Coins as targets

[nyrifleman]

I've been thinking about making a "resetting" target for a .22 using coins as the targets. I'm using dimes, because all the resetting targets out there have very large paddles... good for plinking, but I shoot competitively, and would actually like to maintain that kind of accuracy WHILE plinking. Punching paper all day just gets a shade boring after a while.

Anyway, two questions:
1) Will the dimes hold up to .22 LR fire? They'll be suspended, so they won't actually be stopping the shot. And the cupronickel is definitely harder than lead, and probably harder than copper plating.
2) Is this legal? I've heard that destroying coins is a no-no, but no one seems to have a problem with those penny-flattening machines they have at tourist places, so I'm a little confused.

 

[pikid89]

why not just get a rimfire swinging target
http://www.midwayusa.com/browse/Bro...categoryId=17793&categoryString=655***7234***

 

[btg3]

http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/uscode/18/I/17/331

 

[ms6852]

Send me the coins it all adds up at the end of the year. I'll be the first to chime in and say that you are defacing federal property. If you want something challenging, try suspending ping pong ball on a windy day and try to connect, it is not easy especially if you free hand it also. Actually I am the second to mention that you are defacing federal property, btg3 beat me to the punch.

 

[ForumSurfer]

Will the dimes hold up to .22 LR fire?

No.

Is this legal?

Yes...unless you have fraudulent intent.

Title 18 United States Code, Section 331

Whoever fraudulently alters, defaces, mutilates, impairs, diminishes, falsifies, scales, or lightens any of the coins coined at the mints of the United States, or any foreign coins which are by law made current or are in actual use or circulation as money within the United States; or
Whoever fraudulently possesses, passes, utters, publishes, or sells, or attempts to pass, utter, publish, or sell, or brings into the United States, any such coin, knowing the same to be altered, defaced, mutilated, impaired, diminished, falsified, scaled, or lightened—
Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/718/usc_sec_18_00000331----000-.html

 

[ForumSurfer]

Punching paper all day just gets a shade boring after a while.

Yes. Yes it does. If all I was allowed to shoot were paper, I would save money on ammo because I would lose interest. I setup a small self-resetter beside and just behind my target stand for this very reason. A few spent shotgun rounds are fun, also. Hang some tennis balls tied to strings under your target stand for a tension reliever...huge target, but fun to watch!

 

[General Geoff]

Somebody say coins as targets?




Shot taken from 25 yards with an M44 MN, off hand, open sights (I'll be the first to admit that such a perfect shot placement had to involve some luck). I used a bit of duct tape to hold the coin onto a cardboard backer. The bullet went through with such overwhelming force, the coin was still attached to the backer after the shot.

 

[grumpy66]

Set spent .22 hulls out at 25 yards and pick 'em off.

Or use live ones and pick the slugs off.

 

[Owen Sparks]

Title 18 United States Code, Section 331

Whoever fraudulently alters, defaces, mutilates, impairs, diminishes, falsifies, scales, or lightens any of the coins coined at the mints of the United States, or any foreign coins which are by law made current or are in actual use or circulation as money within the United States; or
Whoever fraudulently possesses, passes, utters, publishes, or sells, or attempts to pass, utter, publish, or sell, or brings into the United States, any such coin, knowing the same to be altered, defaced, mutilated, impaired, diminished, falsified, scaled, or lightened—
Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

As a side note, the above was written when all money was made of gold and silver with intrensic value. It was fairly common for people who handled lots of coins to file or shave a small amount of metal from the edges. For example, a cashier or bank teller with a small metal file and a little time on his hands could subsidize his income this way. The crime was that it lessened the weight and therefore the value of the metal in the coins. This is the reason that modern silver money has ridges on the edge. This tradition started as an attempt to try and stop people from shaving coins because it would be very obvious that it had been tampered with.

Now days coins are no longer made of precious metal so the above shouldn’t matter, though that does not mean that this ancient statute will not be used against you. Many people in government don’t like the idea of anyone except them having guns and they will use any excuse to prosecute those who do, no matter how ridiculous the law. We have all heard horror stories about the BATF arresting people for trivial infractions and the BATF is a division of The Treasury Department. You need to find something else to use for targets.

 

[rondog]

Oooo, headshot! You should name that coin Osama!

Shooting dimes could get expensive. What about small steel discs, like knockouts from electrical boxes, or something else? You could probably find something similar sized and far cheaper. Or even pennies, those are at least 9 cents cheaper. Just don't ruin any pre-'82 pennies, those are real copper. Post-'82 pennies are just zinc.

But I imagine anything that small won't hold up to .22 bullets, unless it's 1/4" thick.

 

[ForumSurfer]

What about small steel discs, like knockouts from electrical boxes

They won't hold up, either.

Come to think of it...I feel a bit redneck when I think about all of the small items that I have shot.

 

[zxcvbob]

Use steel washers and shoot thru the holes in the middle.

 

[TBH]

I used to shoot at the primers in spent shotgun shells. It was a pretty good feeling when I bingoed it. Not very often. What about orange stickers on washers? Shoot through the center of the washer without hitting the washer.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

I shoot spent 5.56 and 7.62 berdan primed cases that I pick up at the range. (No shortage of targets.) I set them at 100 yards and pick them off with my Marlin .22 Magnum, which is fitted with a Mueller APV 4.5-14 scope.

 

[Nashanthra]

Possible suggestion

I know that this doesn't answer the OP's question. Looks like you are looking for something that can be repeatly shot. But, try golf balls on tees at 50 yards. You hit one right and boy will they fly.

 

[highlander 5]

You might want to look into Necco wafers. They are sold here in the northeast,about the size of a quarter and made of sugar. Check the New England Confectionery Co website.
Or Google Necco wafers.

 

[Cosmoline]

Food at the berm can attract wildlife. Unless you want to shoot at rats and seagulls.

Thought that raises the question--are neco wafers "food"?

 

[kimbershot]

re-prime a shotgun hull, drop a teaspoon of black powder and wad it down--put it in a wooden post bored to hold the hull, set it out 50-100yds and shoot it with 22's

 

[Safetychain]

I've read the law posted above several times and still can't positively make sense of what it is really saying, but as a coin collector with many many coins from large cents to silver dollars to gold, the experts in coin collecting say that there is no law that states in any shape or form that one cannot deface a US coin of any type. The law IS that if you do deface the coin, then it is against the law to use it for legal tender (you can't spend it). You take a shiny proof $1.00 coin and drill (or shoot) a hole in it to hang it on a necklace for your girlfriend, it is now a necklace pendant for ever and cannot ever be used as money.

 

[788Ham]

Drill a small hole in your golf ball, then put a drop of super glue on the hole, then insert a 3 ft. piece of fishing line. After drying, hang the g-ball on a limb, when breezes blow, see how good of a shot you are!

 

[Carne Frio]

Olives and grapes work well for small targets.

 

[Mt Shooter]

Dum dum's... they go poof when hit, cheap and tasty if you get bored.

 

[WNTFW]

Qtips make a challenging fun target. They stick into various materials or can be stapled to a target. You can orient them vertically, horizontally or in between. You can also start at the end and shoot the same one multiple times. I should say cotton swabs as I am probably using a 'no name' brand.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Drill a small hole in your golf ball and stick it in a piece of straight wire, like from a coat hanger. Add a few drops of super glue in the hole to hold wire. Stick wire in ground, kinda like a lollipop. They will teeter when you hit them.

 

[rstull85]

If your going to shoot change I would stick with pennies. You could also try thumb tacks on a board. I also really liked the idea of using a washer with a sticker on them and the .22 casings.