Foot-Pounds of Energy (FPE) is a bullet’s kinetic energy. You need to be in the right zone to ensure your bullets have enough energy to swing the paddles reliably.

Yes, heavier paddles require more energy to swing, so if your energy is low, aim for the outer half to flip them.

Smaller, lighter paddles can swing from an inner hit but are tougher to hit accurately.

This is a core strategy for outsmarting rivals in your dueling trees.

You can buy whatever you like, but unless you want your paddles to stay put when you hit them I would not suggest it.

I'll be updating this section continually as I acquire more use data.

These guidelines are based on the testing I have personally done.

I recommend  50 yds minimum unless your velocity is over 2850fps.

You must be far enough away with centerfire rifle so your rounds are BELOW 2850 fps (feet per second) at the dueling tree or you will pit it.

This is universal for ALL thicknesses. See the golden rules here for more.

Yes, but every time you remove the nylock nuts they lose around 25% of their locking ability.

It is ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL that your paddle attachment bolts are fully tightened and stay tight. Loose paddles allow the targets to twist on the paddle hangers and could damage them.

If your nylock nuts are no longer doing the job, use loctite and inspect them regularly for tightness.

Absolutely! I made this target super easy to move around. It breaks down fast, and the longest piece is under 35 inches—small enough to easily fit into all cars or trucks.

Plus, it’s lightweight, so you won’t break your back carrying it, and it snaps apart for simple storage. Check out our video to see how quick it is to pack up and go!

Yes, the tree ships with a toggle spring that works well with most all use cases and the base has built in adjustment slot.

This slot allows aggressive tuning by angling the tree from 0 deg all the way to 18 deg so you're sure to get the perfect paddle action.

Stiffer or more compliant springs may also be used if helpful

to get the desired action but this should not be necessary.

Note: Unlike conventional tree designs that rely on a significant forward lean—due to high-friction paddle swivels—our design operates differently.

Typically, a rectangular paddle component with an offset load, seated in a round hole, requires a steep angle to rotate. Our system, however, does not.

Instead, it swings back effectively with an optimal angle of just 10 degrees or more.

The spring toggle helps secure the paddle in place, even when paddles above or below it slam back after a hit.

In other tree designs, this movement can be distracting and, in extreme cases, may even cause paddles to swing over unintentionally.

Although this tree is less dependent on tuning than other designs you still need to be " in the ballpark" if you want reliable action in use.

For optimal target action, selecting the right paddle weight for what you’re shooting is crucial.

If the weights are off, use these dueling tree paddle selection guidelines to correct the problem:

Here are a few tips for proper tuning;

Symptom 1: Paddles won’t swing over when hit.

Cause: The paddle is too heavy or the lean angle is too steep.

Fix: Use a smaller, lighter paddle or reduce the lean angle.

Symptom 2: Paddles swing over violently, slamming into the spine and causing shaking.

Cause: The paddle is too light or the lean angle is insufficient.

Fix: Use a larger, heavier paddle or increase the lean angle.

TL;DR Summary: Zinc plating beats paint or powder coating for shooting targets because it’s tougher, can even withstand direct bullet hits, protects steel from rust even when scratched, needs less fixing, and keeps targets looking like new.

• Toughness Against Hits: Zinc plating is like giving steel a super-thin shield by sticking zinc onto it with electricity.

  
  

• This shield is tough and doesn’t rust easily. When bullets hit it—even direct shots—it doesn’t break apart like paint or powder coating, which can chip or peel off. Zinc stays stuck to the steel because it’s fused in a special way, so it can handle those hard hits.

• Fixes Itself a Little: Zinc is cool because if it gets scratched (like from a bullet), it takes the damage instead of the steel underneath. It’s like a bodyguard that protects the steel from rusting. Paint or powder coating can’t do that—once they’re scratched, rust can sneak in.

• Barely Needs Fixing: Paint and powder coating wear out fast on shooting target systems0 because bullets and spall keep hitting them, so you’d have to repaint them a lot. Zinc plating is low-effort—it keeps working even when things get rough, like direct bullet hits, so you don’t have to mess with it much.

• Saves Money Over Time: At first, zinc plating costs more than paint or powder coating, but it lasts way longer, especially outside or at busy shooting ranges where targets take direct bullet hits. You won’t need to keep fixing it up, so it’s cheaper in the long run.

Estimated time: Under 15 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.

🔧🔧 2 7/16" wrenches

🔧🔧 2 3/4" wrenches

🔧 1 9/16" wrench

Preferred tools; (faster / easier)

Ratchet or impact drive

🔧 7/16" wrench

🔧9/16" wrench

🔧3/4" wrench

7/16" socket

3/4" socket

9/16" socket