How to Make DIY Airsoft Targets for At-Home Shooting Practice

Stick a printed shooting target into any flat surface and you’ve already got yourself one of the best ways how to make DIY airsoft targets. However, if you want something that will let you re-use your ammo, you will need to create a trapping structure as well.

For this, boxes and containers made of different kinds of materials will make do. Sit the box on its side with the opening facing you then device a way to hang the shooting target in front of its opening and you get yourself a homemade airsoft target trap.

Introduction

As an airsoft gun owner, it’s very likely that you’ll find yourself itching to shoot some rounds from time to time. Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned player, it’s likely that you’ll want to enjoy the exhilaration that often comes with locking in on a target and pulling the trigger.

If you can’t join a game often for one reason or another, it doesn’t mean that you can’t spend some time with your airsoft gun. As long as you have some space at home and some free time, you can definitely enjoy some practice shooting at home.

To get started, you might need to learn how to make DIY airsoft targets first. Don’t fret, though, because this project is very easy to do and may not even require you to purchase anything. Below are a few methods that might tickle your fancy.

Materials Needed

There are a few different kinds of homemade airsoft targets that you can make. See below the materials they require.

For a DIY Plinking Target

1. A table or any kind of raised surface
2. Old cans, bottles, or any sizeable object that you can spare to shoot at

DIY Trap Target

1. A relatively large cardboard box or any box-like object made with any type of material
2. An old towel or pillow that will fit inside the box
3. Some tape
4. A shooting target print out
5. Some string and clips (optional)

For a DIY Multitarget

1. A sizeable box made of a thick and sturdy material like wood or plastic
2. Large size nails and screws
3. Hooks
4. Binder clips
5. Hinges
6. Metal shooting targets
7. Empty soda or tin cans
8. Balloons (optional)
9. A large piece of cardboard that will cover the width of the box
10. A shooting target print out

For a DIY Traditional Target Stand

1. A 10ft 1.5” PVC pipe
2. 2 PVC elbow joints
3. 2 PVC T-joints
4. 2 1″ wood, length will depend on the height you want your stand to be in
5. A piece of cardboard that will cover the width of the stand
6. Binder clips
7. A shooting target print out

Types of Airsoft Targets

If the list above confused you a little bit, some elaboration on the different kinds of airsoft targets may be necessary. As the list suggests, there are various types of airsoft targets that you can use for at-home target shooting. The ones above are actually just a few of what you can use but others may be a bit more complicated to DIY, so let’s stick to the simplest ones.

First is a plinking target. ‘Plinking’ refers to the act of shooting at an informal target and has always been considered as a popular sport for gun shooters for decades already. Plinking targets are not standardized and can be just about anything, making it the easiest to try at home.

A trap target is a shooting target that is designed to catch the pellets expelled in the process. It’s the most popular DIY target design among airsoft players as they make it possible to reuse ammo. This target is designed to catch and hold the spent bbs during the shooting practice so it’s the best choice for those who want to be practical about their airsoft target practice.

As its name suggests, a traditional target stand is exactly what it is: a shooting target attached to a stand. It’s the basic kind that you’ll often see in shooting ranges or used in dynamic training deals and some military simulation airsoft games.

A multitarget is not a standard target design but an enhanced trap target. It also features reactive targets and hanging targets. It can also be the ultimate DIY airsoft target since it can be customized to whatever kind of setup the maker wants to create.

How to Make DIY Airsoft Targets

Here are the steps to make DIY airsoft targets:

DIY Plinking Target

1. Step 1: Collect the objects that you wish to turn into targets.
2. Step 2: Position the stand where you want to put it in.
3. Step 3: Place the targets on top of the stand. Lining them up along the length of the stand will be ideal so you can gain access to your targets easily.
4. Step 4: Start shooting.

DIY Traditional Shooting Target Stand

1. Step 1: Cut the PVC pipe into 16” pieces.
2. Step 2: Attach the pipes to form the base of the stand. Attach two pieces of pipes on each end of the two T-joints then attach the elbow joints on each. Join the two pieces with one piece of pipe. Finish off by placing the last two pipe pieces on the T joints.
3. Step 3: Put in the wood on each pipe.
4. Step 4: Stick the shooting target print out on the cardboard then attach it to the wooden frame using clips or clamps.
5. Step 5: Start shooting.

DIY Trap Target

1. Step 1: Get a box and remove its top cover if there’s any. If you’re using a cardboard box, you can tape it up all over to reinforce its sturdiness.
2. Step 2: Place the padding material at the bottom of the box. Whether it’s an old towel, pillow, or anything that you can use to add some thickness and cushioning inside the box, place it inside the box.
3. Step 3: Attach the shooting target print out to the opening of the box. You can use clips or tape just make sure that it covers the opening of the box.
4. Step 4: Lay the box on the side with the shooting target print out facing the side.
5. Step 5: Get in position and start shooting.

DIY Multitarget

1. Step 1: Get a box and choose which side will become the top surface when you lay it on the side to become a homemade target trap.
2. Step 2: Attach the nails. Place four to five large nails on the top surface of the box evenly. Leave a good amount of nail outside the box as it will serve as stands for plinking targets. You can skip this step if the box you chose is quite deep and there’s a lot of surface area.
3. Step 3: Attach the hooks. On the underside of the top surface, attach four hooks. Space them evenly.
4. Step 4: Attach the screws. On the corners of the opening, attach one screw each. Don’t bury the screws fully. Leave some room so it can be used as a hook for the binder clips.
5. Step 5: Attach the metal targets on the top surface of the box, near the opening. Attach each metal target to a hinge then attach the hinge with the opening side facing you. These will become your reactive targets.
6. Step 6: Attach the hanging targets and balloons or the shooting target print out. Depending on the style you want, you can either hang used soda cans onto the hooks using some string and clipping on some balloons on the side of the box or attach your target print out on what used to be the bottom of the box.
7. Step 7: Place your plinking targets on top of the nails or behind the metal targets. You can use whatever item you want to shoot at for this purpose.
8. Step 8: Start shooting.

A Few Things to Note When Practice Shooting at Home

Before you start with your project of whipping up a DIY target, there are a few important points you should keep in mind as well:

Your choice of materials matter.

While you can definitely use items that are lying around the house unused for such projects, picking out sturdier ones can promise sturdier targets. All of these homemade airsoft targets can be reused if you opt for sturdy materials and if you choose not to use your strongest airsoft guns for your shooting practices with them.

Safety should be your priority.

It’s always a must to prioritize safety when it comes to handling and shooting airsoft guns as they can be quite powerful. When practice shooting in your backyard, stay away from where people might be as you can accidentally hit someone if you’re not completely careful. It’s best to face away from structures entirely so as not to hit and damage windows, walls, and other parts of the house as well.

Conclusion

Practice shooting at home can be a good alternative to playing actual airsoft games, especially with the right target. Luckily, it’s not so difficult how to make DIY airsoft targets so you can certainly whip some up without breaking a sweat.

As the list above suggests, you also have several options to choose from. While there are still lots of other options available, the roundup above includes some of the easiest DIY methods so they’re great to start with.

Hopefully, you found them useful and enjoyable but if you have other suggestions, don’t hesitate to share them in the comments. While at it, you might also want to consider sharing this guide to your friends and airsoft teammates as they may also find it beneficial for their target shooting practices at home.