As someone who likes to shoot but hates to spend money, I like it when I can get something that does several things. That’s what attracted me to the RE Factor Essentials Target. It’s a big, huge piece of paper plastered from top to bottom with different targets of varying shapes and sizes. Most of the time, that big sheet of paper we call a target is a single target with maybe one or two desirable places to hit.
Take the FBI Q Target, for example. It’s a Coke bottle-shaped design that is vaguely human shape. As such, the desirable portions of the target are limited to the chest and head zones of the target. While that can be quite useful, it has a limiting effect on how the target can be used and how shooters build skills. We build skills by becoming better and better at increasingly difficult tasks. It’s a lot like progressive overload and working out.
The RE Factor Essentials target provides a variety of targets within the target to create a wider variety of challenges. To be clear, I was not sent these targets, and I paid out of pocket to obtain them for this test.
Breaking Down the RE Factor Essentials Target
Within one large sheet of paper are 16 different target options of varying sizes and even shapes. Fifteen of the 16 targets are numbered, and the final target is a traditional bull’s eye type target. The wide variety of shapes and sizes makes the target quite appealing to me. I’m a creative person, so I can design and shoot a number of interesting drills using varying-sized shapes and targets.
For example, I practice a pocket Mozambique drill. At the beep of a timer, I drew and fired two rounds to the big rectangle marked with the number seven. From there, I fired a well-aimed shot to the smaller 12 rectangle. It’s not exactly a Mozambique drill, but it works the same skills with a slightly different, unpredictable challenge.
I then practiced a pocket draw to hit target 14, which is very small. Once I did that successfully, I moved to the even smaller target 15, and did the same. The targets within the RE Essentials targets can be used for all manner of drills for solo and partner training. Obviously, the numbers make call-out drills possible. I used the six dots for draw practice. Draw and fire one shot, and then record the time on the dot and move on.
The traditional bull’s eye makes the 10-10-10 drill easy to accomplish. While I like the target, I would probably make one change. I’d ditch the traditional bull’s eye for the B-8 target. Arguably, the B-8 is a traditional Bull’s eye, but it’s used widely for a variety of drills.
Quality Matters
The RE Factor Essentials Target is made from bright white paper that’s thick and quite solid. The targets are 23 inches by 35 inches and made to last. The price changes depending on quantity. A 50-pack costs 37.50.
One of the big benefits of a target like this comes down to public range users. If you strap this bad boy up, you can do a lot more shooting between cease-fire calls. I know it can be frustrating to wait and wait after you’ve done your one drill a few times and want to paste up a new target.
RE Factor Tactical has a series of drills that utilize the target as part of their Essentials E-book. They have also published the Kill Card drill. This drill requires the shooter to land seven rounds on three different targets with two reloads in seven seconds. Those who succeed will get a place in the Hall of Fame and a patch. This drill has become my February shooting goal.
I think these are solid target options for training and help you get the most out of your range time and training. Check them out and hopefully get some training done for yourself.
