Homemade Steel Target Help

[txgunner00]

Conveyor belt, or used fire hose works great. The fire hose is what I use to hold up steel targets at practical rifle matches where the targets take alot of hits. So far, the fire hose shows a few holes, but with well over 400 hits on each plate, my guess is that the fire hose will last 2000-5000 hits on each plate. The weak part is the bolts and washers I use to attach the fire hose. I use bolts that are at least grade 4 and they seem to hold up pretty well. I have noticed that the washers seem to disappear from the plates though. I think when a washer takes a direct hit, it pops it off.

You could weld a threaded stud to the back side of the plate to eliminate the exposed bolt. If you place the plate face down in a shallow pan of water and keep the heat low on the weld it shouldn't take much of the temper out.