[BigTB]

At a local outdoor club they recently hung up a donated AR500 steel target. Just a small, round target. It was stolen within 24 hrs.

I am donating a new one, and they have a smaller one they haven't hung up yet. I am going to weld the hardware together for them so it will at least take a bolt cutter or something (rather than just a pliers).

Any other ideas to prevent them from being stolen? It would be nice if t could still hang/swing. I realise people can get almost anything if they are determined, but hopefully they won't bother if it's difficult.

Side note: What is wrong with people?! Instead of just coming to the club and shooting the target that people donated and hung up for you, you take it so only you can use it?! I don't understand that mentality of just stealing anything you feel like, as long as you can get away with it.

 

[Gringo Loco]

maybe hang it with hardened chain (tire chain cross links, motorcycle chain, ect) bolted to the plate and then tack the nut to the bolt?

 

[gt1guy]

Whatever you hang it up with, just make sure it's a bigger diameter that your standard 36" bolt cutter jaws can open to. And then I guess hope the thief's don't have a hacksaw.

Or wait till the scumbags show up and use them as the target.

 

[WarMachine]

Size 7, grade 100 or better round link chain would probably work well, pretty resistant to most bolt cutters and hardened enough to resist a hacksaw. Square link chain is even better for resisting bolt cutters, runs about $8 a foot compared to about $6 a foot for grade 100 round link in size 7. An angle grinder with a cut off wheel will still get through just about any chain though.

 

[funfred]

This might help...

 

[snout]

Just put the thing away when not in use.

 

[BigTB]

Just put the thing away when not in use.

That may be the result if the next one goes away too, but the club would like to be able to leave something out there for the members to use. For the most part it has been sort of a "bring your own targets" type of situation. They just thought it would be nice to have at least something hanging out there for people.

I thought about the surveillance sign. Might be an option, but a quick look around would probably tell people that it was only a sign.

I figured a strong chain would be what I go with (if I could find it locally easily enough), then just tack weld the hardware. I realize a cordless grinder will get through just about anything practical to use (I pretty much planned to use a grinder when the chain/hardware needs replaced down the road since I'm going to weld the hardware together). I figure all I can realistically do is make it a little more difficult to get and hope that's enough to dissuade any opportunists looking for an easy swipe.

Thanks for the responses.

 

[Uncle Sams Misguided Child]

How about putting a piece of steel pipe over the chain as well?

 

[RubiCajun]

Doesn’t have to be chain to swing. Bar stock of your choice of thickness and MOC could be welded to round stock shaft supported by bearings. An inexpensive trail cam wouldn’t hurt. Sounds like an inside job to me TB. Mums the word a camouflaged inconspicuous trail cam. The ones I have are Browning Dark Ops. Good for up to 70 feet. Many options built in. $145. I ******* hate thieves.

 

[BigTB]

Doesn’t have to be chain to swing. Bar stock of your choice of thickness and MOC could be welded to round stock shaft supported by bearings. An inexpensive trail cam wouldn’t hurt. Sounds like an inside job to me TB. Mums the word a camouflaged inconspicuous trail cam. The ones I have are Browning Dark Ops. Good for up to 70 feet. Many options built in. $145. I ******* hate thieves.

Yeah, a trail cam isn't a bad idea. I might be able to put one up when nobody is around. As far as being an inside job, yeah I wouldn't doubt it was a member. The club is inexpensive to join, and members have access to the range at all hours. Technically only supposed to shoot during daylight hours, but nothing stopping a member from opening up the gate in the middle of the night.

I thought about bar stock as well. I could make something easily enough, but I just have to ask how much leeway I have in modifying their frame, or building one myself.

 

[RubiCajun]

Yeah, a trail cam isn't a bad idea. I might be able to put one up when nobody is around. As far as being an inside job, yeah I wouldn't doubt it was a member. The club is inexpensive to join, and members have access to the range at all hours. Technically only supposed to shoot during daylight hours, but nothing stopping a member from opening up the gate in the middle of the night.

I thought about bar stock as well. I could make something easily enough, but I just have to ask how much leeway I have in modifying their frame, or building one myself.

Depending on how high you want your target you could buy X feet of drill pipe and cement in a couple of feet then slide the round stock in the pillow blocks and weld them to top of pipe. Rube Goldberg would be proud.

 

[snout]

color it like a :rainbow: with PERMANENT marker
chain it to an angry or hungry badger
forge Jane Fonda's signature in pink glitter toenail polish
wrap it in baked kale and common core math assignments
dip it in peanut butter and thumbtacks
hire a Las Vegas security guard (too soon?)
hide it in a pair of workboots

 

[Tspevacek]

color it like a :rainbow: with PERMANENT marker
chain it to an angry or hungry badger
forge Jane Fonda's signature in pink glitter toenail polish
wrap it in baked kale and common core math assignments
dip it in peanut butter and thumbtacks
hire a Las Vegas security guard (too soon?)
hide it in a pair of workboots

I see you like libs about as much as I do...........

 

[snout]

I see you like libs about as much as I do...........

Hey I like Jane Fonda workout videos.

 

[Fatbob Frank]

Wire a solar powered electric fencer to it when you leave.
(be sure to have a trail cam set up to see the results)

 

[Uncle Sams Misguided Child]

Hey I like Jane Fonda workout videos.

Only if she is getting it in the ass by a angry badger.

 

[boopiejones]

run 220 thru it

my old FFL worked out of his house and some neighborhood tweakers kept trying to grab the handle on his tilt up garage door to get inside (even though he kept it locked). so he ran 220 through the handle. needless to say, that was the last time they tried to open his garage.

 

[RubiCajun]

run 220 thru it

my old FFL worked out of his house and some neighborhood tweakers kept trying to grab the handle on his tilt up garage door to get inside (even though he kept it locked). so he ran 220 through the handle. needless to say, that was the last time they tried to open his garage.

And he gets out of prison when?

 

[un lupus]

Lie in wait , apply lead poison liberally in 5.56 doses .
That is the cure that Dr. Camo says will work every time this affliction occurs .

 

[BigTB]

LOL, some good suggestions here. Not unexpected (and not all previously unconsidered).

As it is, I built a new frame (the existing ones at the club were in bad shape) and set it in ground so it's not easy to take the whole frame (it is also one piece and I had to take it to the range in my trailer, so taking it would be a chore even if it was just sitting there).

I used grade 100 chain to hang the target. I used 1/2" carriage bolts and welded the nuts to the bolts. There is nothing to grip with a wrench/vice grips from the front, so twisting the bolts off wouldn't be easy (the square part of the carriage bolt is in a round hole, so it spins when you turn the welded nut). Only way to get the target is to cut the chain or bolts. Not that difficult really (cordless tools are prolific these days), but at least it would take a concerted, deliberate effort. Hopefully nobody will take the trouble for a $35 piece of AR500 steel.