What does "target load" mean to you?

[chriske]

Like Sgt Preston, to me, a target load, regardless of caliber, is one that will hit where I intend it to and that I can shoot a lot, in terms of both comfort AND cost.
I shoot at paper mostly, occasionally bowling pins. Distance from 15 to 25 meters.
Loads that fit my bill are .22 LR, .38Spl (non +P) and 9mm. No magnums.
(I shoot.44 Spl, 44-40 & .45 Colt as well, but those are more expensive)

 

[model14]

Everyone's comments on "target loads" have been instructional and interesting. I couldn't agree more that each of us has their own definition of what constitutes a "target load". I am going to make a possibly controversial statement though that a jhp (at least XTP's), will most always shoot more accurate than a lead bullet at any distance, regardless of the powder or load. That has been my experience after a lot of rounds, both 50 ft indoors and 25, 50 and 100 yds outdoors.

I will post this absurd?

statement on a new thread, so please comment on my findings there.

 

[harry carey]

We stand on the shoulders of the past. I for one do not like changing terminology as it makes communication difficult especially when speaking with folks of age and experience who might know etymology. in 1930 .38 S&W spl target load(factory) was 750 to 805 fps and usually a wadcutter(flat headed, blunt, flat pointed). four names for the same bullet ! how do we communicate ? other terms were... standard load, midrange (slower than target) super-police, gallery, small game, etc. this was factory ammo 650 fps to 860. super-police was 200g , 4.0 Infallible(unique), spherical point 745 fps. standard loads were RN (conoidal) rnfp was (flattened point) Colt Special. midrange were 650-675 fps ,wadcutters. the 38 spl dominated "TARGET" shooting until the 44 spl took over the 38 displacing the 44 Russian. Target loads were loads fired at TARGETS ,seriously, precision shooting. we also called this years ago, "paper punching" but now people ,new to shooting, using a plastic gun , shooting at five yards use this term !!! we should have protected our terms !much of Target shooting in the past was at fifty yards, one hand. see Himmelwright, Frazer,etc.