How to Make a Spinner Target

Bullseye shooting at stationary targets is used by many shooters to sharpen their skills. Other shooters like to have more of an audio and visual feedback from their efforts. A spinner, or reactive, target responds to a hit by moving and clanging. It is immediately obvious when a spinner is hit, and the enjoyment rises with each bullet on target. Making an inexpensive DIY spinner for .22 Long Rifle target practice that can quickly be taken down for transport can be done in a few hours.

Things You'll Need

  • 3, 1-inch PVC pipes, 10 feet long
  • 4, 1-inch PVC T-connections
  • 2, 1-inch PVC 90-degree elbow connections
  • Spinner plates made of 3/8-inch steel
  • 1/4-inch hemp or plastic rope
  • Paint
  • 2, 5-pound sand bags or other similar weight objects
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Instructions

    • 1

      Salvage several steel plates from a junk yard or other source of metal. Have the yard cut them into squares or circles somewhere between 4-by-4 inches and 8-by-8 inches. A variety of sizes provides better target practice.

    • 2

      Paint the plates a bright, easily seen color and let them dry.

    • 3

      Saw the following pieces from the PVC pipe: two 5-foot sections, two 3-foot sections, two 2-inch sections and four 2-foot sections.

    • 4

      Snap two of the 2-foot sections into the side holes of the T-connection. Repeat the process for the other 2-foot sections. These are the left and right feet of the stand.

    • 5

      Point the open connections upward and snap the 1-inch connection into both feet.

    • 6

      Snap the remaining T-connections into the 1-inch connection so that one hole points upward and the other hole is horizontal.

    • 7

      Place the two feet about 3 feet from one another, with the openings of the T-connections pointing toward each other.

    • 8

      Snap a 3-foot section into the T-connections, which provides the base for the stand.

    • 9

      Snap the 5-foot sections into the T-connector on each side of the base.

    • 10

      Snap the elbow connectors to the top of the 5-foot PVC poles, pointing toward one another.

    • 11

      Drill a hole through the steel plate 1/4 inch from an edge.

    • 12

      Pass the rope through the hole and tie it off. Make a loop on the other end of the rope large enough to easily slide on the PCV pipe and tie it off. Have the length of the ropes differ to give variety to your target shooting.

    • 13

      Slide the targets onto the remaining PVC pipe and snap the pipe to the two elbow connectors.

    • 14

      Place the sand bags on the feet to hold the stand steady.