Most new shooters have realized just how much fun shooting can be. But the fact is, it’s no fun at all if you don’t have something to shoot at. After all, how do you know if you’re gaining in accuracy (which increases your fun) if you don’t have a way to see if you are hitting where you are aiming? That brings us to the topic of targets, an often overlooked part of shooting.
Quick Dive Into Shooting Targets
Too often, targets are just quickly grabbed at a big chain store on the way to the range, with little thought given to different types and where each type excels.
Target Types
Any discussion of targets has to note that shooters using pistols and rifles typically shoot at different targets than those using shotguns. First, a look at a couple of common target types for rifles and pistols.
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Paper targets are the most common and come in various shapes and sizes with bullseyes of different kinds and shapes. Paper targets range from simple square targets with a bullseye to human torso targets to animal-shaped targets to zombies. All have specific aiming areas. For those looking to gain precision, targets with smaller aiming points work best, since “aim small, miss small” is a frequent firearm-related term.
Reactive targets, also sometimes called “splatter” targets, are a fun genre of paper targets that make it easy to see where your bullet hit, even from fairly long distances. These targets use special technology to create a colorful, contrasting ring around each bullet impact, giving you immediate feedback on that shot. That allows you to quickly know how to adjust your grip, sight picture, trigger squeeze, or other aspect of accurate shooting.
Steel targets are the most fun of all because they give immediate auditory feedback. Hearing the clank of a bullet hitting steel is a rush, and once you’ve heard it, you’ll want to hear it again and again. It’s important that if you are shooting a rifle at steel targets, the targets are rated for rifle velocities. It’s also important to note that bullets can ricochet off steel targets, so they must be set at a distance and/or angle that ensures you can’t be hit with a ricochet or bullet fragments.
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While steel targets are the most fun, they’re also the most expensive by far. It’s buy-once, cry-once, though, as they will last a long, long time.
Shotgun Targets
While you can shoot stationary paper, splatter, or steel targets with shotguns, most scattergun shooting is done with moving targets that simulate flying birds. These clay targets, sometimes called clay pigeons, are tons of fun to shoot and very challenging until you get the hang of it.
These are the targets used in skeet, trap, and sporting clays—three very popular types of shotgun competitions. Of course, shooting clay targets has several critical requirements, including an adequate range with a safe background and a device to launch the clays into the air. Oh yeah, and a lot of shotgun shells, since it’s a ton of fun!
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