Recent changes in culture and technology have made it more convenient and cheaper than ever to order goods and have them delivered directly to your home. However, any paradigm shift brings compromises. We spend more money than we should accumulating things we might not really need; our homes and recycling bins fill up with more packing material. In addition, the air quality suffers from the fuel burned by delivery trucks making more stops to nearly every building.
If you’re like me, you try to reduce your waste as much as possible by turning trash into treasure. In this article, I’ll show you how to reuse the cardboard from large boxes to make IDPA/IPSC-style cardboard targets. While these targets aren’t typically expensive ($0.25-$.75 each), they’re bulky, which results in shipping costs that offset the value and price-per-target. There’s definitely an argument to be made that your free time is worth more than the price of these targets and that’s completely valid and fair. However, I believe there are other benefits, some of which are difficult to put a price on, that may convince you that it’s still worth your time.
- ITS has written before about how large boxes from high-ticket items (such as televisions) can make you a target for burglars.
- Spare boxes are the perfect material for this project, as they’re almost identical to the material in IDPA/IPSC-style cardboard targets!
- Every firearm owner will benefit from training and having a pile of targets available will increase your opportunity to do so.
- You could use some exercise, fresh air and sunshine. Get outside and work with your hands.
Tools Needed
- Pencil
- Razor/Box Cutter (I prefer the adjustable kind w/snap blades)
- Target Template
- Cardboard (Thick enough to handle but not so thick that staples won’t go through it.)
- Gloves (optional but recommended)
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Photos courtesy of ITS Tactical
