Target setup.

[PowderMonkey]

How do you guys setup your target when you begin to workup a load for a flintlock? What size bull do you use and at what distance do you begin?

 

[Rifleman1776]

No simple answer. If you have a range, built a target frame. I've been using black construction board but it doesn't hold up well in the weather. A cardboard box on the ground with a spot drawn with felt tip will work. I'm going to get some of those corragated plastic signs political candidates use after the election and paint grey and staple my target on those.

 

[mooman76]

I don't shoot flint but can't think it would matter as far as sighting in. I usually start at 25y and shoot a 1" bull. After I am satisfied I know where I'm hitting and grouping well, I move the target back further.
As far as a target, a good temp target is a pizza box opened up triangle shaped. I have a target stand but it's not always practical to load up all that gear. You can make a easy cheap target stand from PVC pipe. Use Rebar in the bottom to give it some weight. Don't glue it just stick it together and you can take it apart for easy transport.

 

[coloradoclyde]

25 yrds, 1" bull, and a 2' square bullet trap on my own range.

 

[wayne terry]

Me my eyes arnt as good as they used to be I use a steel plate about 7 inches square if I can hear it ring at 50 yards I figure that's about as good as it gets for me.

 

[jamesthomas]

I use 1 1/2 inch PVC Pipe to make my target stand. I have it set up so that it is even with my rifle so there is no pointing it up or down which will mess up your sights. I use a 6" bull for all ranges 25, 50 and 75 yards.

 

[Semisane]

Fifty yards. Three inch bull. Political signs to hold 8.5 x 11" targets (original printed from word document and copies made in batches of 100 at copy store for six cents each).





Here are my targets with two-inch, three-inch, and five-inch bulls in JPEG format for printing on 8.5 x 11" paper.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

I found an old metal kids swingset frame to use to hang targets and gongs. I simply back away from the target the desired distance. For a target backer I use a black fiber construction material that I buy at the home store. They even cut it into 2 ft x 2 ft pieces for me. I use two pieces of 2x4 clamped on front and back of the top with chain holding it up to the frame. The targets staple easily to the backer. I have 25 yd, 50 yd, and 100 yd distances marked. with a line of bricks dug in flush with the soil surface. Doesn't affect mowing at all

 

[nit wit]

Pizza box 25 yds 1 1/2" circle,colored in with a magic marker.
Nit Wit

 

[ohio ramrod]

Pizza boxes are for bow shooting! The grandson really likes to poke holes in one with the bow I made him! For rifles I use a milk carton lid stapled to a piece of used copy paper.! :rotf:

 

[jamesthomas]

I've tried those signs, I don't like them because they sway back an forth in any kind of wind :shake: .

 

[Many Klatch]

SemiSane, thanks for those targets, they look handy.

 

[Billnpatti]

They swing whichever way the wind blows....sort of like the politicians who put them up :rotf:

 

[larryp]

There's a hole in a hill where an old root cellar used to be that I have a scavenged wood pallet stood up in. It catches any bullets in the dirt walls. For the target I use cardboard sheets that come in our boxes of bread we get at work every other week. I use a can of red spray paint to make whatever size bull I need (usually about 4"). That's what I use at all ranges. Yes I'm cheap but it allows me to spend more money on powder and lead!

 

[necchi]

Mine primary target is like Semi-sane but I use a 1" black circle on white paper.
I can see it just fine out to 100
Aim small, Miss small.

 

[Curt]

Necchi I agree with you 100 percent except seein it at long range .My vision is goin south.Smaller target means better group if you stay with it .Curt

 

[kopfjaeger]

Semisane, Thanks for the targets. :thumbsup:

 

[mooman76]

One target that is simple to make and shows up very well is to take the cap off a spray paint can, (preferably the small caps that are a little over 1") Place it on the paper, box or whatever you are making into a target and spray around it. That gives you two different contrast that show up very well.

 

[PowderMonkey]

Thanks guys for your input. Semisane, thank you for the target templates.

 

[Semisane]

Here's one for use with scoped "unmentionables" or cartridge rifles - also in JPEG format for printing on 8.5 x 11" paper.