Games people play...

[Sommerled]

If anyone could give me some specific suggestions about some informal "match" competitions that I could set up on my bare range I would greatly appreciate it. Read the "sticky" thread but there was no specifics. There is no real IDPA etc. in my area to learn from so I'm turning to you!

I have backstops at 25, 50, & 100 yds. My buddies (and a few lady friends) will be using pistols of various calibers. We have only paper targets and a few plastic bottles.

I want to have a fun time but don't know a "fun" way to set something like this up!

Any suggestions? I'm former military but that stuff wasn't that exciting...

Thanks in advance!

Sommerled

[Vicious-Peanut]

Used bowling pins? You could have a game with your buddies and they are really cheap if you buy them used, plus they can take a lot of shots.

[Sunray]

Balloons tied on a string and hung from a 2 x 4 frame(like a big saw horse). Cheap, easy to set up and clean up afterwards. Plus when the slightest wind blows, they move.
Bowling pins, you might be able to get for free. 10 pin bowling pins(wood with a plastic cover) are only used for a certain period of time, then get pitched. Don't ask me why though. At least they used to get pitched. Go ask at a local alley.

[g.willikers]

Download the uspsa classifier book from uspsa.org. (Find them in "additional content" in the left margin). There's about 80 stages (courses of fire) to choose, from real easy three target setups to full field courses.

All are designed to challenge and improve one's skills.
There's a real benefit from using these - if you want to compare your scores against the rest of the country,
http://www.classifiercalc.com will do that.

Hope this helps.

[green country shooter]

Go to target barn or someplace similar for cheap paper targets. I made stands out of 2 x 4 for the base and 1 x 2s for the uprights. If you have soft ground you can just pound the 1 x 2s into the ground and skip the target stands.

I also make targets on the copier. You can find patterns on line or just trace the outline of a CD or something similar on the paper and then make copies. Hard to get cheaper targets than that.

If you have some cardboard, you can use political campaign signs to hold up the cardboard and staple paper targets to that, or just buy cardboard targets and brown tape to cover the holes. Very cheap and quite satisfying, too, if you don't the politician advertised.

An easy and fun stage is the el presidente. 3 targets at about 10 yards, a couple of yards apart, slightly different heights. Two on each target, reload, two more on each target.

A barrel or a box to shoot over or around will turn a stage into something "tactical."

Shooting empty pop cans is fun for new shooters. Shooting full ones is more fun but also more expensive.

[Jim Watson]

NRA, USPSA and IDPA will cheerfully send you startup materials. You can shoot organized competition, if you will.

[JFettig]

I really like dueling trees, it is a fun game to play from time to time.

Is that your own private range you have those backstops on or is there a public range in the area?

Jon

[Sommerled]

I live on 40 acres and have a "range" in the back yard.

The el presidente sounds fun and easy to set up!

THanks for the suggestions!

[WNTFW]

A friend & I did this:
He made the stand bases & got the wood uprights.
I handled making the targets. I layed on top of a big piece of cardboard and had someone traced my outline. I made a master & then made several cardboard with reinforcement.
We put the cardboard guys on the stands and put colored t-shirts on them. Then 1 shooter turns around while the other moves the targets around. On signal the shooter has to turn & fire on the Bad Guys & not the hostage. You assess yourself and do what you think is right. you can try standing flatfooted or get off the X. I use a .22 I go through many round & sometimes go with .45 or other.

The trade off between speed & accuracy is what I like about steel plate or bowling pin matches. Misses are self-penalizing.

Reactive targets are great. Spinners, Charcoal, Crackers, SG hulls. Instant Gratification.
We shoot at a range the has a lot of targets of oppotunity. Thats is fun. I just don't like shooting thing like glass, etc.

[lloydkristmas]

We used to play this game where you set up two pieces of wood (I think the ones we used were like 2inch by 8inch planks) and anchor them in the ground to where they are standing up vertically. Then we would stand back, usually about 15 yards or so, and see who could "cut the board in half" first with pistol fire. It was very informal and all for fun, but it required a decent level of accuracy, but also emphasized shot placement to a certain degree. You'll find that speed is okay, but ultimately the patient guy usually comes out on top. Fun stuff.