I am wanting to make an indoor shooting range in my garage and was hoping to build a backstop like they have at most of the archery ranges. One of the square shaped target butts.  The backstop is made of a sheets of what I would describe as a felt-like material.  I'm not sure what that stuff is call or where to get it from. It is usually about an inch in width.  

Any helpful suggestions would be welcomed.

Chris

Chris, I know some make targets out of celotex? it's an insulation board you can buy and any lumber store. Just cut it into sheets and band it together or use a board on top and bottom with all thread on each side so you can tighten them down.

Chad... been trying to remember the name of that stuff for the last two days... thanks!!

Chris... I use to make my targets from Celotex and it did a great job. All Thread "compressors on the sides are the way to go. Lets you adjust how hard the target is (it can be made too hard)and allows for easy exchange of shot out places when that happens.

The down side is that it can leave tarry residue on your arrows. Only a problem if using wood.

Chris,

The product used to be called "Celotex", but may be marketed under a different name.  They make two types...asphalt impregnated and not with ashphalt.  Go with the non-asphalt stuff.  It costs about $8.50 per sheet now, but is tough to find.  Stack several sheets and cut it with a circular saw.  Make the pieces 18" wide by 48" long.  You will get 6 pieces from each sheet and 16 sheets will provide a 4' X 4' target.  After places get shot up, you can rotate them around to extend the target's life.

Another cheaper alternative that works really well is sheets of corrugated cardboard stacked the same way.  

You can tighten/loosen either target to get the penetration that works best for you.  Both types of target should be covered from the weather.

Hope that helps.
Joe

Chad, Lamb, and Joe,

Thanks for the help.

I like the sound of cheap so I'm going to investigate the corrigated cardboard.

Chris

I recently bought a 3'x4' bag target for $40 at my local Farm and Home store.  I'm gonna set it up in my basement til it gets warm and light enuf that I can shoot outside pretty much daily.

3RA sells a bigburlap bag target face with deer printed on it for about $20, that you stuff with plastic.  They work very well, too.