Targets for Outdoor Shooting

[WhoKnowsWho]

I've been trying to figure out something good to take out to the desert to shoot at when we go out next. Cans are always good, and so are jusgs filled with water.

What do all of you use? Some of you are lucky enough to have steel protable targets, which would be nice buy pricey and still a little bulky depending on the size. I'll probably at the least get a target hanger/holder for paper targets.

Anyone have a source for bad used bowling pins? Those should last for a bit and be fun to shoot. Lets see some ideas.

 

[TarpleyG]

Ice. Although a bit fragile in a desert environment. At least there is nothing you clean up afterward.

GT

 

[10-Ring]

Let's see, I've used, ice, old appliances, old car parts, onions & potatoes, bowling pins (from thrift store or check local bowling alley for rejects), old lids from pots or most anything you can stand up

 

[pytron]

I search THR and came up with these. None of them are my original ideas.

Biodegradable targets:
Ice, suspended
Fruit, leftovers from grocery store or excess droppings from trees
Tortillas
Eggs (either left over from Easter or just extras)
Candy - leftovers from Easter, Valentines, Halloween
Necco wafers
Vanilla wafers
Saltine crackers

Targets that will take a beating:
Tennis balls suspended
Propane tanks (empty) suspended
Pots and pans destined for garbage, suspended
Bowling pins

Targets that are cool but require cleanup:
Balloons, air filled
Balloons, water filled
Balloons, ice filled
Playing cards
Bright colored post-its
Empty 12-gauge shells suspended by floss
AOL CDs

 

[pistolshooter]

Shoot at eggs, raw or boiled, your choice.

 

[WhoKnowsWho]

Candy? I can see my wife going crazy trying to shoot that now!

And I would rather eat Tortillas, maybe not green ones though.

The tennis balls has been an idea, but I need something to suspend them, hey, time to get that target stand!

Ice would be good for a summer competition. "Shooter's ready! Oh wait, it's all melted"

Guess I should go stop by the used sporting goods place, should be able to find something there.

I can't shoot AOL cds, I always shoot through the center hole.

We had an old fridge to take, but we were too lazy to load it up.

Thanks for the ideas, I'll keep an eye out for stuff more openly now.

 

[Lennyjoe]

I have shot up a center windscreen from an A-10 before.

Rumor has it that it can take up to a 20MM anti aircraft round.

9mm, 40 and 357 mag didnt do squat to it but spyderweb the top layer of glass.

Rumor has it an area off a dirt road somewhere south of I-10 on Houghton still has another center windscreen laying out there in the desert.

 

[Telperion]

Boom!: http://www.tannerite.com/she_exploding_targets.html

 

[WhoKnowsWho]

Lennyjoe: Oh there is eh?!

When we have gone out to the desert, we go out a lot farther than that. Like out by Old Senoita Highway... perfect dirt backstop area.

 

[Lennyjoe]

The area of Houghton is back a ways too. Down in what almost looks like a quarry pit. So I've heard. I havent actually been to that place. Just been told by a few friends. Guess there's a V-8 cylinder block out there too.

The windscreen I shot up was back in Georgia. We get them from here all the time when they go bad and get replaced. Maybe I should grab another one

 

[son of a gun]

We got a new Bar-BQ grill so of coarse we had to take the old refillable LP tank out and shoot it, make sure stand way back.

 

[Ukraine Train]

For putting up targets where there's nothing to stick them to I staple them to the side of a big box and throw some rocks in it. Other than that, I've shot an old printer, old computer, cinder blocks, water jugs, AOL CDs, phone books, broken car jack, radios, bowling balls, bowling pins, cans, and more stuff I can't think of right now.

 

[El Tejon]

Another vote for fruit. The critters clean it up for you.

Back in my younger days, my fave prey was water heaters. (Yes, I took them back with me and disposed of them).

 

[Horsesense]

Look in the local classified section for “free kittensâ€

OR

Charcoal briquettes make a nice reactive target.



















OK…OK lighten up, I was just joking! Everyone knows it’s cruel and un-sportsman like to throw a kitty in the air and shoot at it. Let it land first!

 

[jhisaac1]

Balloons, air filled

I was reading the LawDog archives the other day at www.equalccw.com (org?, something like that) and apparently, hydrogen filled balloons are pretty cool.

On the fruit/veggie idea, spuds are great. The break up when hit, and are dirt cheap.

 

[azthistletoe]

Clay pidgeons are also good to shoot at. Those are some of my favorite - they are very visible and you get a nice shattering effect when you shoot them. Rosie Magazine, if you can find any old copies, also shoots well.

 

[Sergeant Bob]

Oranges, lemons, limes and other citrus fruits are great. They just explode when you hit them! The bonus is, they make the range smell so clean and fresh!

 

[Nathaniel Firethorn]

Fruit, leftovers from grocery store or excess droppings from trees

Osage oranges should work quite well.

- pdmoderator

 

[teppo-shu]

Osage Orange???

Get your fruits straight, dude - that's a Horse Apple!!




(Just funnin' ya! Always interesting to hear what things are called in different parts of the country, tho.) I believe the official name for the tree is the Bois d'Arc tree. Or as we say in Texas, the "Bo-dark."

(Meanwhile, back on the topic) Take some OLD cans of peaches or other fruit (unopened), the kind that look like botulism is festering inside. DON'T be any closer than 50 yds. Use .223 or better. (I use .243 Win.) Prepare for nice effect.

 

[El Tejon]

Indiana: "Dammit, boy, that's a hedge apple. Onto me my rifle!"

 

[Mauserlady]

 

[longtom4570]

I just got done making a target stand out of PVC, you can glue the cross pieces with the fittings then you can take it apart and put in your trunk. When you put it together you can hang things from it or put cardboard on it and tape targets on it.

 

[durango]

You can get a whole case of clay pigeons at Wally World for 5 or 6 bucks. Lots of instant gratification.

 

[rayra]

Oranges, lemons, limes and other citrus fruits are great. They just explode when you hit them! The bonus is, they make the range smell so clean and fresh!

lol

seconding (thirding?) the fruit - $2 bag of apples or oranges.

 

[NavajoNPaleFace]

I've tried the old AOL, US West and my ruined CDs and the like.

I got bored with them though. They were too easy because everytime I shot the bullet apparently went right through the middle each time because I never broke the plastic on any of 'em. lol