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Making my own Target bags ......

16K views 77 replies 18 participants last post by  mplante  
#1 ·
I am friends and have known a sister in the church here for several years. I knew she worked at the local sewing factory and is one of the bosses there now . So I ask her about two weeks ago if I could have access to any scrap material they have for to construct myself a crossbow target. She said that she would check to see if there would be any problems with getting it. She called me back and said that she had told the material cutter to save me the scraps the next time he cut.

So I went over about two weeks ago and picked up 4 garbage bags full of the material, or what I could carry and lift with one arm. my step Dad helped me out. The material is a nice thickness and new. It is sprayed with a Kevlar coating to protect the jet pilots. They also make the blue coats that the presidents wear during their time aboard Air Force One White House jets.

So I tried to put the material in a 50 lb feed sack to make a target. No good, to small. So then I tried a couple old and beginning to rot 100 lb feed sacks. OK, but old and rotten. By the way, there are no more 100 lb bags of feed sold here anymore, all 50 lb bags. So I called all around and no 100 lb bags. So then I started looking on line. I found old Army bags for a reasonable price, but was not sure of the size.

I then found some regular target replacement bags for the Carbon Monster Bags. I purchased two to try them out. I got them today. My wife helped me put the material in them. They are a very good and perfect size (14" - 16" thick and 2 foot wide and probably better than 2 foot tall, but very heavy when full) for this and cheap, $3.00 for two or $1.50 each and $3.50 to ship two. So $6.50 total. I wanted to shoot the one this evening but ran out of daylight after mowing the yard. So tomorrow I might get to shoot it and supply some pictures and an update.

I put one of the small 50 lb bags full inside the bag, then filled all around it and kept it in the middle. I packed it as tight as possible and used small 4" zip-ties to sew the end closed and used some of the scrap long 2" wide pieces of material and made a handle all the way across the top of the bag. I can carry it this way and also hang it from a covered target stand that I will eventually build.

I have been wanting to build me something of this type and also the targets for a long time. I am convinced that this will be a great target. I have access to as much of the material as I want. The material is mostly very small pieces (2"X2" and 2" X 4") triangles and squares and odd shaped small pieces. Perfect for the target bags. I just have to let her know when I need it, and she will have them save it for me.

If the shipping would not be so much, I would build these for people for targets. I will update tomorrow,


Fuzzy


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#3 ·
FF, I don't know what you mean, I can buy 100lb feed sack all day long. I always buy my feed 100 lbs at a time. Matter of fact I have dozens maybe hundreds of feed sacks of this size stored in my barn. Maybe it's just a local thing. Anyhow let us know how this turns out for you.
 
#4 ·
FF, I don't know what you mean, I can buy 100lb feed sack all day long. I always buy my feed 100 lbs at a time. Matter of fact I have dozens maybe hundreds of feed sacks of this size stored in my barn. Maybe it's just a local thing. Anyhow let us know how this turns out for you.
Thanks Quiver. Yes a local thing then. I changed the wording to reflect that. But I was almost persuaded that they quit making the 100 lb feed sacks everywhere. The sacks I ordered are larger than 100 lb feed sacks and did work even better. But if I had found them I would have tried them anyway, they are just big enough. I like to shoot at several different spots on the targets.


Fuzzy


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#5 ·
Check out the oversized target covers here: http://www.thirdhandarchery.com/products.asp Made of heavy woven nylon, holds lots of scrap cloth material, stand up well to my fastest bow. Have made multiple tagets using them, place them out at 10 yard intervals out to 60 yards on my home range, leave thn out all year.
 
#6 ·
Check out the oversized target covers here: http://www.thirdhand...om/products.asp Made of heavy woven nylon, holds lots of scrap cloth material, stand up well to my fastest bow. Have made multiple tagets using them, place them out at 10 yard intervals out to 60 yards on my home range, leave thn out all year.
Yes, I like those, thanks. I may try them later. Right now I have more ordered from the other site. These are only $3.00 for two or $1.50 each, but I am going to say they are not going to be very durable, but do look exactly the same with out the Velcro.
 
#8 ·
The bag works very well. Five of the shots from my 175 lb crossbow where at 17 yards from my elevated back porch. The last shot, lower right bottom arrow, was from 10 yards. You can remove the arrows with very little effort. I pulled them out with two small fingers. I like it .........


** These are the arrows I am using here. I have some other fletching that I have made up to try. Although the 5" does the best at longer range and has better penetration.















** This is the ten yard shot from 175 lb crossbow. Bottom arrow with blue fletching (quick spin).



** Four inch zip-ties and piece of the cloth for a handle. I will change that later to a chain probably and hang it from a target stand.






Fuzzy


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#9 ·
Check out the oversized target covers here: http://www.thirdhand...om/products.asp Made of heavy woven nylon, holds lots of scrap cloth material, stand up well to my fastest bow. Have made multiple tagets using them, place them out at 10 yard intervals out to 60 yards on my home range, leave thn out all year.
Something I will be ordering...Thanks
 
#11 ·
Hey Fuzzy, here's a tip for you. If your spots get shot out, Take a plastic margarine lid or similar and cut a 1'' circle in the center. Use it as a template with some black spray paint and VoilĂ ! Instant Burlap bag marker. :thumbsu:
Hank
Thanks Hank. I like a black marker, I always thought that paint would come off on the arrow shafts though. So does the paint come off onto your shafts ?

Fuzzy


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G
#13 ·
Thanks Hank. I like a black marker, I always thought that paint would come off on the arrow shafts though. So does the paint come off onto your shafts ?

Fuzzy


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Nope. The paint seeps into the burlap. The Jig a loo that I use on the front third of my arrows keeps anything from sticking to them. Including targets.I made my Dad a burlap rag bag target and stencil for it. He sprayed so many spots on it it was hard to look at.:)
Hank
 
#14 ·
Nope. The paint seeps into the burlap. The Jig a loo that I use on the front third of my arrows keeps anything from sticking to them. Including targets.I made my Dad a burlap rag bag target and stencil for it. He sprayed so many spots on it it was hard to look at. :)
Hank
Thanks, headed for shoulder surgery in 15 minutes, so catch you all when I am able, hopefully this evening,but with one hand typing. Woooopyy.
 
#15 ·
Fuzzy: Hope your surgery went ok for you, Try to move your arm and shoulder around as soon as you can, but dont over do it. I have had both of my shoulders worked on. No pain- no gain.
 
#17 ·
Fuzzy: Hope your surgery went ok for you, Try to move your arm and shoulder around as soon as you can, but dont over do it. I have had both of my shoulders worked on. No pain- no gain.
ok so far. a lot of pain even with the block. doc found some more problem while in there,but fixed it all. i am still numb in my left side. they where really rough on my throat withe tube. spitting up alot of blood off and on throat vwery raw. good pain pills every four hours, but make me sleep a lot.
 
#18 ·
Has any one used rubber mulch to fill a target bag? . You can get in different sizes..
sounds like a goo idea. i would go with the finest size i could get, 1/4 " or so, or maybe 1/2" would be better.
 
#19 ·
The pain pills making you slobber all over your self? LOL I hope you heal up quick so you can get back out there flinging arrows. Your making the same bag most pay big dollars great job man!
 
#20 ·
ok so far. a lot of pain even with the block. doc found some more problem while in there,but fixed it all. i am still numb in my left side. they where really rough on my throat withe tube. spitting up alot of blood off and on throat vwery raw. good pain pills every four hours, but make me sleep a lot.

OK. There you go. I am going to cancel my shoulder surgery. I am too old for this. Maybe a little chicken inbred. Have you tried alcohol with the pain pills Fuzzy? Last ones I had said on the bottle "alcohol enhances effects" and dang if they were not correct.

On second thought I will have surgery and a 30 pack of Natty Light. :thumbsu:
 
#21 ·
OK. There you go. I am going to cancel my shoulder surgery. I am too old for this. Maybe a little chicken inbred. Have you tried alcohol with the pain pills Fuzzy? Last ones I had said on the bottle "alcohol enhances effects" and dang if they were not correct.

On second thought I will have surgery and a 30 pack of Natty Light. :thumbsu:
no thank you sir. i don't drink and if i did, i would not be able to stand the trowing up affects afterward,shhhewwww we. man this machine works great though,ice water and it wraps around the whole shoulder, called a game ready system. my wife froze up some water in kool whip bowls and they fit into the water and ice container. if you have surgery,ask for one,great for the swelling. if you fall asleep it has a timer on it,so it kicks off and you can sleep on.

:thumbsu:
 
#23 ·
I am scheduled for May 25th.
well something else i have not mentioned robert. i hav the hick ups all day, on and off, have them now. my daughter looked it up on the web and some people have this from anistesha affects. so far i have tried all the hick up remedeies and have worked some what. ihave the now and i have to get up and get to the bedroom recliner,where i have to sleep. so some more sups of coke and hope i get some relieve,hurts when hick up. got to contact doc monday see if something can help. never have hick ups much in my life
one hand fuzzy
 
#24 ·
Fuzzy,

Best of luck with your surgery and hick-ups. ;)


I just put together my 38" x 28" laundry bag target and hope to try it out today. Looks like a nice day here. ;)

I bought three of these laundry bags for $5.00/each including shipping on the Bay.

You can just see the ends of my xbow directly behind the target. I stuck pieces of black electrical tape on as dots and will see how they work.

I need to get my xbow sighted-in with the new equipment on it & this will be the first time shooting since the thumb accident. :phew:

I finally got my ground blind tent out of the woods and now have it drying out. I want to water proof it for next year.
 

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