Cut up part of an old bed frame, and bolted pieces in where the original base crosses under the upright, but the biggest improvement was making a cross brace for the two front legs. Drilled holes and bolted everything so if/when it gets shot up, it can be un-bolted straightened and reassembled. I had to use counter sunk screws where the upright slides in. So far, no one’s shot the base, but in the heat of a duel, it’s bound to happen sooner or later…. I have a friend with the same tree and the base has been shot numerous times….