Suggested Target Size out to 500 yards?

[Muddy Creek Sam]

Title says it all.

Thanks,

Sam :D

[44man]

The smallest that you can see and hold on. Aim small, shoot small.

[gray wolf]

The smallest that you can see and hold on. Aim small, shoot small.

YUP

Sam

[MtGun44]

For me, if I am shooting at a round bullseye, I want the target to subtend at least half
the width of the front sight, and I seem to shoot better with the bullseye the same apparent
width as the front sight. I have had good results with about 6" or 8" at 100 yds, and
scaling this as the range increases. Also, I NEVER aim at the center of a bullseye, always
use a 6 oclock hold.

For shorter ranges with a pistol, like 25 and 50 yds I have used an black inverted T on a
white background with the T 'lines' about 2" thick. Another that has worked extremely well
for pistol at 25 and 50 is a large black equilateral triangle with one point oriented straight
down. You aim at the point. Seems to really work well for me.

I should try this one with rifles at 100.

Bill

[Doc Highwall]

You could use the standard 600 yard target MR-1 as both targets and repair centers would be easy to get.

[Larry Gibson]

Are you refering to the aiming point? If so; what sights?

Or are you refering to the total target size, which includes The aiming point ( Bull, diamond, square, etc) and the surounding target surface to show bullet holes that miss the aiming point?

Larry Gibson

[mike in co]

a full size mr1 is kinda hard for the average shooter to hang...

high power uses aprox 2 moa 10 rings....so at 500 you are at aprox 10"

so an 18" wide, slightly taller(24) with a 10 bull should do fine at 500...as you come in ...well you should continue shooting at a 2moa 10 ring...but the bull may now be 9/10/x.....

then an 8/9/10/x

and then.....

explain youe shooting format gun and sights......


mike in co

[Muddy Creek Sam]

I will be shooting a Browning 1885 in 38-55 with a Soule sight and a 1894 in 38-55 with a Marble's Tang sight.

Thanks,

Sam :D

[BD]

If memory serves, the black on a 600 yard highpower target is 36". This appeared just about the same width as the front post on my DCM AR. It's just about the same sight picture as a 4" black circle at 100 yards. I never shot F-class, but I'm thinking the 500 yard black is 30"?

If you're shooting iron sights, I'd use at least a 4' x 4' backer board; painted white and staple F-class repair centers onto that. I'll try and save you some template hardboard from the job site for backer boards. If you search "HighPower targets" you'll come up with more information. If you can hold well on a smaller black than 30" or so at 500 using open sights, your eyes are pretty good IMHO.

BD

[Muddy Creek Sam]

BD,

You won't recognize the place next time you come this way.

Sam :D

[crabo]

I'd hang a fullsize silhouette steel ram at 500 made from something that would take whatever I shot at it not counting AP rounds.

[DIRT Farmer]

Considering my eyesite and general age related skill, BIG

[frankenfab]

I would want a 1MOA gong, a 2MOA gong, and 3,4, and 5 MOA gongs.

If you paint them white/ orange, whatever, you can pretty much see your group size if you have a spotting scope.

[NSP64]

4x8 sheet of plywood.

then you could hang whatever and how many of whatever you want.

[TCLouis]

+1
What 44man said.

The smallest you can clearly see to get a good 6 o'clock hold

[Larry Gibson]

The standard high power targets will do fine with those sights. You can use the "centers" (Bulls eye part) or the whole target is better as you'll see where the misses are. At 100 yards a standard 6" bull works fine. These are the 100 yard Military target, the 25 yard pistol target or an SR1 reduced for 100 yards target. At 200 yards the SR1 target works well. At 300/400 yards the SR 300 yard target is good and the 600 yard Target woks well at 500 yards.

Larry Gibson

[Firebird]

MDF works better than plywood for a target backer. Yes, it will need more reinforcement/support (a couple of 2x4's) than plywood, but it doesn't splinter and make a mess that needs to be cleaned up like plywood does either.

[Doc Highwall]

At my club we have a 2"x3" frame with canvas stretch over it and painted the same buff color as the targets and then you paste a new 600 yard target on it and then after that you use just new centers. And when the center gets shot too many times just paste a piece of cardboard over the hole and a new center over that and the target is like new again.

[jsizemore]

I pick up scraps of drywall from construction jobs. Most builders and superintendents like cleanup for free. I buy broken pieces from the lumberyard/home center for a couple buckets. A pack of markers from the dollar store costs a dollar. I can draw a target or staple one on the drywall. 22 cal holes are visible in the white. Saves a lot of travel and paint on the steel. Drywall hole saw saves targets for bragging. I practice with a target from the Hickory Groundhog and Egg Shoot off the bench or prone with scoped guns. Mostly I draw circles with the majic marker. Emphasis on good optics.

I have a full size ram silhouette for offhand practice cut from 1/2" T-1 steel.

I have a 11" gong that's 2" thick armor plate to represent the kill area of a deer. When somebody says they want to kill deer at long range, I show them that and they usually change their mind.

I'll also make a bait drop and wait for a criitter to come by.

[AaronJ]

my uncle and i used to use and old 20 lb propane tank with a junk valve for a 600yd target. a hit with his 45 70 made a very distinct clang. now we have a new 535yd range and are shooting mostly high power with j word bullets. targets range in size from a 24 inch circle of .5 inch plate down to empty soda cans. just depends on how much you want to challenge yourself.