Are you bored of shooting regular targets? Not anymore!
Learn how to make your targets explode step by step in just a few minutes, and you will find your excitement in shooting targets again.
Take a look at these pictures.
What is The Difference?
These exploding targets are very easy to make. Did I mention they do not cost you much?
The goal is to turn cheap disposable water bottles into super fantastic exploding targets which give you a sound like a sonic boom.
Believe it or not, to some of my friends, it sounds like a gunshot. I am looking forward to reading your comments after giving it a shot.
Second, they are relatively safe to handle and well… legal to make. Yes!
What Do You Need?
First and foremost, you need to have:
- A tubeless tire valve. You can buy at any local auto part store nearby. Price: $2~3
- A one-and-a-half inch steel end cap (there are alternative object, but this one is easy to practice)
- A drill
- Empty water bottles (Do not let them become useless)
- A bike pump
How Do You Do?
1. Drill a 5/16th-inch hole right into the center of the bottle cap.
Do not be shy to ask for help if you do not know how to drill. It can be dangerous.
This step should take few seconds
2. Use a pair of pliers to clean out any excess for the hole. That hole needs to be cleaned and smooth as possible which assists next step.
This is how a clean and smooth hole should be.
3. Pull the valve through that hole by gripping onto it with a pair of pliers and tugging.
You definitely do it with ease as long as you follow step 2 carefully. It should lock into the neck and create an airtight seal.
4. Drill a half inch hole right into the center of the steel plug.
Remember! A half inch hole.
5. Take the tip of your tubeless tire valve and stick it into the center of the hole of the steel plug.
You should lock onto the threads of your valve with the pair of pliers and tug gently. It is as easy as a cake. The valve will pop right into place, hence hold securely into the end cap.
You are almost there!
6. Now screw a bottle into the bottle cap a little bit tightly.
7. Use the bike bump you prepared to pump up the bottle by attaching it to the valve on the bottom.
You are recommended to pump it up to about 50 – 60 psi. In case you do not have a measure display, look at the bottle. If it starts crackling and changing shape, you should stop pumping. Alright?
8. You are all set! Get the bike bump aside. Your bottle is ready to be blown up.
Get on the field and try it now. You will be surprised how it sounds like a sonic boom.
Play With Your Own Style
There are many ways to have fun with these exploding bottle. You can read some below suggestions then you go with your creative mind.
Replace The Steel End Cap
For example, you can buy this plastic sand castle to replace the steel end cap. Look at it. So cool right? It is more fun than the steel cap for sure.
The point is to find something which is heavy enough to hold the bottle steady because a strong wind may make your bottle fall.
Multiple Weapons
Are you practicing with a slingshot? Therefore, you need to find a bunch of sharp-edge pebbles. That’s going to be perfect for tearing open the skin of those bottles.
Beside slingshot or airgun, there are alternative weapons such as blowgun, knife, crossbow, bow, etc.
However, you must be aware of the place where you practice using these weapons since everyone can get hurt. This point is crucial.
Adding Ingredients
How about some colorful explosion like movies? Go buying a pack of sidewalk chalk. Crush them up into powder and load those into the bottles.
As a result, it explodes into an awesome colorful cloud of dust. You can choose your favorite color or make a mix betweens colors.
Unfortunately, you are not a fan of chalk? No problem. In that case, you can use colorful papers. Little colorful pieces of papers will serve the same goal.
What else? Dirt, mud, water, etc. There are plenty of things out there for you to test.
Like these pictures, you can decorate the bottles with your unique templates. They are everywhere on the internet. You solely type “target template” on Google Search Bar. You can make them too if you are good with Photoshop or AI.
Want to bring the templates to the next level? Use someone that you hate: your enemy, your ex. You got the idea.
Conclusion
With very little effort and very little money, you will have your targets explode. Some cheap or throwaway bottles, a tubeless tire valve, a steel end cap or anything providing the same purpose, a drill, a bike pump are all you need.
Be careful! Although this may be fun, your targets will sound like gunshots. You do not want to receive neighborhoods’ complaints, do you? Make sure how you can deal with your neighbors, or you blow the bottles off outside the public.
One last thing, the pieces of exploding bottles need to be cleaned after your happy play time. Leaving a mess of plastic around is bad. I hope you agree. Be responsible. Cheers!
