I have a couple of 7" dia round AR500 steel gongs enroute (3/8" thick). I am now thinking about how I am going to hang them. I would like to set-up 2 separate frames so that they hang at about COM height.
While I have shot steel before I have never had targets of my own to set-up…any suggestions on the best way to make a frame for these?
I’ve hung them by two pieces of chain set at about 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock, from an old swingset A-frame. The chains anchored at these two points on each gong keep it from twisting around when it’s struck.
I made a swing set-type A-frame out of some 1inch black pipe (was cheaper than galvanized, which would have been better, I suppose). By using elbows and T-s welded to the cross-piece it is easily disassembled. I hang two twelve-inch gongs by chains, using two 5-inch x 1/2 inch carriage bolts through the two holes in each gong (your gong may be different). That allows it to hang angled slightly downward which deflect bullets downward.
Im thinking about setting up an inverted “U” made out of threaded pipe and L-joints. I have heard about using carriage bolts for their “angling ability”…do you just use nuts and washers to attach the bolt to a chain??
One nut to secure the bolt to the gong and a second nut on the end to keep the snap hook or S hook from sliding off. Tip…carry extra carriage bolts and hooks.
10-4. Thanks.