Uploaded October 2011 | Updated September 2026, 54 minutes ago
*** READ ME *** This video contains the destructive testing of a set of Dirty Harry Target Stands made by Target Meister, as well a review on the target stand after a summers worth of intensive testing of this model of target stand.
As our subscribers know, we actually use the products we review for a considerably long time. This way we can find any issues with the products being tested. But in this case after some lengthy testing we thought it was best to test these fine stands to see if the tests can take the impact of bullets to see how well they hold up.
We actually started off with the rifles rather than the pistols, putting a couple full high cap mags from the AKM as well as the AR15 to use against the first stand to see how well it holds up, and the armor shields brushed off the AKM as well as the AR15 with only chipped paint to show for it. shots into the much lighter target base went right though at close range as expected, unless they were shallow angle impacts, in which case they were deflected with some dents but no penetration.
The stand was then shot until a round defected the armor and the upright holder. for this test a 308 bolt action was used for the test firing Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) ammunition (reloads), and it was fully expected to to shoot right though this without any problem at all (this load penetrates 1/2 inch steel at 200 yards) so it was a bit of a surprise that the first round DID NOT penetrate the armor shielding.
The second shot in the same place did considerable damage to the armor, but once again it did not penetrate the upright holder (as designed). The third round was able to penetrate through the armor, into the upright, and out the back with considerable force and velocity. So much so, the while the upright did have a hole in it, it could still be used (actually it would have been nearly impossible to have pulled out the 1x2 wood if this actually happened during use holding a target.
The second leg was used to test handgun ammunition to see how well the stand would hold up. after 50 rounds of 44 magnum fired out of the Henry Lever Action 44 Mag, there was no penetration of the armor. In fact even the welds were holding after direct impacts, but the steel in front of the welding had been under such stress after the 50 rounds at 25 and 10 yards that the metal was stretching and failing with a small split, but not enough to worry about. none of the armor or the welds failed!
shots fired into the stand to see what would happen, did not penetrate at low angle (impressive). We then went through another 100 rounds of 38 special +P as well as 357 Magnum, once again without failure.
Results: The Armor shielding on the stand was able to protect the stand (and investment) without damage unless you use the stand as a target with high power rifle ammunition.
Note: The stand was not destroyed because we didn't like them, it's actually the opposite. These stands are the best target stand we have yet tested, by far...
These stands can be set up to handle just one target like most stands, but it can be setup to hold a number of full size targets, all depending on the length of the 1x2 used (it takes five 1x2's to setup this stand for more than one target (you are limited only by the length of wood). This makes this stand the most useful and modular we have seen on the market, and as you can see... it holds up great to the occasional wild round missing the target and hitting the target stand.
The Weaponeer Channel highly recommends this stand.
for information or purchase see: targetmeister.com
Ammunition used for the Pistol portion of the testing as performed by Weaponeer, way BLAZER Ammunition
*** READ ME *** This video contains the destructive testing of a set of Dirty Harry Target Stands made by Target Meister, as well a review on the target stand after a summers worth of intensive testing of this model of target stand.
As our subscribers know, we actually use the products we review for a considerably long time. This way we can find any issues with the products being tested. But in this case after some lengthy testing we thought it was best to test these fine stands to see if the tests can take the impact of bullets to see how well they hold up.
We actually started off with the rifles rather than the pistols, putting a couple full high cap mags from the AKM as well as the AR15 to use against the first stand to see how well it holds up, and the armor shields brushed off the AKM as well as the AR15 with only chipped paint to show for it. shots into the much lighter target base went right though at close range as expected, unless they were shallow angle impacts, in which case they were deflected with some dents but no penetration.
The stand was then shot until a round defected the armor and the upright holder. for this test a 308 bolt action was used for the test firing Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) ammunition (reloads), and it was fully expected to to shoot right though this without any problem at all (this load penetrates 1/2 inch steel at 200 yards) so it was a bit of a surprise that the first round DID NOT penetrate the armor shielding.
The second shot in the same place did considerable damage to the armor, but once again it did not penetrate the upright holder (as designed). The third round was able to penetrate through the armor, into the upright, and out the back with considerable force and velocity. So much so, the while the upright did have a hole in it, it could still be used (actually it would have been nearly impossible to have pulled out the 1x2 wood if this actually happened during use holding a target.
The second leg was used to test handgun ammunition to see how well the stand would hold up. after 50 rounds of 44 magnum fired out of the Henry Lever Action 44 Mag, there was no penetration of the armor. In fact even the welds were holding after direct impacts, but the steel in front of the welding had been under such stress after the 50 rounds at 25 and 10 yards that the metal was stretching and failing with a small split, but not enough to worry about. none of the armor or the welds failed!
shots fired into the stand to see what would happen, did not penetrate at low angle (impressive). We then went through another 100 rounds of 38 special +P as well as 357 Magnum, once again without failure.
Results: The Armor shielding on the stand was able to protect the stand (and investment) without damage unless you use the stand as a target with high power rifle ammunition.
Note: The stand was not destroyed because we didn't like them, it's actually the opposite. These stands are the best target stand we have yet tested, by far...
These stands can be set up to handle just one target like most stands, but it can be setup to hold a number of full size targets, all depending on the length of the 1x2 used (it takes five 1x2's to setup this stand for more than one target (you are limited only by the length of wood). This makes this stand the most useful and modular we have seen on the market, and as you can see... it holds up great to the occasional wild round missing the target and hitting the target stand.
The Weaponeer Channel highly recommends this stand.
for information or purchase see: targetmeister.com
Ammunition used for the Pistol portion of the testing as performed by Weaponeer, way BLAZER Ammunition
