Paper Targets

[metalman]

What is your favorite/cheapest type of paper target? Anybody have any special tricks for making targets or target stands? I have seen those targets that are supposed to tell you how you are shooting wrong (jerking, mashing, flinching, etc.) but they seem like a waste of money. Are those "Shoot-n-see" targets a waste also? From what I've read, you're not supposed to look for the placement of your shots so it seems like they would encourage bad habits.

[MLB]

there are bunches of sites that have downloadable targets for you to print yourself. www.mytargets.com for example.

I read online somewhere that a if you cut out a plain brown paper bag just right, it is the same size as an IDPA target. I'll see if I can find the link...

[KrustyBurger]

Walgreens pharmacies has their own 9" bright white paper plates frequently on sale with a flyer coupon for 79 cents per 100 pack, limit of 3. Ya can't get much cheaper than that. I stick a Birchwood orange Target Spot in the center, & can see hits very easily. They only need two staples to stay up, & are easy to remove. The NRA-approved tan targets cost too much & are a biatch to remove without tearing up. The Shoot 'N C targets are a good concept, but flawed. They're expensive, don't stick or transfer all that well, and are a biatch to remove for saving. If you leave them in heat too long the black flakes off & gets onto everything.

[BlackDog]

Here's the grocery bag target...

www.sportshooter.com/improving/brownbagtarget.htm

["DoubleAction"]

I used to copy off about 500 targets on the copy machines where I worked. For the past ten years, or so, I've been using the Birchwood Casey Shoot N See stick on targets, and I really like them. I purchase the Shoot N See 5 inch targets for about $14.95 for 50 targets, through Sportmans Guide. What I really like about the Shoot N See targets are the instant feedback results.

[MLB]

Speaking of instant feedback, plinking away at those little Necco wafers is a blast. At least it was when I was actually hitting the darn things with a rifle.

My recent attempts at shattering the little buggers with a handgun have been somewhat less satisfying ;D

[tddude]

I like the shoot n sees as well. They are expensive but the instant feedback is a plus. I especially like them for rifle shooting so I can see the hits from a distance.

The gunrange I use only charges $1.00 per silhouette so I support them by always purchasing one when I shoot.

[TMan]

I like the Shoot-N-C providing my front sight isn't black. If it is, I have trouble with it blending in and focusing on it. (May be an age factor with the eyes too).

With the Shoot-N-C there are four little circles on the corners. I use those to put on paper targets that I print on the laser printer. The thing I don't like about paper targets is the tearing vs. clean holes. So, since my wife drinks a lot of coke from Sam's, I use the cardboard from the bottom of the coke trays to back up the paper targets. (I drink Dr. Pepper like any good Texan) Primarily I do this when shooting the .22's.

There is also a new target called the "dirty bird" that is kind of a plastic thing and doesn't have the disadvantages of the Shoot-N-C. However, the thing I like about the Shoot-N-C is that they are available in different sizes. I usually take the range's target, (cardboard) sick the smallest Shoot-N-C on it and fire away. If I'm having a bad day (too much coffee or something else the night before), I then go to a larger diameter Shoot-N-C.

Somedays I still flinch a couple of times shooting the .45's and it really ticks me off. As I crumple the Shoot-N-Ctargets, the black stuff does come off. The Dirty-Bird targets don't have that problem. Of course if I had more self-control...

["DoubleAction"]

When I go to the range I pick up a used target out of the bin, with the cardboard. I use this cardboard to paste my Shoot N See on, and just paste around the same target each time I paste a new one on. When I'm finished, I just remove the cardboard and toss everything in the waste bin. If I'm shooting with the front black patridge sight against the black background, I focus entirely on the front site, leaving the black Shoot N See more of a blurr, with only the circular image, and yellow rings, as a focal point. The 5" shoot n see also shows up quite well against the lighter colored cardboard. For 25 yd distances, the feedback of the bullet impact is quite good.

[TMan]

DoubleAction said:

If I'm shooting with the front black patridge sight against the black background, I focus entirely on the front site, leaving the black Shoot N See more of a blurr, with only the circular image, and yellow rings, as a focal point..

DA, the problem is that the front site disappears on me, I just can't seem to focus on it. Maybe if I did it like you did with the cardboard around it, and pointed first at the cardboard to get the front site into focus and then retaining the focus moved the gun into the target area. That might work - I'll try it next week when I go to the range - Thanks.

[papercutter]

Some of the indoor ranges, I shoot are very dim, The bullseye is just a foggy ball. My groups shrink if I put a small piece of black tape at one side of the target, and shoot at it.

I never had good luck with home made targets, as instead of nice holes, they look like marbles shot at news paper. One range band non factory targets due to fire hazard? they say targets have a fire retardant in the paper.
Dillion sell targets fairly cheap, for us west of the Mississippi

["DoubleAction"]

TMAN; The Front Patridge sight has to be a dull flat black, almost like a dark gray, in order avoid blending with the black surface of a target. I admit that there are times in dim light the sight will disappear on other black targets.I've gotten to where I get better shot groupings with the black targets now. Shooting a pistol with a flat black slide, a flat black front sight, on a black target, in dim light, has it's challenges also. Competition shooters had the very same problem with the front patridge sights against the black targets.

[KrustyBurger]

TD, Birchwood has a 50 - 5.5" pack of round Shoot N C which, while smaller, 5 1/2" vs. 8, is a better $ value and fine for smaller bore rifle. I found the 50 pack at a local gunshop, while WalMart & Galyans here only have the more costly 5 - 8" round & small 'oval 'packs.

[tptplayer]

Thanks to BlackDog!

metalman was in town and we got together for a range session. Did three or four hundred rounds through his P89 and my 625 and Glock 22. Also shot a couple of hundred .22 through the Ruger Mark II. Everything was fun but the grocery bag target was a real hit (pun intended). We used masking tape to cover hits and used it for a long time. Cheap and effective.

[5ontarget]

Check out www.pistoleer.com/ He has plans for stands available on his site. Also for purchase, completed stands, wood or metal. I built 2 of the wood stands for less than $25. Magazine reloaders are a pretty good buy there too. Fairly reasonable prices on a number of other shooting supplies, including targets. prices vary on quantity purchased. For 100 targets, cost per target 0.10-0.37 depending on variety.

[tptplayer]

Pistoleer.com looks like a good site. I shoot at an indoor range so stands are not useable for me. I just ordered a bunch of targets from www.ez2ctargets.com . I also print out a bunch of the free targets. My range has electric pulleys so it is easy to check targets. I like the immediate feedback and usually check every 5-10 rounds. No sense shooting at targets if you can't check where you are hitting.

[NButler]

some good targets for free

sportshooter.com/improving/targetgallery.htm

(you supply printer)