from any weight bow, even the heavier compound bows...and we only shoot 5 yds....
I use a Pacific Bow Butts Super Butt in the basement. It is 44"x36"x15" and I shoot into it everyday and in more than 4 years and thousands of shots I have not begun to wear it out. One hand arrow removal also.
Outside I use one of the stall matts from Tractor Sopply behind my 3D target.
Jack
A Good THICK Bag Target!!