The Accurate Reloading Forums
What do you use for Targets?
26 March 2006, 08:16
jb177What do you use for Targets?
What do you guys use for targets for load development? I use 3in orange stickers on printer paper, but wanted to see if anything else is better.
Also, what do you guys use for longe range targets, say 400-500 yds? I was shooting today using orange dots and the mirage was terrible. I didn't know if some other color or type would help. I couldn't believe the mirage was so terrible, temp was 40 degrees, but ground was real moist and I was shooting in a sage grass field. I guess the light color grass was reflecting light causing more mirage??? I couldn't even shoot past 200 yds the mirage was so bad.
26 March 2006, 08:19
FjoldI just print them out at home from here,
http://www.gamecalls.net/free_stuff/52_free_targets.htmlThere's about 52 different targets for free.
Frank
"I don't know what there is about buffalo that frightens me so.....He looks like he hates you personally. He looks like you owe him money."
- Robert Ruark, Horn of the Hunter, 1953
NRA Life, SAF Life, CRPA Life, DRSS lite
26 March 2006, 08:45
jb177Man, that's too many to choose from.
26 March 2006, 09:13
steve4102I use this and I print it on UPS shipping labels. The UPS sticky paper can be purchased on Ebay for about $3 for 1000 sheets.
26 March 2006, 11:03
STINGERquote:
Originally posted by Justin B:
What do you guys use for targets for load development? I use 3in orange stickers on printer paper, but wanted to see if anything else is better.
Also, what do you guys use for longe range targets, say 400-500 yds? I was shooting today using orange dots and the mirage was terrible. I didn't know if some other color or type would help. I couldn't believe the mirage was so terrible, temp was 40 degrees, but ground was real moist and I was shooting in a sage grass field. I guess the light color grass was reflecting light causing more mirage??? I couldn't even shoot past 200 yds the mirage was so bad.
just remember to shoot the smallest target circles that you can possibly see.
the object is: aim small, miss small.
1" circles are just about ideal.
PLEASE EXCUSE CAPS, HANDICAPPED TYPIST.
"THE" THREAD KILLER
IT'S OK......I'VE STARTED UP MY MEDS AGAIN. THEY SHOULD TAKE EFFECT IN ABOUT A WEEK. (STACI-2006)
HAPPY TRAILS
HANDLOADS ARE LIKE UNDERWEAR....BE CAREFUL WHO YOU SWAP WITH.
BILL
26 March 2006, 11:23
Swamp_FoxI use 3/4" orange Avery dots. (From a business suply store.)
At 100 yds a 9 power scope will quarter the dot.
If you are not hitting the dot your not MOA.
******************
"Policies making areas "gun free" provide a sense of safety to those who engage in magical thinking..." Glenn Harlan Reynolds
26 March 2006, 17:20
Hot Corequote:
Originally posted by Justin B:
What do you guys use for targets for load development? ...
Hey Justin, I use Black Squares of various sizes for various distances. It depends on the specific Scope Power and how far out I'm shooting.
The reason I prefer a Square is it allows me to snug the Reticle right up to a corner and when the white is just disappearing, I want the Sear to release. Of course at distance you have to crank in the appropriate Windage and either move down the Reticle or crank in some Elevation.
Circles just aren't as accurate for me because I have to look at 4 quadrants in the Scope to see if I'm centered rather than focus on the junction of 1 quadrant.
---
By the way, mirage is a good tool to learn to use to your advantage. It can tell you a lot about wind if you study what it is telling you while shooting. You can often adjust some of it out by changing the Power of your Scope. But don't eliminate it entirely.
Best of luck to you.
26 March 2006, 17:30
Rusty MarlinI use the 3/4" dots too. They wrok great.
I have expiremented with the various colours and to my eyes, bright orange is terrible. I have diffecult time becuase of the glare. I have found green and blue on a sheet a of card board to be perfect.
I take a the side of a refrigerator box and cover it with dots in a 10" grid. Then I use black marker under the dots to tell me what load to shoot at that dot. I can shoot 10-20 differnt combinations or more on one sheet. When I get home I measure them, toss all the values into EXCEL and let the computer tell me what the best one(s) is/are.
26 March 2006, 17:41
onefunzr2quote:
What do you guys use for targets for load development?
Oehler 43PBL shooting at 100 yards. 3\4" red square is my sighting point. I usually only need one as the groups come on my laptop screen from the acoustic target. I'm not interested in POA=POI during load development, so that one red sticky lasts quite a while.
I never shoot over 300 yards as that is the longest range at my gun club. And only needed to shoot that far once. At Namibian plains game.
27 March 2006, 02:07
jb177Hot Core,
So you actually aim at one of the corners of the black squares, not the middle. Makes sense. I'll give it a try.
Piece of white paper and a roll of Black electrical tape.
27 March 2006, 02:34
Hot Corequote:
Originally posted by Justin B:
Hot Core,
So you actually aim at one of the corners of the black squares, not the middle. Makes sense. I'll give it a try.
Hey Justin, Yes, that is what I do.
It just seems to provide the "opportunity" for better accuracy and for me it does.
Not everyone likes shooting at a corner, but I've no argument with them - especially if we are shooting to see who buys supper.
27 March 2006, 02:38
smedleyI really like the Burris targets. Nice and bright and the newer ones have a central and 6 others.
I will carry a small level and get it plumb which will make sure I square up the crosshairs. I can usually get quite a few loads worked up on a target.
Smedley
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27 March 2006, 04:18
iwzbeemanI keep a logbook on each rifle so I use 8x11 notebook paper and orange 1" stickers (for 100 yards) For greater distances, I use larger stickers but I want one that is almost covered by the crosshairs.
I enter the dope onto the note paper and put it in the proper file.
27 March 2006, 04:22
stubblejumperI use gamo air rifle targets for all of my 100 yard and 200 yard shooting.They have a white 1" bullseye which I find easier to place my crosshairs on.Best of all, a box of 100 costs about $7 canadian.
27 March 2006, 04:30
M PursellFor most casual shooting, initial sight-in and field position practice, I use blue print pages with stick on dots or squares. The size of the stick on dots is dependent on irons vs. scopes and how much magnification.
Every construction business has boxes full of old blue prints to throw out. Most of them are 24" x 36" pages. The white paper makes hits stand out. The large size is especially useful for offhand, long range and other uses where hitting a 8x11 sheet might be iffy. Then again, maybe you're better at offhand shots than me.
Mark Pursell
27 March 2006, 04:49
Bill McThe same one Steve uses. Aim for the orange square corner.
Back to the still.
Spelling, I don't need no stinkin spelling
The older I get, the better I was.
27 March 2006, 06:36
Reloader2I print my own that I have designed over the years. I've settled on shooting at a white circle or square in a black background as the easiest for my tired old eyes to see. When I shoot at a black dot, the cross hairs get lost.
I also keep all of my targets in note books and have an area on them for recording all of my reloading information as well as range conditions and number of shots since cleaned.
I like the double dimond , it really forces me to hold on a specific point . As long as I'm good right to left elavation is simple with the grid pattern .Available at Honeywell Sportsman Club , under computer printable targets .Sorry cant provide the link .
I Might Be Tired From Hunting ,
But I Will Never Tire Of Hunting .
27 March 2006, 19:31
Hot CoreHey Bill Mc, Any chance you had been "sampling" from the Still when you took that flick? To my currently alcohol devoid eyes, it appears to be a bit out of focus.
Nice group, which I'd guess was shot with a clear focus.
27 March 2006, 19:41
AZ PeteBlack target pasters on plain paper is good.
NRA Patron Life Member
27 March 2006, 19:53
<9.3x62>For revolvers and low-power-scoped rifles, plain old paper plates. This covers most of my shooting...
Otherwise, I use a target that show holes well through a scope (no black bullseyes) that also allows me to orient the cross hairs the same each time...
27 March 2006, 23:44
Bill McHot Core, do you think thaat's whats wrong.
Hmmmmmmmm,
Back to the still.
Spelling, I don't need no stinkin spelling
The older I get, the better I was.
28 March 2006, 01:00
jstevensI'll go for the square targets and aim for the corner. Doesn't work worth a damn with irons, however.
www.reloadbench.com has a bunch, maybe 25-30 different ones you can download and print including ones for iron sights and pistols.
A shot not taken is always a miss
28 March 2006, 02:22
ACRecurvequote:
Originally posted by Justin B:
What do you guys use for targets...???
crows
Good hunting,
Andy
-----------------------------
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28 March 2006, 02:32
Hot CoreJstevens has an excellent point about the Iron Sights.
I used regular old Bullseye Targets for years with the Irons and was happy with them.
Now I like a Black Square that when viewed at the distance I intend to shoot, is as wide as the front sight. That helps me get it in perspecitve without having to mentally debate if I'm centered from side-to-side.
28 March 2006, 05:01
gixxerthere you go, more than enough to choose from.
28 March 2006, 07:00
A/C guyI use the smallest orange dot consistant with the cross hair thickness. I use a set of gasket punches to make the dots whatever size I need - usually 1/2 inch for 100 yds.
I stick the dot on typing paper, then when finished at the range, I peal the load off the plastic ammo box and stick it on the target. Then punch holes for 3 ring binder and store for record keeping.
28 March 2006, 08:04
Mike_DettorreI use this...it is my own design
MikeLegistine actu quod scripsi?
Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.
What I have learned on AR, since 2001:
1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken.
2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps.
3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges.
4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down.
5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine.
6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle.
7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions.
8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA.
9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not.
10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact.
11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores.
12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence.
13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances.
Wow that is a colorful target. Almost makes me dizzy. Can you explain your target a bit more. I am interested. I see the 50 yard iron sight but what is all the POA stuff about?
Most people are link slinkies, Basically useless but fun to push down the stairs.
28 March 2006, 13:39
Mike_DettorrePOA refers to Point of Aim
POI refers to Point of Impact
The target is designed so I have good sighting and reference points for shooting at 100, 200, or 300 yds and zeroing at either 100 or 200 yds and easily knowing my Point of Impact if I then shoot at 100, 200, or 300 yds all using the same target.
As an example I can easily zero for 2" high at 100 and thne move the same target to 300 or 100 yds and hold dead on at the those distances at a new aiming point and easily see the difference in bullet impact.
MikeLegistine actu quod scripsi?
Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue. What I have learned on AR, since 2001:
1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken.
2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps.
3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges.
4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down.
5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine.
6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle.
7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions.
8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA.
9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not.
10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact.
11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores.
12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence.
13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances.
28 March 2006, 22:22
JennerweinI developed my own design using MS Word and Excel. This one is for crosshairs:
Target Crosshairs30 March 2006, 23:02
<cobra44>Try this
http://www.macstudios.comThere might be some in there that will float your boat.
30 March 2006, 23:16
<cobra44>I should have checked the web site out before posting it as it is now a dud.
I do have a lot targets saved including the ones from the old macstudios.
30 March 2006, 23:59
<cobra44>I have a PDF Document with the macstudios targets on it but I am unable to post it here. if you sent me an e mail I can send it to you. don't know why I can not attach it here.
cobra44@planetkc.com
31 March 2006, 05:25
bill rI use a 3ft. by 3 ft. heavy card board covered with white paper one inch red stickers on it soread evenly across the target Marking the top with the alphabet and down the Left side with numbers , I have a tablet and pencel at my shooting position writting down my loads , and number of shots fired at each indevidual target , I am going this way primarly because I have trouble walking however it is a great way to use your targets , I have shot when they have rang the bell 5 times and I still have not gone out to check my target as my spotting scope takes care of the walking.
THanks Bill