[kis2]

Hey all,

So I'm waiting for some steel plates to arrive. In the meantime, any suggestions for some fun reactive targets that would be good to shoot between 300 and 600 yards?

Please don't suggest anything that'll leave garbage I can't pick up (like glass bottles and such)

Thanks!

[kis2]

for example:

I like eggs for 100-200 yard targets. Suggestions for farther?

[leatherneck448]

empty aerosol cans
fruit/veggies
old toys
clay birds
etc.
etc.

[docnyt]

There's this orange self-repairing bouncey thing i got from Academy. You should be able to see it at 300 yards.

[jmorris]

Steel is pretty hard to beat when it comes to reactive targets you don't have to clean up and only have to setup once.
Here are some that I have built.

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o213/jmorrismetal/target/HPIM0417.jpg

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o213/jmorrismetal/target/HPIM0416.jpg

Here is how it works
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o213/jmorrismetal/target/th_MOV02072.jpg (http://s121.photobucket.com/albums/o213/jmorrismetal/target/?action=view&current=MOV02072.mp4)

I also use plate racks but not for centerfire rifle, the 10 plate rack is quite a challenge for 22lr at 200 yards.
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o213/jmorrismetal/target/autoplaterack/platerack2.jpg

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o213/jmorrismetal/target/autoplaterack/platerack1.jpg

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o213/jmorrismetal/target/autoplaterack/HPIM0395.jpg

[ColtPythonElite]

2 liter bottles filled with water are what I use to simulate a groundhog in the standing position.

[jmorris]

If you don't mind picking up a little trash, ballons hooked to a string are fun and you can adjust the size for each one but you better have a 4 wheeler if you put them out that far.

[kis2]

that's one heck of a steel set up! very cool.

I don't mind picking up the trash at all, it's just things like glass bottles it gets about impossible to get it all. Balloons I think I could clean up easy because of the color. I really appreciate the ideas, I'm going to go and use some...

[CraigC]

Armadillos and cowpies.

[Daniel Boone]

My friend uses one gallon - yellow milk jugs filled with water.
He mostly shoots with his .22/250 or .17 HRM rifle.
You can add some food coloring to the water to make it more spectacular.

[Andrew Wyatt]

how much clean up do you want to do? fruit is a difficult clean up, but its biodegradable.

[benzy2]

Tannerite

[Moose1995]

I don't know where you can find them, but ages ago I used to get exploding targets from the sportsmans guide. They don't sell them anymore, but I imagine someone has them. They were about 2" square, with an orange target dot on them. They were no joke. About the power of an m-80 when you hit the bullseye. Would take the bark right off a tree. best part was, they were peel and stick on the backside, so you could easily stick them to paper or cardboard. If you, or anyone else can find them, let me know. I'd like to stock up.

[prid93]

I don't know where you can find them, but ages ago I used to get exploding targets from the sportsmans guide. They don't sell them anymore, but I imagine someone has them. They were about 2" square, with an orange target dot on them. They were no joke. About the power of an m-80 when you hit the bullseye. Would take the bark right off a tree. best part was, they were peel and stick on the backside, so you could easily stick them to paper or cardboard. If you, or anyone else can find them, let me know. I'd like to stock up.
I just got a sportsmans guide catalog about 2 weeks ago that had the exact things your referencing in it. I'm back at school now though and don't have the catalog to look back at :(

[gotzero]

I do the balloons on a string too. It teaches you a ton about reading wind, and can get really challenging. At 600 yards, my guess is your first time setting up four or so would have you set for an outing.

[kenneth d.]

Just Google "exploding targets" and you'll find more than you can read.

[Ignition Override]

Other than an old skillet, just a silver pot from the oven (that 'she' no longer needs). The 'clang' can be heard.

It's surprising how many objects blend into the background (bricks, concrete blocks).

Don't forget to buy Two cans of orange spray paint to improve target visibility.
One of the tiny nozzles can easily be knocked off by mistake.

[isc]

golf balls- either throw thwm out onto thw range or screw in a sheetrock screw and hang them from the target stand

pine cones bio degradable and free

stale cookies- cheap and biodegradable, but be careful because they might attract stupid birds

balloons- only for long range practice because they are too easy to hit.

[chas08]

Gallon plastic milk jugs filled with water, for the ranges you suggested.

[Col. Plink]

One of my favorite things! I am in full agreement with balloons, but I use the little 'water bomb' ones (filled) because they're only about 2" across at best, but a little elongated when hung so you can work with bullet drop. I use a piece of string with paper clips at either end; stiff wire is even easier to use if you have some that's easily clipped and bent. Same goes for soda cans full of water (especially Coke [bright red]).

Clay pigeons work great too but sometimes give 'false positives' if placed in the dirt on a berm (getting flipped over by a near miss). No mistaking when they break though. I think taping them with clear tape onto paper or cardboard would remedy that.

[Pacsd]

you are probably gonna laugh at this. I save Blue Bunny, Breyers and 1 gallon ice cream containers. I fill them with water and freeze them then put them in an ice chest when I go to the range. By the time I get there they have defrosted enough to slip out of the containers. I put them out at various ranges. They explode nicely when hit. Two things about using these is the Blue Bunny and Breyers are about the size of a lung and the white patch on the throat of a whitetail and I can reuse them several times.

[cleardiddion]

Cheezeits and saltines are good .22 targets. No cleanup required either.

[Motega]

metaltargets.com has some GREAT quality stuff and he will cut custom shapes for you.. my favorite is the "dueling tree" I have tons of his stuff and it has lasted 10-15 years already.

[henschman]

http://petcaravan.com/images/kittens.jpg

[MtnCreek]

JMorris:

You can't just post those pictures without telling the story. Give us some info on the cool toys.

[Thatmichhunter]

A 20lb propane tank, a 5-gallon bucket and a road flare

[jamesjames]

here are some 8-inch swingers I fabricated. The round plates are Brinnell hardness 500, and the frames are just mild steel. Each frame assembly weighs about 15 pounds. You can set them up for pistol or rifle range work. No re-setting necessary. High velocity rifle rounds will crater them up at distances under 100 yards. For 200 yard and longer distance, 12 or 14 inch plates work better. All you need is a can of spraypaint to clean up the hits ande start a new round. Ringing steel plates is a hoot and no mess to clean up.
http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac245/james7322/swingingplates.jpg