Question re: TARGETs

[10-Ring]

I found a range fairly local to me but from what I understand, I have to bring my own targets...so, does that mean I buy a bag of onions & place them on sticks at distances? Make frames & position regular paper targets? or what? What do you guys do when you have to BYOT (Bring Your Own Target)?

 

[RNB65]

White 5gal buckets at Wal Mart make great targets. Turn it upside down and you can blast away at it all day long.

Real estate "For Sale" sign frames at Lowes. Zip tie a piece of 2'x2' plywood in it and you're good to go.

 

[Geronimo45]

Don't take any target you don't want to pick up afterwards. Probably don't want to bring telephone books - they make a big mess.

 

[Justin]

Ask them. They should lay out the ground rules as to what you can take to shoot.

I happen to prefer either the bullseye targets, or the cardboard IPSC silhouettes, depending on what I'm trying to do.

 

[KUJO2388]

My local shooting range and most shooting ranges tell you to bring your own targets. Most of the time they mean nondestructive targets. So it kind of limits you to paper targets or box targets. I am sure if you ask them they will tell you if you can destructive shooting or not. And find out if you can shoot at clay pigons most ranges will let you. That way you can watch something break if you set them out to shoot. The shoot and see targets are cool to. They change colors when you hit them so you can see the hit easier.

 

[MisterPX]

If you can place targets on the berm, the afore mention pigeons are great, as are charcoal briquettes. If you need to make your own target stands, they can be easily made form 1x2's or even pvc pipe.

 

[taliv]

don't be a range slob. (although if you were a range slob, you wouldn't have asked about appropriate targets)

you can buy a metal base for target stands at most gun shows. stick a couple 1x2 wood boards in it (upright) and hang cardboard between them.

it's cheap, easy and durable.

alternately, you can buy a cheap plastic doohickey that stakes into the ground and holds cardboard. search a site like midwayusa for target stands and you'll find several options.

HOWEVER, depending on the range, i strongly advise not using them or any stand that places the target low, where it hits the flat ground. The point is that except in rare circumstances, your bullet should impact the backstop. Allowing your bullet to hit the ground between your "target" and the backstop will usually cause your bullet to ricochet instead of burying itself into the ground. If you can't see two impacts (one on the ground and one on the berm/backstop) then your ricochet is going OVER the berm/backstop and out of your control.

so, unless you're on a range that's built for that sort of thing, try to keep your target at a reasonable elevation.

 

[Ala Dan]

I just pack along several packages of the Shoot-N-C targets; cuz all else
is furnished by my local PD~!

 

[dfaugh]

Mine is "paper targets only"--- there's enough guys that still manage to be slobs without allowing al kinds of other junk out there. They keep the range nice and clean, and its a pleasure to shoot there.

 

[whatbrick]

This ones easy: paper-plates. A couple-a-bucks for 100 of them, and if you bring along a big enough piece of cardboard you can arrange them however you wish. If you're feeling particularly artistic you can doodle on them. Need headshots? Buys some 4" plates.

 

[SIRVEYR666]

I second the paper plate idea.

Someone mentioned buying a 5 gallon bucket to shoot at. Why in God's name would you slaughter a perfectly good bucket? If my Dad caught you shooting at a 5 gallon bucket, he would be very pi$$ed at you!

While growing up, my Dad treated ANY 5 gallon bucket like it was a piece of gold. If it had less than 6 holes in the bottom, you could still use it to carry water or something. The move holes in the bottom, the faster you had to walk after you filled it. Sometimes, the bucket won.:banghead:

 

[Street Rat]

When I go with my dad and brother to the range, I like to blow up some balloons. You can make them any size and see something happen when you hit them. They are not too messy and doesn't take long to pick up, pull whats left stapled to the board. It would be easier if you can take your kids, give them something to do, blow up balloons.

 

[DogBonz]

get one of thoes signs

Like you see Realtors use, or the ones that people stick in their lawns for up-coming elections. Then you can tape or staple paper targets to them. They will take hundreds of shots, and leave almost no mess.

 

[Keith Wheeler]

For cheap "reactive" targets, ballons. Usually only break into a couple of pieces, not that hard to clean up. Cheap and fun.

 

[41 Redhawk]

When the election are over grab all the signs. They make great target holders/backers.

 

[HiWayMan]

While growing up, my Dad treated ANY 5 gallon bucket like it was a piece of gold. If it had less than 6 holes in the bottom, you could still use it to carry water or something. The move holes in the bottom, the faster you had to walk after you filled it. Sometimes, the bucket won.

True, but the slower we walked the lighter they got. But then again he'd just make us do more trips. I think this was dad's idea of a lawn sprinkler.

 

[RNB65]

Someone mentioned buying a 5 gallon bucket to shoot at. Why in God's name would you slaughter a perfectly good bucket? If my Dad caught you shooting at a 5 gallon bucket, he would be very pi$$ed at you!

Because they only cost a few bucks at Wally World and are practically indestructable! You can shoot a gazillion holes thru one and still use it to pickup range trash at the end of the day.

 

[javacodeman]

Treated 2 x 4's, Mitre Box, Screws, Drill, Staple Gun, Bulldog Binder Clips. That's what I would suggest. This will hold paper targets themselves or Carboard backing to tape other targets to (paper, clay pigeons, etc.) When I get home, I snap a few pics of mine and post it here.

 

[Cliff47]

The CD ROMs that AOL sends out by the gazillion make decent targets. A .22lr will drill a nice neat hole in the thing, but a 9 m/m just blows the bejabbers out of the gizmo. Only drawback is that you have to pick up the pieces afterwards.

Charcoal briquettes make great targets. They are cheap, light, and give off a satisfying puff when hit. They are also bio-degradable (no pick-up after).

I like the idea of campaign signs as a frame/backer for tape-on targets, might as well recycle what you can. You can even take the proverbial shot at the candidate of your choice. Works for me.

 

[MechAg94]

My range has plastic barracade fencing set up so you can just use clothes pins to clip your target to the fence. I like to use cardboard backing and tape my targets to the backing. They seem to be less affected by the wind.

 

[knuckles]

Go sign sharking. You'll be performing a community service and providing yourself with a virtually unlimited supply of targets. Make sure you know the law in your area. Google sign sharking or street spam for more info. Start here.

 

[Spiggy]

Ever shot a pumpkin filled with pudding?

 

[Axman]

My local range supplies the target frames all you need is the paper.

 

[thexrayboy]

Any thing can be fun to shoot at. However please don't make a mess. Especially when shooting outdoors. Debris from inappropriate targets invariably gets blown around and helps give shooting a bad reputation.

For fun and a real challenge get some balloons and either blow them up and hang them by string from something like a tree branch etc. Or get one of those helium balloon kits and fill a bunch with helium. Tie a string to them and a rock to the other end of the string and set them out in a random pattern at varying distances. If the wind is variable it really makes for a challenging target.

 

[eagle45]

I like the Jammit Target stand. Here are a couple of links from Natchez. They are cheap and easy to use.

http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&prodID=MTJMCTS40

http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&prodID=MTJMTS40

For target backing I pick up the lids from boxes of printer paper and just cut the flaps off, or the bottom cardboard that cases of soft drinks or water are sometimes packed in. I use the shoot n c targets. The stands can take several hits from small caliber and still work fine.