So... my family is getting new carpet.
So I can take some of the old.
I wish to make 2 targets- an archery target and a slinging target(or 5 or 6 of them).  I already plan on cutting a 10x10 ft section for use as a backstop.
How would one go about making a slinging target?

Attach it to something sawhorse-y, a small swingset even.

Hang it over a rope.  If it can't give some when it's hit. the stones will punch through. 

How many layers should I use?

When hung over a rope as bill mentioned, it will give you 2 layers, plenty enough. :)

Yep.loose hangin is more sure to withstand the mighty power of a slingstone slicing through the air.
Carpets are not created equal. Neither slingers. Or stones.

The sawhorse idea would be easy to do.

you'd just need five wooden or metal poles and a few nuts and bolts. Bear in mind that carpet is heavy stuff. Nothing lightweight will support it for long.

well... I was thinking of lashing 2" poles together.
b'c this is at my slinging spot, and I cannot carry lumber/sawhorses there.
I have to bike to it, you  can't drive a car to it.

Maybe use  just one rigid pole as long as the with of your target. Nail, screw, tack, staple or stitch it along the top edge of your carpet scrap. Then tie a rope to the pole; at the center or one at each end. 

Now you have something that can be rolled up nice and tight and transported to your favorite slinging spot, unfurled and hung from a tree limb from the rope/s.

Step three: profit. ;D

You could make something similar as I have made: http://slinging.org/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1346504245
Just take shorter poles (e.g. 1m 50 cm) and there you go. I pack this target in a backback and run about 1 km to my training place with it.

Best is to not have any rigid objects behind the carpet.
Two vertical poles and a horizontal one is the minimum i think.
If you have two trees close by, you could use them as very strong poles. For the horizontal,than you could use even a rope,stretched tight between them.

jlasud wrote on Nov 23^rd, 2013 at 4:51pm:

Best is to not have any rigid objects behind the carpet. Two vertical poles and a horizontal one is the minimum i think. If you have two trees close by, you could use them as very strong poles. For the horizontal,than you could use even a rope,stretched tight between them.

great idea... so I only have to carry a rope and some carpet. You think 1/4 inch polyproplyene would do it? I have tons of it.

Yep it should be the lightest.
I'm not familiar with 1/4 ploypropylene's properties..

My Mom threw out a huge  synthetic carpet of some sort, Mochetta type?? ish ..bout 1/4 thich.
And that hung by a vertical pole bout 18 long ,about 5 feet high between  my gates in the close wilderness,woodland,rarely i slung some 130 gram concrete balls. And if the carpet hung down on the ground, the balls would rip through,from a 43" sling. If not touching the ground,then it can take hundreds of shots..
But it's damn heavy.. ~15x12 feet and ...60 pounds
I also used the most dense construction safety net,available here. And if the wind doesn't stretch it,and it can hang loose, it works like a charm.
But because it's so dense,and lightweight,the slightest breeze can stretch it enough that the balls may go through.

I meant the rope ;)
the carpet is really tough stuff. i can barely stab a razor-sharp morakniv through 2 layers. its nylon, with a double poly backing(I dunno which)

1/4 inch poly rope has got a ridiculous breaking strain, that'll be absolutely fine.

It's often used as cheap tow rope for cars. :thumb: