Rifle targets-need ideas

[Mean Jean]

You guys eyes must be better then mine, I can't see a .30 hole at 100 yards let alone 500. And if you are shooting iron sites at 500 good luck. I have tried high power silhouette a few times, but the targets fall over.

I think we are missing some facts here, what caliber, size of target, type of target...you said steel, is it mild and you poking holes in it or AR(whatever) steel. More info might help out a bit.

I am not trying to see a hole at 400 yards.
I am not shooting iron sites at 500 yards.

We shoot various size calibers at steel targets.
Rarely will a bullet punch all the way thru but it sure makes it swing.
I want to make that swing (thus a hit) more apparent with the naked eye.
IE:
-Triggers a flag to swing
-Trips a red light to turn on
-Jaotguys suggestion of making the target tip down and back up like the toy drinking bird.

 

[jaotguy]

as far as scopes ... troll the "used stores" for an old telescope .... binoculars ... at actions look for transits with scope sights ....

 

[SPIKER]

I would set it up so the target has a slight downward tilt to it with a pivot near the top, use the offset counterweight off a threaded rod towards the top/front. unscrew the counterweight towards the end of the threaded rod until it is balanced to just about to tip over. Use two hunks of chain on each side and bolts welded to the plate for the pivot. (maybe this will work W = Weight,
/ = threaded rod,
P=pivot and
]= RR plate target angled back so round hits ground off angle deflection..


.....W
...../
..../
.../
..P
..]
.]
]

(Please ignore the ..... they are pushing the W and threaded rod out towards front, shooter will be at the far right of screen and bullet hits target deflecting down, target tilts back._


Some place here I started a thread on my target backstop I built (projects or built it yourself can't remember.)

Edit in went & searched for "TARGETS" there are a LOT of threads, here is my old one.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...-steel-target-standing.html?highlight=Targets

Mark

 

[roadhunter]

We always had fun shooting pumpkins filled with water. Great explosion.

Now I have a stand that a piece of ar 500 plate hangs from. You can hear it hit, and see it swing. I also paint it orange so I can see the impacts.

Also might try some of the 2 part explosive that people are using for target practice if you want to see and hear when you hit the target.
http://www.tannerite.com/

You should try prairie dog hunting. Lots of fun and great practice.

 

[/pine]

We always had fun shooting pumpkins filled with water. Great explosion.

I always liked to buy cull apples and shoot them with .22 hollow points...even a short hp makes good mess of an apple...onions are very impressive when hit with a hp too but cull are not available locally and I hate to waste good onions...at least with apples the wildlife eat whatever is left...

 

[k0ua]

In the Wintertime with freezing temps. Fill a 1 gallon milk jug with water and let it freeze.. place in your mowed field (with good backstop) and in the morning with a good sunrise, shoot them with a high powered rifle. Talk about a beautiful display of a rainbow of ice crystals. It is really something to see. The low sun angle makes a jeweled rainbow.

 

[Mean Jean]

Would like to shoot a propane tank with a road flare attached to it, that will show up!

 

[/pine]

Would like to shoot a propane tank with a road flare attached to it, that will show up!

When cheap exploding targets were available (box of 10 or 12 for $5) we used to stick them on cans of either etc...

 

[k0ua]

Would like to shoot a propane tank with a road flare attached to it, that will show up!

Sort of like this?

Shooting propane tank in a fire - YouTube

 

[Mean Jean]

Sort of like this?

Shooting propane tank in a fire - YouTube

Maybe we won't be doing that...