Reactive Targets

We have this steel target with a swinging plate on the side...

Bfh_auto said:

Clays work well. They are biodegradable. Steel is never a bad idea unless you stand too close.

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Cheap clays are pitch and do not degrade well. The "BIO" type of clay does degrade well, but without treatment to counteract the ingredients (by using lime), it will kill any and all vegetation around it. There are a few gun clubs that now look like lunar landscapes.

Shotgun shells and clays. Shotgun guys always leave the emptys

I’ve been wanting to try some cheap marshmallows. I’m betting they will react well!

jmorris said:

Last one I hung up at the farm is the loudest target I have shot at. Doesn’t react like knock down targets but you can tell when you hit of miss it.

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how thin and what size is that gong to make such a nice sound ? what was the caliber of the gun also?

It’s an out of certification high pressure gas cylinder with the bottom cut off.

That was a 9mm.

jmorris said:

It’s an out of certification high pressure gas cylinder with the bottom cut off.

That was a 9mm.

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so like a giant wind chime or bell without the clapper. i love the sound.

Yes, exactly.

It’s clear as a bell at 300 yards.

hso said:

Cheap vanilla wafers or some other cookie. Nothing to clean up.

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Or generics of Ritz crackers...birds love them
Make a rack of pinch type clothes pins attached to a board to hold them.
works for me.

If steel is your preference, I've seen A500 gongs for sale at Walmart's where I live.
They can be hung from a simple saw-horse rather than a pricey "target stand".
And you can buy saw-horse kits at Home Depot/Lowes etc. if you don't have the tools/skill to build one.
just sayin'

One of the most fun times I have ever had shooting was when my buddy's mom had bushels of over-ripe cucumbers from the garden. They gave the most satisfying "thwap" when hit with a 22 and the resulting spray of cucumber guts was spectacular.

fireman 9731 said:

One of the most fun times I have ever had shooting was when my buddy's mom had bushels of over-ripe cucumbers from the garden. They gave the most satisfying "thwap" when hit with a 22 and the resulting spray of cucumber guts was spectacular.

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Done that, and it is a great time. We do a bit of farming, so I’ve shot just about every thing that can be grown. Watermelons with a shotgun might be my favorite. We also have more chickens than I care to admit, and eggs are pretty fun as well.

Keith G said:

Done that, and it is a great time. We do a bit of farming, so I’ve shot just about every thing that can be grown. Watermelons with a shotgun might be my favorite. We also have more chickens than I care to admit, and eggs are pretty fun as well.

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You should have stopped at "We also have more chickens than I care to admit...." and left it ambiguous.

I like shooting cheap cans of soda and 2-liter bottles. Yes, I clean up after them. A warm 2-liter bottle full of carbonated soda makes a pretty spectacular sight (and sound) when hit with a 53-grain v-max @ about 2800 fps. I figure if I can hit that anywhere out to 400 yards, that's good enough for coyotes.

Matt

I like steel, but I don't have to move it....

I made a wood frame and screwed bottle caps into the bottom of the 2x4 framing and then all I have to do is thread the recycled bottles in and I have an endless supply of recycled bottles. I'm sure we all do. The nice thing is most bottles use one cap so u have many different size bottles that will work on your bottle stand. I run like 8 ft of 2x4 and can put 10-15 bottles depending on how u want em spaced apart....

OP, I just saw you posted again. If you're still interested based on your original post, I see Tater Targets started a blog giving more info on their system. I've been watching them closely. I admit I want them to succeed. If you want to see the blog its here https://tatertargets.com/blogs/news.

I've noticed new shooters seem to really like the visual and audio feedback of a reactive steel target. I see bigger smiles with a moving gong or spinner than from even an excellent grouping.

I like them for the convenience. I just leave them in a tote in the back of my truck all the time, and can set up a little shooting range wherever I happen to be and it's legal.