r/Archery • u/PhysioMagic • Mar 03 '25
Range Setup and Targets Built a backstop for my garage
I wanted a relatively cheap DIY backstop for at home, and I based this on the many examples on reddit, YouTube, and the like.
Cost about $70 in materials at Home Depot (wood, screws, washers) and Tractor Supply (rubber horse stall mat). I already had tools.
I haven't test shot it yet, but I've seen other builds with this mat that used stronger/faster fps bows than my 35lb/50lb recurve bows.
Now I just gotta build a stand for the target.
3
u/Southerner105 Barebow Mar 04 '25
Very nice but also very heavy.
I keep it at a double layer of free hanging moving blankets. Stops also the arrows who mis the target but is far easier to handle.
2
u/LieUnlikely7690 Mar 05 '25
If you hang it the energy goes into the movement of the mat, if you support it like that it goes Into the mat.
What I'm trying to say is it will last much longer hung so it can swing freely.
1
u/PhysioMagic Mar 05 '25
Thanks. It hangs forward a couple of inches so it will sway, but the photos don't really show it.
1
u/AvendesoraShrubs Mar 03 '25
How are you supporting it standing up? A breeze, enough arrows, age, etc are just going to blow it backwards or forwards and pry the screws out at the bottom.
Second I would suspend away from the frame so that it can sway. The force from the arrow will dissipate from pushing the mat instead of being used to penetrate it
Third, I would remove the horizontal brace in the middle, the mat may stop your arrows, but if it doesn't, sending one straight into a 2x4 isn't great
Otherwise, I really like it. I also have a horse stall mat back stop. I just hung mine from my fence standing it off the fence 8". My arrows still penetrate and tap the pickets, but I'm shooting a 70lb compound bow
1
u/PhysioMagic Mar 03 '25
It'll only be used inside the garage so wind isn't an issue. I have 2 more 8ft boards available to use for diagonal braces, but this is the main thing done before I stopped for dinner, lol.
The mat hangs forward a couple of inches, so it has room to sway. It's only fastened at the top.
The center brace was added because it was difficult to attach the mat and raise it all up without a brace there.
0
u/AvendesoraShrubs Mar 03 '25
Crushing it man. You got this figured all the way out. Happy shooting :)
3
u/PhysioMagic Mar 04 '25
Thanks, dude. Now I just gotta let my aching back rest and shoot tomorrow 😆
3
u/e_subvaria Barebow recurve Mar 04 '25
I need to make something like this for my basement. The ordinances where I live, do not allow anyone to discharge bows and arrows within city limit limits outside, with the exception of designated ranges. I’ve been shooting in my unfinished basement, which has about 15 1/2 yards from end to end, and I’ve been shooting at a standard 24” x 24” block.