Plinking Targets

[GreenTy]

Have a freind that works as a golf pro at one of the local golf courses and we got into shooting range golf balls. Pretty fun and a good challenge out to about a 100 yards or so.

 

[OKFC05]

Sounds like the Range Master wasnt doing their job.

One of the features of this sprawling remote range is that each member gets a key to use it anytime, and agrees to follow the range rules on the honor system.
Except for match days, there is no range master present, and each shooter is expected to take care of the range as if it were their own. Membership fees are very low, and all work is volunteer.

After some time with minimal problems, there has been a rash of willful destruction, all done with AR/AK. Not every AR/AK shooter is destuctive, but all this damage was done with AR/AKs.

We have caught only one shooter with an AK putting targets on our barricades, and his excuse was "I don't see why you can't still use it." His key was confiscated and he is banned. He obviously was not the only problem.

For the poster that thinks this is a bogus problem, you are welcome to come view the destruction. I don't own the range, but I have to clean up the mess made on the IDPA stages. In May, the IDPA classifier barricade, barrel, and targets stands were shot to scrap, mostly at a distance of a few yards.
The range owner was unable to mow the rifle range because it was covered with over a truckload of metal, wood and glass scrap shot up and left, so we had a workday for rifle shooters to pick up the garbage. Few showed up, and I'm sure they didn't make the mess.

Blaming either the gun or the range system for slobs is absurd, but the problem is real, and could result is range restrictions on everybody, or even closing the range.

 

[whoppo]

One of the features of this sprawling remote range is that each member gets a key to use it anytime, and agrees to follow the range rules on the honor system.
Except for match days, there is no range master present, and each shooter is expected to take care of the range as if it were their own. Membership fees are very low, and all work is volunteer.

An unfortunate case of immature and untrustworthy members, whose actions will undoubtedly continue to hurt the responsible membership. Something I suggested for a local club that was having somewhat similar problems was a mandatory sign-in/out log. When a member unlocked the gate to get in he had to sign in on a paper log, including the names of any guests he might have with him. Upon leaving, he must also sign out and make a note regarding any problems discovered that day. At random times, trustees or other members would stop by to verify that anyone present had signed the log. Those who couldn't be bothered to comply simply forfeited their membership and their key.
Upon putting this system in place, their abuse problems mysteriously ended.

Hope things improve so all can enjoy the resources.

Cheers!

Ron

 

[evilimpshtr]

Have a freind that works as a golf pro at one of the local golf courses and we got into shooting range golf balls. Pretty fun and a good challenge out to about a 100 yards or so.

Yeah I have a bunch of old golf balls, range balls, dirty creek balls that I always keep when I find while playing. I think I might have to start doing this. What exactly does a .22 do to a golf ball. Can you shoot it multiple times or a one and done?

 

[Scuds03]

Sometimes my friends and i will print out or draw dart boards onto paper and play 'shooting darts'. Key is to use irons and have the target out far enough where you really have to aim and shoot well to hit desired areas of the board. Spotting scope is a must.

 

[evilimpshtr]

Sometimes my friends and i will print out or draw dart boards onto paper and play 'shooting darts'. Key is to use irons and have the target out far enough where you really have to aim and shoot well to hit desired areas of the board. Spotting scope is a must.

You can buy those in hi-vis targets. I saw them yesterday at the range I shoot at.

 

[~tc~]

You can buy those in hi-vis targets. I saw them yesterday at the range I shoot at.

Even with the Shoot-n-C high viz ones, some magnification is nice. 22 leaves a pretty small mark

 

[lovetoshoot]

Plinking targets

Its a shame that people feel they must take advantage of and tear up a shooting range that is available for them to have a good time at. This is the reason the honest man can no longer hunt and fish at most private places. The "good ol days" are lost where a farmer was glad to see some one want to fish or hunt, and knew they would leave with more trash or leave the place a little cleaner then found. And now these same people who trash a place are the ones who raise hell and gripe that they dont have a place to go or have to pay to play.. It makes a bad name for all.

 

[Big K]

Sounds like the Range Master wasnt doing their job.

I'd be very surprised if this was happening at times when other shooters were awake, let alone present.

I've never been to this kind of "self-service" range, but it sounds great, except for the low-life factor.

 

[trail]

The range I shoot at is a self service style. You have to sign out the key from the local gas station.
You are expected to clean up after yourself and if theres crap all over the place when you get there pick it up. On checking out and returning the key,note you cleaned up after the last person on the log.
They will get a phone call and a warning. One more time and they get to turn in their membership card.

 

[semperfi71]

My range also experiences the vandalism problems. It's going to happen on any range that is not monitored. In any state. In any culture group.

I like the shooting paintball idea. Sounds like fun.

Years ago I heard of shooting cookies and crackers. When the refuse is shot to pieces the cleanup is done by the wildlife.

 

[trail]

Saltine crackers are another favourite. We tape a clothes pin to a tomato stake and stick it in the back stop.The pin has just enough tension to hold the cracker without breaking in up.
Wildlife does the clean up.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

The private club I joined has electronic gate cards, cameras, and 6 ranges including a "Plinking Range". The PR is where you can let it all hang out. Any kinda target you want absent glass, and any firearm you want... machine guns... any caliber... whatever. By having a range like the PR it keeps all the other paper ranges pristine. Membership is limited and it can take years to get accepted so no one dares screw up. It's real nice.

There is also a state operated public range in the area. Paper only. It's kept up well but still have idiots shooting up chairs and roofs.

 

[evilimpshtr]

Even with the Shoot-n-C high viz ones, some magnification is nice. 22 leaves a pretty small mark

I agree, but I use them up to about 35yrds and can see them fine with the .22. It's the ones that don't hit the black I have a problem seeing. HA. Or further out with .22 I use a spotting scope anyways so the Hi-vis make it even easier to pick up. I get sticker sheets with about about 12 various size hi-vis stickers for .75cents. For that price why not.

 

[CBR240]

OKFC05 - sorry to hear about the vandals at your range. Our one public range is indoor and very tightly controlled. Sadly, the honor system only works when all people have honor:-(. I mainly shoot at private ranges on friends property. So we get to behave as bad as we want, as long as we cleanup after. All my friends like immaculate ranges.
The 15-22 with holo sight, has brought me back to to a favorite of my youth, with a new twist. Shooting cans. Yes those Mt Dew cans are asking for it
The twist is, we start them at about 40 yards. The goal is to keep them moving. Once it stops, it's stopped (and you'd think we could all agree on what "stopped is"). We do not allow trying to shoot the can while it's in the air (1 - because I couldn't , 2 - seems dangerous). We have total of about 100 yards. So both count (how many times you hit it without letting it stop moving), and distance are admired!
I've been shooting .22 for more than 40 years, and have never seen so many cans so completely shredded so quickly.
We have discussed (joked) that when we can shoot better, we will add a soccer style goal at the 100 yard mark, and blasting the can all the way to, and into the goal, would be the "goal".

 

[LTC]

Our pistol club is pretty much a paper target club. I have been successful in introducing a few varities of knock down options. I like to use suspended tennis balls at 30 - 50 feet for pistol and 25 yards for .22 rifle.

We also recently purchased two different re-setting plate racks for 25 yards.

Neco waffers make a nice challange at 25 yards. Same for golf balls.

Our range has an electronic key pad type gate, manditory sign in logs and is in the process of installing a camera system. We don't have a vandelism problem and hope we never will.

LTC

 

[JCKoLnturn]

Hi I'm new to the forum but I was wondering if anyone had any experience with those spinning and resetting 22 plinking targets on amazon. They seem pretty cheap. I was wondering how long they hold up.

 

[monk]

I love shooting old melons and other assorted fruit and like crackers and cookies clean up is taken care of by the "locals".

 

[cal1]

We used to use potatoes. Cheap and biodegradeable.

 

[kd4gij]

Cheap charcoal is fun to shoot out side and don't have to clean it up