Has anybody else seen these “bleeding” targets? They’re made by a company called Triumph Systems. They appear to be the usual zombie targets that some folks seem to enamored with. But, they have “bleeding” packs that spew nasty, staining ink everywhere.

I volunteer as a range officer and am constantly challenged to maintain a safe and clean shooting environment. These targets make the job MUCH harder. They make a mess of target stands, benches and concrete. The ink badly stains skin and fabric. Even cleaning up the trash, already an unpleasant job, is made that much worse. One small hole in a hefty trash bag is all it takes to ruin your day!

Ranges are constantly under threat from anti-gun antagonists, budget constraints, and “shooting slobs”. What kind of shortsighted company would intentionally make a product that can’t help but be a menace to the industry in which it supposedly supports?

I have already begun the process to have these targets banned from our state ranges.
Please, if you absolutely must shoot these disgusting eyesore targets, have some consideration and do it on your own property only!

Thank you!

I see your valid point and agree, inside ranges shouldn't allow them, but outdoor shooting they'd be really cool I think?
Probably way over priced I'd guess, maybe once? I'd buy some for shooting outside, we all love to see things explode when shot like tannerite.

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Dave Ramsey Cultist

I got curious and looked 'em up on the internet. Zombie target with little dye packs on brain, heart and lungs to show exactly where you hit. The site says the dye is water soluble. So I guess you can wash it off.
But at $16.99 each, I'll pass.

Even outdoors, they make a mess out of the installed target frames. When brought back to the line, they’re left on the benches where they further leak and stain the wood. Even once they make their way to the trashcan, any puncture in the liner bag leads to more leaks in the can or in one’s vehicle when the trash is hauled off.
Ask me how I know!!

I don’t see anything “cool” about them.

Range maintenance is an ongoing battle. When things get out of hand, ranges get shut down. It’s happened many times around here. Sometimes the shutdown is temporary, lasting 6-12 months. Other times it can be permanent.
Anything that creates an extra mess, or poses a potential hazard (ie: tannerite shot at 5-10 yards in front of the line!) is bad for everyone.

Try bringing a potential new shooter to a trashed range. They’re not likely to get a very good first impression of either guns or gun owners!

Anyone who leaves the range in worse condition than when they got there is a menace to the sport.

Hummm, seeing someone bleed from a gun shot is fun? Having been shot and bleeding it damn sure is not fun. After seeing what I saw in RVN really don’t want to see anymore blood. However I will shoot any scum bag that tries to rob us.

Our outdoor range instituted sop's for each range which included some restrictions on what you can use for targets. Tannerite, vegetables, fruit, junk, dvds etc are out. Much easier to keep the range clean, especially when there is steel targets on each range. It's really just paper targets on the back boards, or shoot at steel.

We have met the enemy and he is us.

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Forum consigliere

"from within"

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Dave Ramsey Cultist

My club, like Zeke's above, bans exploding targets, splatter targets, likenesses of real people, typical home plinking fodder, etc. Targets have size restrictions as well so people don't shoot up the target frames more than would be expected. The type of steel to use is specified as well. We can shoot clays placed on the action range bay berms, though I have not tried that.

At orientation for my club, which has a two-year wait list, we were told that our range has a lot of restrictions and safety rules, and if you feel it's not for you, best to find a quarry or similar where public shooting is permitted. No hard feelings and we'll give you your money back.

Some years ago my range held a Pumpkin Shoot on the 100 yard range. The range was littered with over 1000 pumpkins one the ground, made into scare crows and any variation you could think of. When the order to fire came, which included machine guns, there were pumpkin chunks flying everywhere. It was pretty awesome to participate. Didn't take long for all the pumpkins to be smaller chunks all over the range. Fun time.

Fast forward to the next year and we realized the mistake we made. Pumpkin plants were growing by the hundreds all over the range. Those things are hard to kill and they keep growing back. We finally had to resort to chemicals to kill them. One big learning event.

I haven’t seen the bleeding targets yet, or seen them advertised for sale. They wouldn’t interest me at all.
The demand for the bleeding targets would go away if the gun ranges across the country would ban them period.

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James
On the Llano Estacado

I don't trust or go to gun ranges in general, inside or out, good way to get shot from what I've experienced. Too many stupid people with firearms.

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Dave Ramsey Cultist

I wish you success


We have very strict rules at a private club I belong to
Folks can get major trouble for a little as leaving some shotgun shells or other small trash items. There is no trash pick up, Clean up your own mess and brass!
There is a State range. not far from ours and it is very strict also

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Still Running Against the Wind

I see noting wrong with furthering a persons education concerning their chosen profession.

Just thinking...even before your range officially decides to ban these targets, as a range master, just tell shooters that they aren't allowed on the range while you're in charge. If they want to come back when someone else is at the helm...fine, but while you're calling the shots, they aren't allowed. Period.

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Pack light and cinch tight.

People want bleeding targets? Good God.

Nothing wrong with having sensible rules and policies in place.

I'd be very wary of anyone that even considers one. Our shooting right has enough problems as it is, without that silliness.

Good post. "Bleeding targets"? Maybe some of our fellow shooters have become worse than any enemy. "Shooting slobs" may be an appropriate term in describing some shooters. Fortunately, I have never run across any of these. And the "Zombie" concept is one I've not understood. I've been content with paper targets.

The whole zombie thing is a stupid fad. However, I can see a use for bleeding targets showing realistic figures in training. Humans have a negative response to the sight of blood, in general. Training with targets like these might weed out those who would hesitate knowing the real consequences of squeezing the trigger.

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Release the Kraken

I don't care for them personally but asking for a statewide ban on them is giving fuel to the anti-gunners. Better to just ban them from your range like we did.

What, no pictures?
Something juicy like this needs pictures.

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213th FBINA

Invented by some video gamer kid who's never touched a weapon?

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No baby we aint

I find them just a little bit sick.

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Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

Our range had to change, and expand, the rules more than once because of "idiots". Now there are cameras on all the ranges as well. If someone breaks the rules there is no warning, they are expelled for life, period, and will be prosecuted for trespassing if they try to show up again. The rules are listed in the mailer each of us get and posted at the range.

I used to think this was pretty harsh years ago but time has changed my mind. Insurance, lawyers, etc..., there's just too much that can shut down a range with little effort.

I've never heard of bleeding targets for the common folk. I have seen them for testing purposes. That being said I, personally, wouldn't purchase one. I'm not going to say someone can't though...

Manadnock, NH, or a range local to you??

Yep, went to a range and they said I could not use/ shoot my full size B-27’s. Forget what I told them but it wasn’t nice and left. Guess my old FBI targets would not be allowed either. Thats ok, I know where to shoot…

Indeed. And part of my home duties as a kid in the '60s was to kill unwanted puppies and kittens. Not a big deal, nor was butchering nor cleaning game for the table. BUT, all was done for a specific purpose, not giggles.

Me too, but I am impressed and glad to see the entrepreneurial spirit in America is still alive.

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Live long and prosper

Yes, many gun owners unfortunately have a simular mentality and rhetoric as the anties, and they also easily triggered over absolutely nothing. While I can understand not wanting these at the range because they make a mess, I don't understand what the complaint or big deal is otherwise.... I guess shooting at human silhouettes and pictures bad guys is okay, but shoot at a make beleive bleeding vombie, and people become trigger!

1. It's a freaking fake inanimate object.
2. No one is being hurt.
3. It's just for fun and entertainment purposes. Everything doesn't have to be serious all the time, it's meant to be silly, and the world isn't going to come to an end.
4. I don't see what's so triggering and "sick" about it. We watch worse on TV shows and in movies FOR ENTERTAINMENT with real people/actors being killed with blood going everywhere, but we're outraged when it's a gel zombie with red dye? I'm will to bet all of us have watched cinema where men, women, children, animals, aliens, zombies, etc were decapitated, shot, stabbed, tortured, drowned, stabbed, burnt, strangled, etc for entertainment purposes, but this is a problem? Make it make sense lol. Turn on TV and watches John Wick slaughter a thousand people over a dog and a car, and that's okay. Shoot at a gel zombie that has dye packs that looks like blood, and that's what's sickening lol?
5. Seems like everyone regardless of demographic is getting outraged over every little thing nowadays. It needs to stop. With all the problems and horrors going on in the world, we have some gun owners who are pontificating about what make beleive inanimate objects other gun owners shoot for fun. What's worse and just like anties is they want these items banned or to have never existed for gun owners to enjoy because of optics and their personal feelings. It's ridiculous IMHO. If you don't want to have to clean up the mess at your range, then ban them (understandable). Other than that why worry about what other Americans buy that doesn't affect you?

Wow, now target shooting at a fictional make beleive character made out of gel and dye packs is worse than killing unwanted puppies and kittens lol. What's the world coming too? I don't even recognize it anymore!

I hear you.
I certainly recognize and acknowledge the problem imposed by the targets and will agree with the OP about them being unfit for use in certain environments.
Outside this, where one is willing to accept the liabilities, where's the problem?

Of course, we are hearing a fair quantity of the same dissent voiced over Halloween zombie shoots.
Imagine the boost that could have been for your range to have had this gain traction. Set up a killhouse environment with zombie targets and fund your years worth of repairs and upgrades in a week.
The cost was putting up with obnoxiously packaged ammo and ridiculous targets while meal team six footed the bill for your new target stands and bench rest upgrades.

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it just needs more voltage

Optics.... They are worried about how it makes them look to people who don't like and never will like guns regardless of how much we kowtow to them. They're scared about what ainties might think about it, so they believe it should be banned or not exist.

If ainties can weaponize it then we shouldn't have it basically. Simular arguments have been made against the existence of bumpstocks and braces by gun owners.

I've used melons and pumpkins for impact targets for years which seems just as effective for bullet impact demonstrations, probably cheaper, and certainly environmentally friendly. I think I'll stick with them.

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- Change it back -

Our outdoor range requires shot shells to be picked up. No one does it. Rules are tough to enforce. I wouldn’t want to stand in sticky soda after someone shot up a 2 liter bottle, so I agree about messes. Paper targets only is a simple rule to help stop range slobs.

Optics aside, I can see how you wouldn’t want to deal with the mess.

Attached Images

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Rule of law, not a man.

Don't "ban" the targets, just charge enough money to make the one who has to clean it up very happy. Give that extra money to him!

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696-6906-457-38-3913-CS40-411

My first guess is that this is like costume play and other similar recreational activities that seem so important to the younger generation these days who have been raised in a video game reality. For people like you who are serious about developing skill, it makes sense to use reactive targets and there are many reasonable options for this. I use plastic milk jugs or if I am flush with cash (rarely), I use Shoot-N-See targets and field glasses.

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696-6906-457-38-3913-CS40-411

Mr Parrish, respectfully, do you believe it's possible to do both? A person can shoot to train and develop skill on occasions, and then purely shoot just for fun and pure enjoyment for other occasions? That it's not a binary one or the other choice, are do you believe that the only reason someone who shoot their firearms is for training, hunting, or shooting competitions? The tone of some of these comments seems like the the latter is the only reason why they think gun owners should shoot their firearms.

I've seen YouTube videos of families and friends of all ages (even men in their 60s-70s) gathered around shooting at cans, food, meat, exploding Tannerite targets, bullet proof vest, old cars, metal drums, and even these gel zombies and the like. They seem to enjoy themselves and are having fun on their own property, and others watching seem to enjoy it too because some of these videos have several million views. I think that's all it boils down to, e.i, entertainment and having fun. I don't understand the negative connotation behind it. It's an American pastime.

Please call me Brian! This is my crowd here, and you are one of my people for sure. Your contribution is valuable and appreciated though we never say so.

I agree with you about the fun. Certainly, this sort of thing should be a part of bringing in the new young and inexperienced into the gun culture. These targets are a great idea for that! Just clean up after yourself.

The commercial gun ranges do not allow the practical shooting that I feel one should be doing with the carry gun. No movement is allowed. No drawing from a holster. No rapid fire. They have good reason for this, I can't argue, except to say you could make the same argument for stopping tackling at football practice. But if I may, I want to recommend a YouTube by T.Rex Arms. He has 1.57M subscribers. He shows how to build real skills without getting kicked out of an indoor range: (How to Train in an Indoor Range - Handgun - YouTube)

Back in the good 'ol days, the old geezers' way to have fun AND build skill, was to compete informally. Shoot for score and for time and put a stake on the outcome. Loser pays, or even winner buys the drinks! Lots of good-natured teasing is part of it. Nowadays, young people could add costumes from movie characters and shoot movie scenarios, e.g. Tom Cruise in "Collateral" or Keanu Reeves in "John Wick". Make us old guys do something from "Miami Vice" or from "Dirty Harry". Be safe! Have fun! Learn something! Spend money on your friends! I am down for it.
Kind regards!
BrianD

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696-6906-457-38-3913-CS40-411

The complaint is that people who use these at the OP's range do not clean up after themselves, and the OP, who volunteers as an RSO, does not like cleaning up after slobs:

Seems like a reasonable complaint to me.

I likewise.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

Much of YouTube regarding anything gun, shooting, or handloading-related is like watching "The View"; a good way to lower your IQ. Never assume it's factual or necessarily good advice.

My 25 year streak of having never watched The View remains intact.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

A fair number of organized ranges I've been to/been a member of over the years have really restricted people's target options for both practical reasons (safety, cleanup) and optics reasons (human targets are fine when it's bin laden or the generic bad guy drawn targets, but everyone wanted to take it further and put up political figures, an ex, etc, not a great look). I don't see these as hugely terrible at an outdoor range cleanup wise, and I don't see them as particularly gorey/offensive, but I'd also probably not want to strike up a conversation with the dude at the range that decides he wants his target to bleed. Plenty enough weirdos in the gun space, I wouldn't want to see these banned/driven out of business, but I'd also be totally fine with a range (a private business) deciding that these weren't the vibe they wanted and banning them from their facilities.

Indeed a wise man.

That's really twisted. If enough ranges ban them they will disappear.

The club that I belong to doesn't allow any targets that even remotely look like a person.

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'Merica!

I used to take Ruthie's biscuits to ranges as targets. They stopped me from doing it citing ricochet hazards.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

I’ve never been to a range, but why wouldn’t the person making the mess, be responsible for cleaning it up?

Guess about 18 years ago when living in Ga. the State had a nice range about 45 miles away( 1 way). Nice covered firing points, very nice restrooms, folding chairs, target backers and brooms and dustpans to clean up with. Had been that way for years. Few of us would go and enjoy shooting pistols at 50-100 yards. Then it happened. The “ new age” crowd started shooting, not just targets but the roof of the range ,the chairs and of course the signs. Then tv sets showed up along with washing machines( no joke), microwave ovens and assorted car parts. All shot up and left between firing line and targets. Outhouse restroom was run over by some big truck, smashed to pieces. The state replaced the outhouse restroom with a porta potty but no more chairs, target backers, chairs let along brooms and dust pans. Went back and the porta potty had been “ run over” by some jacked up pickup according to the Sheriff's deputy there. He has some “ low risk” jail birds out there picking up all the trash. Had a big trailer that was about full of shot up garbage from the range. He said range would be only open when their was a RO or RSO was available. Seems the same crowd that wants “ unusual targets” is alive and well.