rifle targets- what do you use for practice

[NW-GSP]

after getting my new 300 win mag sighted in Im thinking about shooting out at different distances to check bullet drop and was thinking about using milk jugs filled with water cause I figure that they are not too far off of the size of a kill zone for big game animals,

what do you guys use?

[Firing Pin]

Fruit, Watermelons, cantaloupe, and as the practice increases, the size of the fruit go down.  My hunting group has been known to shoot lemons at 104 yards.

[JimmyHoffa]

Milk Jugs, those protein powder containers, cardboard boxes with the hi-viz targets....pretty much anything I can get my grubby hands on.  A buddy of mine just acquired a piece of 1 inch thick steel that is about 16"x16".....ding!

[JackOfAllTrades]

Backer board/plywood with white paper covering. I use a 1" black target paster for scoped rifles.  For a lever gun with irons, pop can's at a distance that makes the can visually the same size as the bead sight on the barrel.

-Steve

[Alan K]

Backer board/plywood with white paper covering. I use a 1" black target paster for scoped rifles.  For a lever gun with irons, pop can's at a distance that makes the can visually the same size as the bead sight on the barrel.

-Steve

 

I've also used those black targets that your bullet holes light up neon green on. If you've got a spotting scope set up on the target you can see the green from quite aways off.

[NW-GSP]

I had looked into getting metal at a local metal recycling place but they wanted about $80 for a 16x14 piece of half inch steel .
Im well aware that metal prices are sky high right now

[6x6in6]

I have 3 or 4 oversized real estate A-board type things I made.  Set them up at varying distances with standard targets stapled to them.  24"x30" is the A-board size.  Some orange dots of varying sizes and a roll of black electrical tape to cover up previous holes.

[Ingwe]

White paper targets that I print out on cardboard. That way you can see exactly where you hit unlike shooting at milk jugs or anything that explodes.

[Special T]

I was talking with a buddy about using my 12"circle of 1.5" thick plate steel. he said .5" was the was to go because the thicker the heavier. He shot a plate like mine and had dangerous ricochets all aver the place... He got a thinner piece.  

[FC]

Spent 12 and 410ga shells. When showing off recently I shot a penny at about 80 yards.

[AWS]

Just walk along some old RR tracks and pickup some discarded tie plates.  I used to use them for drowning sets on my trap line but they are tough steel and make nice targets.

AWS

[CP]

I like a grid that easily shows how far off center the bullet hits.  Something like this:

[BlackRidge]

Bowling pins, clay pigeons on stands, golf balls, different sized steel targets

I've found if you can nail the golf ball from 200+ yrds out, you're usually doing pretty good

[sakoshooter]

Yellow construction paper with a 'plus' in the middle of it. 5/16" wide black lines creating a plus sign on a yellow background. That thickness is barely covered by my crosshairs at 9x and 100yds. Put the x hairs of the scope on the x hairs of the target and you're perfectly lined up. Also, of the colors I've tried, these make the best contrast.

[CastleRocker]

I've got a "gong" that hangs from chains at the 300 yard mark on my property.  We just re-paint it every once in a while.

My son wants me to build two or three dueling trees.  One at 50, one at 100, and one at 300.   However,  I can't seem to get the bevel at the right angle to make the target go from one side to the other (and stay there), consistantly.

All I know for sure is one can go through a LOT of ammo on a dueling tree if you are matched up against someone with the same skill level.

[Suncrest Sniper]

 I have several 1/2" thick steel gongs that hang from rebar a-frames. They are welded to the cross section so they hang slightly angled back at the bottom to deflect rounds down at the ground. The cross bar sits in washers to allow them to swing. I have 6", 8" and a couple big 24" ones for way out. They work really well for soft point rounds only. FMJ's out of my .308 are a NO NO!! They cut through like a drill bit.

SS

[littletoes]

either paper targets on cardboard (it won't splinter and tear holes in your target like ANY form of wood!!), or STEEEL!

[h20hunter]

I usually just use the same ol' sight in targets. I do like some of the "realistic" deer targets showing vitals...heart and lung. I shoot at them and picture myself shooting a real deer and positing the shot for heart/lung.

[Rgrady35]

Beer cans and candidate signs ya find on the side of the road...I just had to say it.

[h20hunter]

Hey, don't shortchange the value of a good candidate sign. They are nicely set up. Easy to staple to. Have a nice pointy end to drive into the ground. Free...did I mention that? Yep, picked a few up myself for various reasons...some even include shooting.

[vmkeith]

For fun I use zombie targets and for scoped range shooting I use the shoot-n-see targets.

[rtspring]

anything that has a picture of obama on it   

[Drifterat]

I like to ring steel. Very satisfying to see the gong move, then hear the clang a second later. I use 1/2 plate steel, cut 6x6 and welded to a center pivot. I paint them white with a black 3" dot in the center of each. Pound the legs into the ground and goto town.

[PolarBear]

I use the old corrugated plastic campaign yard signs with the metal frame.  I paint them white and stick on the adhesive 2"-4" target dots.  They are lightweight, east to see where you hit because of the thickness of the plastic and with the metal stand, you can stick it anywhere.  Gongs are fine if you are just plinking but for actual accuracy I like to be able to see exactly where I hit and make adjustments.  It is hard to see -1" groups at 250-300 yards with a metal target.

[demontang]

I have a old sign I found out shooting that looks to have been a election sign and it works great and is easy clean up. I also have a 1/2 gong for long ranges.

[pianoman9701]

Here's the link to a standard B-3 target on the WDFW website.
http://www.hunter-ed.com/wa/wa_specific_images/pdfs/shooting_proficiency_target.pdf

[chongo469]

I agree with FC.....we spent a day shooting spent shotgun shells at just under 100 yds.....If in doubt, put a paper plate behind it so you can see how far off your missing by and adjust accordingly...

[Gutpile]

what do you guys use?

Coyotes

[BallisticsNut]

I use the old corrugated plastic campaign yard signs with the metal frame.  I paint them white and stick on the adhesive 2"-4" target dots.  They are lightweight, east to see where you hit because of the thickness of the plastic and with the metal stand, you can stick it anywhere.  Gongs are fine if you are just plinking but for actual accuracy I like to be able to see exactly where I hit and make adjustments.  It is hard to see -1" groups at 250-300 yards with a metal target.

Similar to what I use.  Office Max sells different colored foam board.  I use white so that I can see my shots out to 200 yards.  After each shoot, I cover the holes with two sheets of white paper and place a orange 3" target sticker in the center.  Works very well and have used this target for the past 10 or so times at the range.  Foam board does not fall apart when it gets wet either, like cardboard nor does it loose staples and drop targets in the rain like cardboard.  its also easier to see shot patterns at longer distances.