No.

One paddle for every gun only works if everything you shoot has 850 ft-lb of energy or more.

If it isn’t, the paddle will take hits and not flip. That’s a recipe for disaster.

The Estimated Minimum Energy (FPE) to Reliably Flip Paddles table is the cutoff. Every paddle needs a minimum amount of energy to swing.

Tuning cannot make a paddle weigh less.

This tree is different:

Many paddle thicknesses and sizes, so it runs right with virtually any firearm.

Match the paddles to the gun.

Paddles swap out in minutes.

Five Most Popular Handgun Rounds

(with typical muzzle bullet energy)

1. 9mm Luger — 300 – 400 ft-lbs

2. .45 ACP — 350 – 400 ft-lbs

3. .22 LR — 80 – 135 ft-lbs (pistol / short range use)

4. .380 ACP — 180 – 220 ft-lbs

5. .38 Special — 200 – 300 ft-lbs

Five Most Popular Rifle Rounds (maximum 2100 ft-lbs)

(muzzle bullet energy)

1. .22 LR — 120 – 145 ft-lbs (rifle / short range); drops to 70 – 100 ft-lbs at 100 yards (long range)

2. .223 Remington / 5.56 NATO — 1,100 – 1,300 ft-lbs

3. 6.5 Creedmoor — 2,200 – 2,600 ft-lbs

4. .308 Winchester — 2,400 – 2,800 ft-lbs

5. .30-06 Springfield — 2,700 – 3,200 ft-lbs

FPE stands for Foot Pounds of Energy. The higher this number, the heavier a paddle your bullet will be able to spin reliably.

Yes—as long as you're far enough away that, at the point of impact, the bullet's energy is below 2,100 ft-lbs and its speed is below 2,850 fps.

The spine of this dueling tree is made from 3/8-inch AR500 steel, rated for a maximum impact energy of 2,100 ft-lbs. Exceeding either limit will damage it:

• Too much energy (over 2,100 ft-lbs) can dent or deform the steel.

• Too much speed (over 2,850 fps) generates enough heat at impact to pit the surface.

When shooting high-powered rifles, pick a distance where the bullet's remaining energy and velocity have both dropped below these thresholds.

The farther downrange you are, the more both values fall.

Staying within these limits protects the target and keeps it durable for the long haul.

If bullet energy is over 1,200 ft-lb, it's a good idea to opt for 1/2 in thick paddles. They are heavier and will not swing over as violently when hit.

This is especially true for the smaller paddles that already have less mass.

This results in less shaking because the paddles swing slower and put less force into the tree when they reach the limit stops on the opposite side.

Because tiny light paddles and high-powered rifles are incredibly hard on pivots, attachment points and mechanisms.

Forces on components are exponentially lower if we keep the minimum target weights where they are currently.

This ensures the targets will last a lifetime provided they are used within posted recommended use guidelines.

It takes under 6 minutes to swap all paddles. Watch this video to see how easy it is to remove and install the paddles. https://shootingtargets7.com/products/dueling-tree-target#play-video

That depends on what you're shooting, but you must not shoot any AR500 with a bullet moving faster than 2,850 ft/s or you will pit the steel.

If what you're shooting is faster than 2,850 ft/s, back up until it's not. This is your minimum safe distance.

Also ensure you are within the rated energy capacity of the targets you are shooting.

1/8" 150 fpe

1/4" 700 fpe

3/8" 2100 fpe

Because the spine of this dueling tree is 3/8 inch AR500, it is not recommended for you to shoot it with rifle rounds in excess of 2,100 ft-lb of energy.

This target is easy to move, breaking down in 30 seconds into pieces under 35 inches—fits any car or truck. Lightweight when split, simple to store, and quick to assemble.

The dueling tree includes a toggle spring for reliable paddle action across most uses.

Its front leg is adjustable for tuning the tree’s angle from 5° to 20° for perfect paddle swing.

Optional stiffer or softer springs can fine-tune action, but the standard springs suffice.

The spring toggle keeps paddles secure, preventing unwanted swings from nearby hits, unlike other designs.

For reliable dueling tree action, tune paddle weight to your shooting setup.

Our tree is less angle-dependent than other designs, but it still needs proper tuning:

Issue 1: Paddles don’t swing when hit.

Cause: Paddle too heavy or lean angle too steep.

Fix: Use smaller/lighter paddle, weaker spring and or reduce lean angle.

Issue 2: Paddles swing too hard, shaking the spine.

Cause: Paddle too light or lean angle too shallow.

Fix: Use larger/heavier paddle, stronger spring and or increase lean angle.

TL;DR: You can leave this tree outside forever and it will never rust.

Zinc plating outshines paint/powder coating for shooting targets: tougher against bullet hits, self-protects steel from rust even when scratched, low-maintenance, and cost-effective long-term.

• Durable: Zinc fuses to steel via electroplating, resisting chipping unlike paint/powder coating. Handles direct bullet hits without breaking down.

• Rust Protection: Scratches don’t expose steel; zinc sacrifices itself to prevent rust, unlike chipped coatings.

• Low-Maintenance: Withstands bullet/spall damage, needing minimal upkeep compared to frequent repainting.

• Cost-Effective: Higher initial cost but lasts longer, saving money on repairs, especially for outdoor/busy ranges.

Estimated time: Under 30 minutes.

See assembly video for more info;

Bare minimum;

You can assemble it this way but it will take awhile

to tighten the nylock nuts.

Fortunately, you only have to assemble it once.

🔧 5/8" wrench

🔧 3/4" wrench

🔧 5/32" allen wrench