AIM SMALL - MISS SMALL, a hard concept for some to grasp

[coltle6920]

Definitely bigger target dialing in a new firearm. Caldwell 5 1/2" out to 15yds after that.

Have to say that big targets make better YouTube videos.

 

[zeke]

Am gonna politely disagree, and it depends on what shooting skill you're after. Have seen so many brand new shooters get discouraged because their mentors get them back at 25 yds shooting small targets.

Always advise them to move up close till the newbie can actually get used to shooting and get some hits. Plus you can see how far off they are from the aiming point, and what modifications to make. After they get used to it, certainly agree with using smaller targets to hone in some skill sets.

Though lots of people do, i rarely shoot at little dots, as that is not why i took up pistol or rifle shooting for. When sighting in a handgun at 25 yards, learned to use larger circle and aim at the more easily distinguished bottom of the circle. Same with open sighted rifles at 100 yds.

When practicing close in defense pistol shooting, am aiming at blobs, not little dots.

The only time i shoot at little dots is when sighting in scoped rifle at 100 yds. After the rifle is sighted in am "bracketing" the target at longer ranges. This reduces the "wobble" effect, similarly to using a lower power. Yes it is fun to shoot small things at 100 yds, but most my rifle shooting is at silhouette sized targets at longer ranges.

As my eyes get worse every year, hand gun skills are more geared to effective repeat hits up close and fast. And am using a modified "pointing" technique for that.

 

[mmb617]

I try not to overthink the whole target deal. I'm not shooting in competition, just trying to stay reasonably proficient with my carry gun and have fun with my other firearms.

I buy glow shot targets since my eyes aren't great and as I only want to keep one size and type of targets on hand I buy the 12"x18" ones since they work well for me at all the ranges I shoot, from 10 yds with the pistols to 300 yards with some of the rifles, and everything in between.

This is one of my targets from yesterday shot at 10 yds with my M&P Compact 9. I don't claim to be an expert and this is plenty good enough for me. I don't see how a different target would improve my groups in any significant way.

I sometimes see people in other lanes using targets that are huge at very short (3-5 yds) ranges but that's none of my business.

 

[sigp220.45]

The old FBI PQC started at the 25 and moved in. Sometimes I would have shooters who would throw a few at the 25 then get mentally wrapped around the axle and start wiffing on the closer in shots.

I'd give them a do-over and we'd shoot the course in reverse, starting at the three yard line. By the time we were back to the 25 they'd see all those holes inside the bottle and relax. It probably wasn't authorized but it usually worked and I didn't really care.

The other little trick was to turn the target around and shoot at the back. I'd just tell them to aim at the middle of that big blank space. I don't know why, but it worked like a champ.

I'm a big fan of being able to shoot at the 25 (and farther) but I wouldn't start a newbie at the 25 on a small target.

 

[zeke]

The other little trick was to turn the target around and shoot at the back. I'd just tell them to aim at the middle of that big blank space. I don't know why, but it worked like a champ.

Sounds very similar to the old cover up silhouettes with a shirt technique. Am also using silhouettes at 25 yards. Use targets that i can't see any lines differentiating specific areas, and no dots. Although i am usually shooting at the "upper tee", which is also against a lot of doctrines.

Am guessing the theory being vermin aren't running around with little dots on em.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

There is the idea of "overtraining", when I went through TOW Trainer's School in 1979 we were told the targets we would be aiming at were a bit smaller than actual tanks at that distance, in WWII Soviet snipers aimed at sticks, they called actual combat "breaking sticks". Ed McGivern emphasized that all aspects of slow fire shooting were used in rapid fire shooting.

 

[rockquarry]

As usually happens with any threads related to targets, target shooting, or improving shooting skills, they're quickly transformed into a self defense/ gunfighting thread.

What many don't realize is that initially developing good shooting skills, even Bullseye-style single-action revolver shooting with one hand will serve as a solid basis for learning self-defense type shooting. Good skills are just that and will stay with you and serve you well as long as you practice occasionally, regardless of the type shooting you do.

 

[zeke]

As usually happens with any threads related to targets, target shooting, or improving shooting skills, they're quickly transformed into a self defense/ gunfighting thread.

What many don't realize is that initially developing good shooting skills, even Bullseye-style single-action revolver shooting with one hand will serve as a solid basis for learning self-defense type shooting. Good skills are just that and will stay with you and serve you well as long as you practice occasionally, regardless of the type shooting you do.

With all due respect, the op included this statement after opening up with shooting skills,

"That comes with shooting a relatively small target and progressively becoming more accurate with it - the B-3 target is perfect for that purpose IMHO. After the basics, then speed increases and then silhouette targets make more sense"

So i guess the op was not exclusionary to "target" shooting, and some will have a differing opinion on what helps with self defense skills.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

There seems to be an idea that there are target shooting skills and combat shooting skills and you can be a good combat shot without really being a marksman.

 

[DWalt]

Cheap paper plates make good close-range targets for newbie shooters.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Cheap paper plates make good close-range targets for newbie shooters.

My dad started me on the "point-n-shoot" path with paper plates with electrical tape Xs on them, beer cans and mom's biscuits.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

I print my own targets, keep the masters in sheet protectors, used scrap paper from work, church bulletins, e.g.