The new NRL rule is <2moa for prone and supported shooting, <3moa for all other shooting. This is, of course, at the MD’s discretion, and is a guideline to ensure competitive matches. I doubt many ranges/matches/MD’s are going to throw out some of their big buffalo, hog, deer, or kangaroo targets. Complying on MOST stages is pretty easy, and mixing in various targets to give a more practical feel to a stage is nice for the shooter.
In general, I expect 1-3moa targets, but always expect to be frustrated by a really big target out at long range, and to be challenged by a 1/4-1/2moa target in short to mid range (350-600).
When you think about the targets available on the market, where they are used for stages starts to make sense. You’ll see squares, diamonds, 45%, 66%, and full size IPSC’s, head targets & hostages, poppers, and circles. Animal targets are common like cats, rabbits, prairie dogs, chickens, turkeys, coyotes, boar, deer, goats/rams, bison, and yes, even a kangaroo. Coyotes are typically 400-600yrds, prairie dogs are usually 300-500, full IPSC’s and big animals like boar/deer/bison are typically beyond 750.
TYL/KYL racks are usually between 400-800yrds and usually the smallest target will be sub-MOA.
The orientation of the targets in space also seems to make a big difference - whether in reality or just mentally. For example: Diamonds suck to shoot, squares tend to feel more generous. Coyotes/deer are deceivingly not forgiving, IPSC’s are usually generous. These seem big, but when you consider your errors and group sizes, the targets are a lot smaller than they seem, and their shapes aren’t very forgiving. Sometimes you can play a game in high winds where a wide target like a coyote pays off, but usually it’s a hindrance more than a help, because their legs and length make your mind think they are bigger than they are. Same with howling coyotes and prairie dogs - they are tall and skinny, so they look huge, but have little room for wind errors. Nobody messes up elevation/range correction, so a target really only needs to be tall enough to hold your raw group size from the shooting position, no accommodation for errors. In theory, I try to capitalize on wide targets because they allow a lot of wind error, but sometimes that doesn’t play out as planned.
Some I remember off of the top of my head (ballparking numbers here, most will be rather random numbers, not even 5 or 10yrd increment):
8x12” head at 370 + running coyote at 545, from rooftop
Prone 730yrds 12”, 10”, and 8” square
Standing from a railing (rear support was possible, but it wasn’t what I’d call a modified benchrest) 4 target TYL 440yrds, largest head was something like 6x8, smallest was a 2”x5” sliver (a hostage taker target, without the hostage).
Prone, prairie dog at 400, boar at 650, deer at 720, goat at 860, and kangaroo at 1020.
Prone cat at 400, rabbit at 450, coyote at 500, pig at 800.
Tire stack 8” target beside 6” target at 520, 3 positions on the tire stack, varying height between “too tall for prone,” “too tall for kneeling,” and “awkward height for standing.”
