What targets do you shoot at?

Muzzleloading Forum

Help Support Muzzleloading Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Robert Egler

50 Cal.
Joined
Jul 17, 2007
Messages
1,319
Reaction score
26
Went to a public range the other day, on the weekend (I usually avoid weekends, Thursday afternoons are good for avoiding crowds), lots of people shooting. Mostly defensive handgun and various ARs or AKs. I noticed that even among the other shooters who appeared to be shooting hunting rifles, I was the only one shooting at a picture rather than a target. If I'm sighting in a gun, I use a standard-type grid target, but if I'm practicing for hunting season I use life size photos of squirrels in various presentations. In fairness, some of the defensive handgun shooters were using silhouettes, but still not actual pictures of what they'd really be shooting at.

Squirrels are not usually brightly colored geometric shapes with high-contrast backgrounds, and I like to practice with something more like I'll actually be seeing.

What kind of targets do others use?
 
I use a black 1 1/2" circle on the center of a sheet of printer paper.
from 15yrds out to 200yrds,,
If you can hit that you can hit just about anything you can aim at
 
I either use a black 2 inch square on printer paper at fifty yards or the triple red triangle one at 75 yards. Used to get life sized deer targets I think at Dicks Sporting Goods but I ran out of those last year, need to see if I can mail order some from them this year.
 
029.jpg


033.jpg
 
For grouping, same as Necchi. Printer paper with a 1-1/2" black dot taped to a box, set at 50 yards. I shoot at a dirt berm out in the desert, so sometimes I set up cans at different ranges. I walk around and pretend one of the cans is a deer that just came in view. If the can gets knocked from its position, I call it a hit. Bill
 
I use a wide variety of homemade paper targets , usually some kind of red or black circle. I like the red because even with a spotting scope the hole can be hard to see if its in the black. I also like to set out some clay pigions or " blue rocks" at 50 or even a hundred yards , its fun to see stuff break. And by the way if your range allows it full , un opened pop cans are awsome targets , its amazing the way they explode! I do like the idea of the pictures though .
 
Well to get back to your critter photo type targets,
I've tried'm but never been able to convince myself they're close to the real thing. I mean there's plenty of picture type targets out there but I've found it better to learn to draw a fine bead on a small spot works best for me,
It's easier for me to find that small spot on a game animal,
An Ear, a shadow below a chin, an elbow,,, my mind just "see's" the spot I aim for,, :idunno:

I actually have a hard time shooting at a ringed "Bull's Eye" target, I need just the small X instead
 
For range use, I like the Dixie Gun Works paper targets. They stock several types of bullseye and game targets. I usually use their 21 x 24 inch 50 yd target (14.50 per 100). They are not printed in the heaviest paper, but they serve the purpose just fine for me.
 
Sighting in any open sighted gun I draw an inverted triangle on a piece of paper. I find it much easier to focus on the point than on a circle which results in tighter groups.

I just picked up an "Impact Seal Ground-Bouncing Hot Box Reactive Target". That thing is a lot of fun to shoot. Every time you hit it, it lands in a different spot and at a different angle so no two shots are the same. The "Impact Seal" part of the name applies more to FMJ centerfire loads. My .54 GPR flintlock leaves some marks in it! I'm sure most ranges would not allow it to be used though.
 
I use whatever I come across. I do have a fair supply of either 50yd or 100yd muzzleloading targets and a good supply of .22 targets. But I never buy targets. I've drawn my own and had a supply xeroxed. I've also printed some off the computer. Mostly I use "almost clean" targets other shooters leave at the range. They are easily patched up and made usable. I am [strike]cheap[/strike] frugal.
 
I like to shoot a varity of targets once the gun has it's ideal load worked up on simple bullseye targets. :idunno:
 
i use paper plates, just spray a red or black dot for a bull. then i tape them to a big piece of cardboard from work. i'm cheap, so i've figured out the cheapest way. i've also used cardstock, but that stuff is expensive. a pieplate is 9", so if i can hit that i'm good. i've also made grid paterns on them for sighting in. :grin:
 
It varies. Downloadable free is always good, or homemade a close second.

cherrytarget.jpg


DIAMONDTARG.jpg


[url]
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/Stumpkiller/m9130.jpg[/url]

HPIM0787.jpg



As you mentioned - sometimes it's good to shoot a target that forced you to pick a spot. I used to cut out cardboard deer and place them in the woods at unknown distances for practice.
12borecardboard.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I'll collect our monthly match targets, and tape them, especially like the 6 bulls.

I buy official 25yd pistol targets, and replacement centers.

I print off at work downloadables.

Spellcheck don't like the words "spellcheck" and "downloadable". You mean these aren't words?
 
Each year at Christmas I get targets, cleaning patches and/or clay birds from my nephews, the ones that I taught to shoot years ago. But I really prefer reactive targets like pop cans, charcoal briquettes etc. One winter a friend left a 12 pack of beer of a brand that I won't drink. It sat outside and froze but didn't rupture the cans. They were a blast (pun intended) to shoot with large caliber round balls. I have a friend who is manager of the produce dept. at the local supermarket. We get old fruit & vegatables to shoot at. You might be amazed how potatoes, onions and mellons will explode when hit.
 
After my firearm that I will be huntin' with is zeroed with the load that I will be using to hunt with, I shoot at a cardboard deer. There is a "Dicks Sporting Goods" near my home. I don't buy anything else there because it is too expensive for this paralegal's paycheck, but they do sell cardboard broadside buck deer targets in the archery dept. I purchase 2 or 3 a season. I stager them on the range from 25 yards out to 75 or 100. I shoot off hand (there are no bench rests in the real world). It is an excellent way to gain confidence in where you are hitting at various ranges while shooting at something that at least looks like what your hunting. My 2 cents.
 
Back
Top