Inexpensive outdoor tin can target rack

[chicagorandy]

I wanted to hang some empty soda/beer cans as moving backyard targets for general plinking. Feeling lazy I went on Amazon and picked up $16 garment rack and some small 'S' hooks. Simple enough to tie some varied length cords from the top crossmember of the rack to the hooks to then hang the cans from the hole in the pop-top. Works well, costs little, EZ and light to transport. Just though I'd share the idea.

Garment Rack

S Hooks

Forgot to add a pic - The track is also height adjustable, this is at the lowest setting -

 

[Hateful McNasty]

A pictures worth a thousand words

I like to hang a can long ways then shoot through the open top to hit the can bottom also i leave the lid on by a little , hinge it out hang longeaus and shoot the hinged lid like making tin can head shots.

Hung like that..

 

[Septicdeath]

A pictures worth a thousand words

I like to hang a can long ways then shoot through the open top to hit the can bottom also i leave the lid on by a little , hinge it out hang longeaus and shoot the hinged lid like making tin can head shots.View attachment 351192

Hung like that..

I shoot the sides. Once full of holes I shoot the ends. Tin cans are one of the best targets there is. Recycle them with a gun. Then Recycle them in the bin.

 

[crowski]

I like to cut the cans in half. The last bit is the hardest when moving.

I also have up to 4 cans in one like Russian dolls, way harder to cut in half.

I’m hooked on cans. Crow
My best so far is 38 shots to cut beans can in half.

 

[BWAGS]

Great idea, thanks for sharing

 

[maxtrouble]

Poke a hole in the bottom or the side of the can. Having vertical and horizontal can targets are a bonus, especially on windy days. The vertical cans are good for figuring out the wind hold over and really spin when struck, very reactive!

Use paracord with a simple surgeons knot to make a knot bigger than the hole for a simple anchor for more reactivity from the can on impact. Bonus points hitting the can in motion, that is tricky!

A cambell's condensed soup can fits inside of a Hungry Man's soup can. Poke a hole through both cans on the side (I stuff a rag inside the cans and use a simple awl to make the holes and then make them a bit larger with pliers) and then hang them on paracord. They hang vertically and make an interesting target, especially in the wind or in motion!

Use the pliers or a set of fishing hemostats to retrieve the cord when the cans are fully recycled. The doubled or "mutant" cans last three or four shooting sessions and are much tougher than a single can to shoot in half. I usually hang one single can to shoot in half. That is always challenging, especially the last couple of shots like crowski said.

 

[Hateful McNasty]

I would get lazy and take old paper/ cardboard off the racks and stuff them in the cans hanging around rather then take them to the bench trash can..

Another thing i did was plastic 8/12oz(??) Coke bottles hang them horizontal with the red caps on. Then try to shoot the caps only. A little sand in them helps there swinging wildly.

Ya, a guy who's a trash can shooter can come up with some good target ideas.

 

[Hateful McNasty]

Kinda glad this tin can thread popped up.

I was swapping from north range to south range and yesterday sitting at the bench thinking what and where to hang some target trinkets.

So i just now went and hung some in various locations.

Out with the old, in with the new

Coke bottle and swinging can lid.

+ 1 more can and woke cola bottle in other limbs

 

[beerthief]

i assume they fill with water in the rain ? you could shoot top to bottom and empty the can ? like 1/2 inch at a time .

 

[crowski]

i assume they fill with water in the rain ? you could shoot top to bottom and empty the can ? like 1/2 inch at a time .

I’ve done exactly that. Crow

 

[dv8eod]

Hanging a small can inside a larger can with some space between the bottoms let's them act like a bell with a ringer. Makes noise, but it ain't pretty.

 

[chicagorandy]

This is the rack I mentioned -

 

[Doc C.]

good thread. There are some good ideas here.
I enjoy shooting tin cans. Brings back so many memories.

My favorite is still chasing the can down the range. Tall grass can make a soup can almost disappear. Almost.
It is also a good excuse not to mow the range. LOL

Thanks for all the ideas.
Doc

 

[chicagorandy]

I'm happy to report that the hanging soda/beer can rack worked great. We set it up in front a wood pile at my son's lake house property. Light and simple to set up, and even from a distance the thin-walled cans shredded impressively. Found we were able to get three mags on the semi-auto setting with my Legends M712, two mags at full auto.

 

[Hateful McNasty]

I like to see a picture for some reason