shooting better with different targets?

[mr_dove]

I printed out 3 different styles of targets for shooting the last few times I went to the range. www.targetz.com

I printed out:

- a standard bulls eye
- a siloutte
- a 6" iron target


all the targets were about the same size and being used in basically the same manner. They were all printed on standard laser printer paper.

It seemed odd to me but my accuracy varied a great deal depending on the target I was using. The bulls eye was the worse and the Iron Target was the best. I actually shoot VERY well with the iron target.

It seems to be that certain shapes on the target help me to acquire and faster/better sight picture than others. I think I had trouble with the bulls eye because the dot in the center of the target basically disappears behind the dot on my front sight while the other targets still left me with something to actually aim at.

Is this common? Should I use targets that help me get a better sight picture or should I use all styles to strengthen my weaknesses?

 

[Sunray]

Some targets will draw your eye to the bull. If you're a hunter, there is no bull's eye on a deer. You have to sort of imagine the bull on the beastie. Use a six o'clock hold on bull's eye targets. Sit the bull on top of your bead.

 

[30Cal]

My guess is that your focus isn't held on the front sight all the time--you may be shifting between the target and the sight. Some targets may be more eye-catching than others. You must focus on the front sight tip if you want consistant and tight groups.

I used to shoot smallbore pistol in college and went to a clinic taught by the USNA team coach. We did a lot of shooting on blank sheets of paper. I can shoot better groups aiming at the center of a white paper than I can on a printed target. With no bullseye, you have nothing else to focus on but the front sight tip.

Try shooting a couple blank pieces of paper before you shoot a printed target next time.
Ty

 

[jdkelly]

Mr_Dove,

To shoot accurately, you (or I) reference the front sight, to the rear sight, and adjust for an equal amount of light on each side while keeping the tops of both sights even. (I know you know this)

To shoot to the same spot on a target, you reference your sights, to your target, and adjust for an equal amount of space on each side.

The easier a target makes it to do this, the easier it is to shoot a "better group".

An example might be, that it is easier to shoot a tight group into the Head of and IDPA target then into the body, at distance the -0 can not be seen.

That is to say, you can reference off the close together dark lines of the targets head then the greater spaced lines of the body.

Or so I think, anyway.


Respectfully,

jkelly