Resetting spinner type target

[MrP]

I recently purchased a spinner type target with four discs that flip up when shot and can be knocked down by hitting a separate disc. It was designed for rimfire, so the discs are reasonably heavy / thick and seems like it will hold up to abuse.

I know this is a problem that I can solve, but I figure somebody else might have already come up with a quick solution.

My problem is the spinners don’t stay up once they are hit. They either bounce off the stop bar and return to position, or if I do get one to flip up and stay up, it usually falls down when I hit the next spinner.

The trap has supports that can work at different angles - I have tried tilting the whole apparatus towards the shooting position so the the spinners would be more horizontal when flipped over and less likely to tip back when the next spinner is hit. This made it possible to get one disc to stay, but it always gets knocked down with the next hit.

I am shooting some pretty high-powered Air Force guns at or a bit below .22 LR energy levels at about 30 yds. I could always try a lower powered gun, but I shouldn’t need to I would assume.

if I can’t get them to stay by adjusting the angle, I was figuring maybe something to add a little friction where each disk connects to the axle so everything doesn’t jiggle around so much when I get a good hit.

or maybe I just got a poorly designed target on some level…

Any tips on how to quickly get this to work?

 

[Scotay42]

I lean it forward a bit and it works. It is also at 50yds

 

[beerthief]

i would try bending the vertical side bars bit forward just above the cross bar the spinners are mounted on .

 

[drpietrzak]

Lean it forward is what I do as well. I also increase the distance as it means I am hitting them too hard.

 

[rc4fun]

Any chance small magnets would hold enough but not to much? Some JB Weld to hold the magnets in place once you find the right size.

 

[MrP]

Thanks for the advice. I have it tilted about as far as it can go and still have the spinners clear the ground. I was thinking maybe wrapping waxed twine around the axle and snugging it up to the spinner to add a little friction and reduce the jiggling / shaking when being struck. I also have a some rubber bushings that I could cut and slip over the axle. Probably try this first

I’ll also try a 50 fpe gun and see how that works.

Many thanks - this forum is a great resource full of helpful people.

 

[Arzrover]

Seems like you need the rimfire version to shoot at THAT power, THAT close. The airgun version is more intended for springer power levels at closer ranges.Not sure how you could create resistance that would help and you will likely bend the spinners with hp airguns. The rimfire versions are heavier with longer stems and they have worked for us, even at 100 yds w as low as 40 ft lb. Not sure about lower energy than that as we don't use those at 100 yds much.
Pretty fun additions to a range...
Bob

 

[MrP]

This is a rimfire version… at least it said so on the box. The plates haven’t bent even after multiple 130+ FPE hits

Maybe those posts aren’t anchoring it firmly enough and the whole thing is shaking and that’s the problem…

I’d be out there trying again but my yard got covered by a mudflow from a freak beaver dam break up in the hills… just came out of nowhere. I woke up in the morning and there it was it was like a two hour pulse of water in the middle of the night I slept through it. You can see my target and berm in the photo with the propane tanks. I’m just lucky nothing besides the landscaping got swept away. It’s a new house and I spent the last three months working on the yard so I’m pissed. Back to the drawing board. My yard had now a 3” layer of beaver poop and pond bottom muck judging by the smell. it is stony soil with clay and little humus, so maybe I am thankful for the free compost delivery.

 

[Kgphotos]

I’ve been playing around the last year with welding and making my own targets. I have found that I have to make many targets heavier than I would have imagined to get them to work properly. I have also found that even mild 10 meter rifles have enough power to move targets that I actually built for 30 fpe and above rifles. My suggestion would be to see if you can find a way to add weight to the back side of your target paddles. If you weld that would be easy. If not try magnets or JB weld. These magnets may add the weight you need without getting knocked off all the time.

https://www.amazon.com/Magnetic-Strong-Neodymium-Kitchen-Workplace/dp/B081WVM17B/ref=sr_1_6?hvadid=198210964707&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9031807&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=1602036404698373556&hvtargid=kwd-298456541035&hydadcr=950_9642209&keywords=100+lb+magnets&qid=1688222766&sr=8-6

 

[drpietrzak]

I have the similar set, I think. They are rimfire. But, even at 50 yards with rimfire they often are too lite to stay set. They can take the power without deformation but don't remain set. I shoot them at 100-yards rimfire mostly. I use them with my 15fte air rife at 50-yards.

See at 8:39 here.

 

[MrP]

Great idea with the magnets ,and I appreciate the perspective from drpietrzack . If I can’t toughen this one up, I’ll look for one that’s heavier duty and try my lower energy guns to see if that’s a good match.

 

[.20calguy]

I recently purchased a spinner type target with four discs that flip up when shot and can be knocked down by hitting a separate disc. It was designed for rimfire, so the discs are reasonably heavy / thick and seems like it will hold up to abuse.

I know this is a problem that I can solve, but I figure somebody else might have already come up with a quick solution.

My problem is the spinners don’t stay up once they are hit. They either bounce off the stop bar and return to position, or if I do get one to flip up and stay up, it usually falls down when I hit the next spinner.

The trap has supports that can work at different angles - I have tried tilting the whole apparatus towards the shooting position so the the spinners would be more horizontal when flipped over and less likely to tip back when the next spinner is hit. This made it possible to get one disc to stay, but it always gets knocked down with the next hit.

I am shooting some pretty high-powered Air Force guns at or a bit below .22 LR energy levels at about 30 yds. I could always try a lower powered gun, but I shouldn’t need to I would assume.

if I can’t get them to stay by adjusting the angle, I was figuring maybe something to add a little friction where each disk connects to the axle so everything doesn’t jiggle around so much when I get a good hit.

or maybe I just got a poorly designed target on some level…

Any tips on how to quickly get this to work?

View attachment 369141

Interesting that this popped up, because I'm going through it too. My problem is four times worse! Lol I have 2 Crazy Eights.
My solution so far has been two fold. One was discovering the right power for for the hanging disks, and two was using a firing order. Those answers turned out to be my .177 Beeman Webly Vulcan, shooting from the middle to the out side.
Now, I have ti discover the proper power to release them. I've shot the release disk about ten times with different guns and only reset one hanger.

 

[Scotty1]

The short, swing-out legs face forward. Faced rearward the spinners will not lock up.

 

[rc4fun]

Be careful using Neodymium magnets sharp impacts will cause them to shatter, even indirect hits! I used them for a while to hold targets to a frame and I found Neo magnets missing and broken. It turned out that just hitting the frame caused the damage.

 

[MrP]

I agree that a magnet is not likely to be a good solution for these spinners. some type of magnets if you hit them with a hammer, they will lose their magnetism because it scrambles all of the little magnetic domains. I think I’ll try snugging something up against the sides of each of the spinner bases to reduce wobble and add a little friction to make them less likely to bounce back off the bar.

 

[drpietrzak]

Try adding weight. You could clean up the back side and get some heavy steel washers and using super glue adding them. If that works you could more permanently mount them.