Targets

[inmysights]

I have been printing targets off at home for the range. White paper is little hard to see where you hit. Thinking that colored paper could help this out. Has anyone tried this or got another idea for me? Lets see what other targets we all use at range to keep it fun.

 

[bharner]

I'm a sucker for the shoot-n-c targets but these are my favorite.
http://www.targetz.com/fun03.htm and cluck target 20040. The mini gnomes. My buddies and I will hold various challenges with them.
Shoot the tips of the hats off one round. Shoot the eyes out, etc. Seeing who can do it with least shots or greatest overall accuracy.

 

[RolandW]

Target-wise, this redneck is pretty unsophisticated. I've used targets that I printed myself only for sighting guns in, and have never set foot on a real range. I'm assuming they have rules about what you can use for targets?
I cleared out some space in our woods and we shoot everything from soft steel plates (a steel supplier I do business with lets me take drops from their shear for free) to dangling tennis balls to various water-filled containers. My favorite is still the old aluminum soda can. Explodorama!
Our church collects cans to recycle, and they let me "borrow" a few trash bags full every now and then. I promise to bring them back, albeit with modified shape (the missionaries who get the recycling money have not complained).
At our house, no container gets to the dumpster anymore without first getting the ".22 treatment." You know you have a serious problem when the first thing you think about when buying groceries is, "Does it come in something I can fill with water and shoot?"

 

[.45mtngun]

For many years for my varmint rifles with high power fine-plex cross hairs I made up a bunch of targets with standard benchrest targets printed on an off yellow background. This seems to cut down on the glare of pure white paper when the sun is directly on it.You can have this done at a place like Kinkos and simply enlarge the image of the benchrest target for ones you want to shoot at greater distances. It really works quite well. Just get some standard benchrest targets and let them do the rest. I print mine upside down with the sighting square on the bottom and the scoring rings above.
For iron sights on hand guns, I copied an idea from gun writer John Taffin and cut 9" by 11" sections of light green backing paper, i don't know the name for it, and put white label sguares slightly above center for an aiming point. I use 1" squares for 7 yards, 2" for 15 and 3" for 25. When my 65 years old eyes were sharper I would use 2" for 25 yards. The iron sights on my hand guns show up good on the light green paper. Stay away from shiny or dark green paper as it defeats the purpose. I've noticed in recent years that John has gone to a tan background paper with red squares, probibly easier for his eyes to pick up on. Hope these examples give you some ideas.
Jim C.

 

[JaPes]

I have been printing targets off at home for the range. White paper is little hard to see where you hit. Thinking that colored paper could help this out. Has anyone tried this or got another idea for me? Lets see what other targets we all use at range to keep it fun.

When I use home printed targets, I use a cardboard backer. I'll grab a large piece of cardboard from the recycling bin, and hang that to the target carrier. I then tape the target to the cardboard.

When the ammo punches the hole, the extra thickness of the cardboard adds an extra shadow that makes it easier to see.

 

[Jav]

Just a thought but:

I live close to "Alco Targets" which you may or may not have at your local range. I think they're pretty popular. Usually these things are $0.50 or $1+ for a target at the range but if you buy it directly from them, it's 100 sheets for $30 or so(This is for big, blue silhouette targets with 3 3" circles above it) . I picked it up so no shipping although there was tax but you still save quiteeee a bit of money as opposed to buying from the range each time. I have bookmarked two sites that have targets but have yet to print them out. I just use my printer for school assignments. You should also invest in a steel target as there's good money savings & tons of fun there

 

[grg3d]

Hi,
I also like to shoot at targets that are reactionary or explode so we tend to buy a case of clays to shoot at the gravel pit, their bio degradable and you get 90 for $10.00

At the range its paper only for me except I have seen a few exploding targets get hit (by some one else) so its usually dirty ducks or the splatter targets…. kind of boring epically with an Ar type of rifle.

I wish they had a range near me that had a type of run & gun. or let you shoot the steel targets they have for the pistol only part of the range.

 

[RolandW]

Can't remember where I saw it, but somebody suggested using charcoal briquettes as a cheap alternative to clays. I was going to try it but decided that handling the darned things would make too much of a mess on my hands, which would surely transfer immediately to my guns, mags, clothes, etc.
I made a bench to hold my rifles steady for sighting-in, but what's the best way to hold a pistol for this? Do most pistol shooters just hand-hold for sighting-in?

 

[riderrick65]

Reply to Thread

Target-wise, this redneck is pretty unsophisticated. I've used targets that I printed myself only for sighting guns in, and have never set foot on a real range. I'm assuming they have rules about what you can use for targets?
I cleared out some space in our woods and we shoot everything from soft steel plates (a steel supplier I do business with lets me take drops from their shear for free) to dangling tennis balls to various water-filled containers. My favorite is still the old aluminum soda can. Explodorama!
Our church collects cans to recycle, and they let me "borrow" a few trash bags full every now and then. I promise to bring them back, albeit with modified shape (the missionaries who get the recycling money have not complained).
At our house, no container gets to the dumpster anymore without first getting the ".22 treatment." You know you have a serious problem when the first thing you think about when buying groceries is, "Does it come in something I can fill with water and shoot?"

I really envy you Roland, wish I had some property where I could go anytime I wanted and plink with my 15-22 ..... But since I'm in the city (actually a condo community) I have to revert to a shooting range, but at least I'm able to shoot ....The shooting range I go to supplies one silhoutte target which I plaster with various shoot-n-see targets, so I guess life isn't all that bad

 

[RolandW]

Yeah, we are blessed with 350 acres, 150 of that right outside our window. It's just a minute's walk to our low-budget imitation of Hickok45's range.
This time of year it looks like paradise, but of course it's a full-time job keeping everything tidy. Some days when the lawnmower breaks, then the chainsaw breaks, etc., I start having fond memories of my old one-bedroom apartment in the city!

 

[Lian]

best targets are just some wood off-cuts/pieces. watch em jump/spin all over the place as you hit them. always fun.

 

[Majorlk]

but what's the best way to hold a pistol for this? Do most pistol shooters just hand-hold for sighting-in?

Pistol shooters rest their forearms, just behind the wrist, on a rest. There are also pistol supports that support the entire pistol.