Posted: 9/2/2008 11:08:36 PM EDT
|
I hit the range today for a little practice. To preface this a bit, my standard targets are generally bowling pins, clay pigeons and paper plates. I had just recently put an Aimpoint on my rifle and wanted to get some additional trigger time with it. My first couple rounds out of my AR were aimed at an old PVC target stand (idea stolen from O_P's site) at maybe 15 yards away. I was aiming for the two remaining 1.5" vertical pieces still standing. Shattered both of them. No misses. My step-dad takes a run at it, shooting a large cardboard target. His groups were about 1" off center (left and low). Which drove him crazy. He is always trying to get those tiny little groups, dead center, on a piece of paper. So I was pondering what everyone else uses for targets and what their acceptable accuracy is? Do you go by groups measured out on paper or being able to hit what you are aiming at (ie: being able to drop a bowling pin, furry critter, etc, from 50 yards out)? For me, if I can hit my usual targets at normal distances for that type of weapon (<15 yards for pistols and <100 yards for my AR), I am satisfied. I don't push for those .5" groups at 1000yards, off hand, while pouring down rain from the most recent hurricane rolling through. |
|
100 yard indoor range, standing only. Able to use standard and reduce silouettes, the latter which allows for the visual simulation of 3X the distance. I only shoot "sils". In either case, pistol or rifle, on Sil is acceptable, off is not. In pistol, it's best to drop them in the chest cavity for general drill (have some specialized drills that call for other placement). In rifle, iron sights, anywhere on the Sil is acceptable. Sure, at 100 yards, maybe I should be dropping them all in the chest cavity, but if at 100 yards or simulated 225, I have a 100% hit rate from shooting standing with a combat sling, imagine what my accuracy would be at prone. 225 yards, simulated, seems to be my 100% accuracy limit ....... at this time. Finally, I am not a sniper. I'm an excellent shot but not a sniper. My requirements are to put rounds on target, to stop "him" from being the opposing force; it's not to stop him dead in his tracks. ___________________________________________________________________ ("Tonight, we're going to stop him dead in his tracks!"--voice over for Hanes lingerie commercial, (w,stte)) |
I shoot at these all day but I'm typically aiming for "those"... Back when I first got my JP Enterprises rifle built I had a few loads accurate enough in it that I could willingly make head shots on Ca. ground squirrels at 100-150 yards, did it a couple times where all that was sticking out of their hole was their heads. Slapped together handload using 40grn Vmaxes and H322. I shot several 10 shot groups this day with the average across the groups coming in right at 3/4 inches. 
|
| For plinking with a 22 at 50 yards, I use small water balloons, golf balls, soda cans, 1 inch spinners, pieces of clay pigeons about an inch or so, disposable lighters, small stuffed animals and old small toys (the last two are really cleaning out the stuff the kids have out grown). I'm getting old and so are the eyes, I can't really make out the small stuff anymore even with glasses. Paper for me is really boring unless I'm checking my zero. I've been toying with the idea of making a portable old time shooting gallery to take with me with gongs, moving ducks, spinners, etc. along with cans and golf balls. Maybe this winter if I get some time. |
Birchwood Casey target spots. www.birchwoodcasey.com/sport/target_index.asp?categoryID=4&subcat=12#13 They're high contrast and high visibility with them being fluorescent red. Use the smallest dots for anything with a magnified optic. The medium sized dots for midrange irons and red-dots. The big dots for longer range irons and red-dots on rifles. Use the big and medium for pistol at medium to short ranges. I use them with 8.5X11" paper. I can't see using anything else inside 200yds. |
Why bother doing that when you can buy actual zombie targets?  www.zombietargets.net/ |
|
At 100 yards I tend to get frustrated if my groups are larger than an inch across. That's shooting from a rest with a scope, of course. With iron sights I expect myself to be able to qualify for expert every time I go out, though I probably don't achieve that level of shooting on a consistent basis. CJ |
I bet that is fun. Similarly, my buddies and I used to tape a dime onto a standard target, run it out to about 20 yards. We would each take turns trying to blast it with our 1911s. First to nail it, won. |
We used to shoot change with our .22's when I was younger and one day one of the guys thought it would be funny to shoot the quarter on the end when I was still lining up some other coins a foot away. Ended up with 100 little shrapnel wounds and a piece of either a bullet or a quarter in my eye. Another guy got him back a few years later by shooting him in the eye with a bb gun so it all worked out. 
|
Try shooting black aiming points with your irons. The increased contrast will improve your accuracy. Put an orange and black bull side by side at 100 yards to find out which one is easier to shoot. The orange is washed out and makes an extremely poor target for iron sights past about 50 yards, and they aren't too hot at any distance. |