Reactive targets for indoor 15m rimfire range?

[MatthewVanitas]

Greetings,
Been checking out some options to add more pizzazz to our campus shooting range at UT Austin. One idea which came up is to have one lane set up with reactive targets, which might be fun, especially as a morale-booster for the noobs that aren't getting very encouraging groups yet.

Thing is, the range is only 10-15m or so, and we really can't afford any mishaps whatsoever with bounce-back or ricochet. Are there any good reactive targets that we can put up at minimal risk to the line?

I bought one of those self-healing polymer gongs for myself a few years back, but can't recall the company. I like the product, but not sure that it would serve at a smallbore range. The .45 makes it bounce all over the place, but with .22 it only quivers slightly. Any chance that said company is still around, and have they made any lighter-weight version that reacts well to .22 hits?

[seanconnery] Some things here don't react well to rimfire... [/seanconnery]

Thanks for any tips, will post updates on the UT Rifle and Pistol club when we start the new semester in August.

-MV

 

[Bwana John]

Ritz crackers.

 

[oweno]

Necco wafers (if they have 'em in Texas). Better outside, though, as the next rainstorm makes them go away.

 

[Grampa]

I think they're great!

newboldtargets.com


Lots of variety and sizes.

 

[Greybeard]

My daughter just graduated after 4 years there and I never knew y'all had a range.

Yep, I operate an indoor 50' range and know that some often like a new "challenge". And we've tried the newbold targets too. IIRC, instructions even on the .22 ones say to be sure to keep fps up to avoid bounceback.

I too have semi-researched reative targets, but primarily because of the short distance involved, have not yet been real comfortable with musch of what I've seen to date. Please PM me if you locate something one of these days and I'll do the same.

P.S. FWIW, we have rigged a series of balloons on a string and attached to target carriers. It makes for a small mess downrange, but does give some instant gratification. Have also done similar with coke cans (but they sometimes don't move a lot with 22s).

And speaking of strings and messes. Another thing we've done a little of is game of "2 X 4 drop". With just 2 firing positions in in our place, hanging about a 16" 2X4 vertically off each target carrier - typically about 11 yards away. At "go" signal, each shooter does their best to be the first to chop the board in two. Hint: Glock 17 or .45ACP with several pre-loaded mags and hollowpoints.

 

[ArmedBear]

Standard clay pigeons can be hung with plastic clothespins. The pins can be hung on wire, rod, or cheap plastic fence material from home depot if you want a whole panel of pigeons.

A broom and a ShopVac will be necessary, but clay pigeons and plastic clothespins are cheap. They're big enough for newbies to hit them, but small enough to be a challenge. Finally, there's no danger of bounceback as there might be with metal targets.

If you want more permanent, less messy targets, there are some metal "spinners" you can get from Cabela's among other places that you can reset with an additional hit. Rimfire ones are cheap. But they'll bounce bullets around more.

 

[Bruce333]

reactive targets

some of these polymer targets can be hung up...

 

[scout26]

Ballons

A bag of 25 for $1.19 at Wally-world. Also check the $1 stores in the "Kids Birthday Party" section.

Bring extra lungs.

 

[mete]

For you big game hunters - use animal crackers !!