Target practise

[dewi]

Last year I bought myself a Stoeger X20 (.177) with a scope and at the time I bought a batch of paper targets to shoot at. I've got quite a big garden, so I attached the targets to some logs and had a thoroughly good time practising.

This last week my wife was about to throw out some of her clay creations that hadn't fired correctly... namely a couple of birds with copper legs... so as they were going in the bin anyway, I used them as targets. Blimey it was so much more fun than the paper targets. So much fun, I 'borrowed' some clay disks that my wife had bisque-fired... they had a handy hole in the top to pin to the logs... and with one shot they exploded... again, so much more satisfying than the paper targets. Messy, but fun!

Just wondering what other people use as practise targets?

Fully aware people use their rifles for pest control etc, but thinking more of static targets... I was considering making myself something akin to the Olympic targets... the ones with the metal disc that automatically covers when you hit. Could be fun.

 

[Bazooka Joe]

My son and I have been using some of his old toy soldiers.

 

[mick91]

I use a rotary knockdown for plinking. Or M&Ms make really good biodegradable targets if you fancy some pointless (but fun) noise buy a box of firebirds!

 

[John Fenna]

I have used toy soldiers, cheap "sweetie cigarettes" (back in the day), tin cans and mints...

 

[Mesquite]

Mint imperials and trebors extra strong mints are good targets and very bio-degradable

 

[Robson Valley]

The regular clay targets for trap shooting, skeet shooting and sporting clays aren't too expensive. I pay about $15 for a case of 135.
However they are claimed to be toxic (depending on who you read) and it may take more than a single .177 to break.
I say that as a single #7.5 or 8 pellet usually chips the clay or drills a hole in it.

Look for something else. I like the idea of a resetting/tip over steel target.
Any plastic models of your local politicians? Dangling from paracord?

 

[HillBill]

Extra strong mints.... paintballs....... random flies after putting honey on the target backstop.......those bangers... the things that look like twisted paper and bang when you throw them on the ground.... old shotgun cartridges....Matches....Anything really.

Rabbit, squirrel, pigeon, crow and magpie skulls......rest of creature still attached.

 

[HillBill]

You can buy reactive targets now...
http://www.firebirdtargets.co.uk

 

[wingstoo]

I bought a few cake decoration moulds of lego men and jelly babies and make plaster of Paris targets. also some steel plates with 7mm hilti blanks are fun to try, can also work with .22 blanks.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Green-Leg...261133?hash=item4b04093b8d:g:Ka4AAOSwc1FXYFq1

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dexam-Jel...392982?hash=item1a1742a3d6:g:0tIAAOSwtnpXi-KJ

http://www.guns.gb.com/contents/en-uk/p4126_GR8_Fun_blank_cartridge_holding_bottle_target.html

 

[dewi]

Love the reactive targets... and I'd never thought of sweets... no real clean up with those. Bangers... now thats just an awesome idea!!!

Robson, you're right about the clay... the bird(s) I used took half a dozen shots and they still kept their form... I was taking chunks out, but the best shot was removing the tail. I'll admit, completely by accident, I was aiming for the head

Great suggestions so far... should spice up target practise. My eldest son is getting rather good... but he wants me to get a bipod. Apparently resting on a packet of Lambert and Butler laying on a Black and Decker Workmate isn't cool

 

[TeeDee]

Playing Cards.

 

[Nice65]

I use a rotary knockdown for plinking. Or M&Ms make really good biodegradable targets if you fancy some pointless (but fun) noise buy a box of firebirds!

Firebirds are ridiculously good fun, albeit a bit pricy. I still have a couple of boxes of chalk discs, but they're not turning up on a Google search. As we live on chalk, targets that react are everywhere.

Found these though, they look good.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/1420...1853-0%26rvr_id%3D1063731066112&ul_noapp=true

 

[Janne]

Aluminium cans.

 

[santaman2000]

Clay pigeons, tin cans, glass jars, bottle caps, empty shotgun shells, etc. for plinking. All manner of pests for fun days: crows, frogs, bugs, snakes, rabbits, rats, etc.

 

[Janne]

My FX is niw in Miami. I have already people here in our community asking me to come and cull Iguanas .
That will be fun!

 

[wingstoo]

Firebirds are ridiculously good fun, albeit a bit pricy. I still have a couple of boxes of chalk discs, but they're not turning up on a Google search. As we live on chalk, targets that react are everywhere.

Found these though, they look good.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/1420...1853-0%26rvr_id%3D1063731066112&ul_noapp=true

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_o...TRS0&_nkw=reactive+chalk+targets&_sacat=73978

 

[Buckshot]

as a kid i went through our entire stock of writing chalk sticks one day when i realised how good a reactive target they were
break them into the length you want, hang them up and away you go

 

[MartiniDave]

Baby tomatoes are fun, if a bit wasteful!

 

[wingstoo]

***********

 

[HillBill]

My eldest son is getting rather good... but he wants me to get a bipod. Apparently resting on a packet of Lambert and Butler laying on a Black and Decker Workmate isn't cool

Don't get a bipod for a springer, they don't work well.

Get/make something like this.....
http://www.sportsmanguncentre.co.uk/caldwell-deadshot-front-rest-bag-filled

You can get a rear support too, most stable thing you can use for a springer.

Springers have weird recoil, that's actually worse than a centre fire... as far as controlling recoil and the shock it puts on a scope goes.

I just bought my son a rifle to use for his 9th birthday... as he keeps pestering to shoot mine but can't cock them. so its a pita having to do it for him the whole time.. so i got him a Gamo junior hunter as his first. He can cock and load that.... hits the bottom of a can every time with iron sites from 10 yards... i was quite impressed. Got him a scope for it now.... i wanted him to learn the basics of shooting before he learned how to use a scope. Made him shoot a tin of pellets through it with irons to learn the discipline and develop the odd muscle or two... He picked it up really quick and is very responsible with it. The scope is his little reward.