Anyone make your own targets?

[doubleh]

I make quite a few of mine for pistol shooting. My wife uses a lot of paper plates. Says that is cheaper than washing them, especially in the dishwasher. I kinda doubt that but it's an argument I would lose so I just keep my mouth shut. Anyway most of them are probably clean enough to use again after you flip the crumbs out of them but that ain't happenin' either. I collect them and use them for targets. I do some drawing around a 2 1/2" plastic square made for cutting quilt patterns. I tried to swipe her's but I had to go to Hobby Lobby and get my own. I also use a draftsman's set of circle templates. I mark around or inside depending what I'm using with a medium point magic marker. Then I color them in using black tempra paint and a 3/8" beveled artist's brush. It doesn't take long to make up a bunch and for very little money.

 

[Legionnaire]

I have worked up a number of different targets that I print on the back of obsolete letterhead paper using my laser printer. I have reams of old letterhead following our last update.

 

[caribou]

I throw chunks of wood from my splitting pile on the cliff top into the river below, shooting them as they move and further at that...... makes for great practice for actual hunting.

 

[Browning]

I found this one several years ago.

Take a brown paper bag (grocery bag or food take out bags) and cut it in half, then cut the slits at the top to make the 'head' of the silhouette.







When desperate I still use paper plates though. I usually go to the .99 cent store for those.
If the range allows it I use impact plates if I can, but I still have to use something for close in AR and AK targets.

 

[frankmako]

I go to my local newspaper and they give me the end rolls. You can make all kinds of targets from white news prints.

 

[George P]

I either buy in bulk; or I make one on an 8.5 x 11 and then have the wife run a ream off at work; lasts for a year or more.

 

[RedlegRick]

I made these using a template created out of a B-27 silhouette, some spray paint and posterboard I got cheap


Edited to add: I found that they often react a little like shoot-n-c targets if you use a paint like chip guard, but regular paint also has this effect.

 

[FL-NC]

All the time. I use index cards, cheap paper plates, things like that. Any larger cardboard boxes we end up with get sliced up with a utility knife and get used as target boards. If you just want simple dot targets, you can cut out the dot of the desired size on a piece of cardboard as a template, then buy the 99 cent spray paint at dollar general and make lots of targets for a dollar. Don't laugh, but when people use those dirty birds or shoot & see targets and leave them on the range, if there is much target left, I pull them and cut them up into 1,2,3,4 inch squares and use them as zero targets.This hobby is expensive enough, I try not to spend too much $ on things that I am literally going to shoot holes in and then throw in the trash.

 

[cw308]

Nice idea Browning . I shoot both pistol and rifle , with rifle I finally found what worked for me , I use a letter side sheet on the 11" horizontal with 3 1" squares outlined with a black marker 1/4 " leaving 3/4" white center evenly spaced across the page . That's my 200 yard target , small but easy to see with 24 power . Indoors for pistol 21' distance 1' black circle on a 11x17" sheet , nothing fancy.

 

[1976B.L.Johns.]

I use 6 inch paper plates with a 2 inch painted circle. Also what was found to be fun is to fill 12 ounce red plastic party cups with water, add food coloring if one wants, freeze over night,remove cups under warm water, throw ice chunks in a cooler and bring to your local gravel pit to plink. Somewhat reactive targets with no clean-up!

 

[Sniper66]

I've used lots of paper plates and magic marker in the past. But, discovered Guns & Rosa's targets a few years ago. They use recycled paper and are reasonably priced. As you know, some targets get quite expensive. No, I don't work for them. I just like passing on good ideas when I find them.

 

[troy fairweather]

i use paper plate and sharpie. i save the old pizza boxes they make nice stands. u can move quick and easy.

 

[Wisco]

Depending on the gun, I’ll make some targets.

Lately I’ve been stapling up blank index cards. Draw, fire two to five rounds per card. Holster. Repeat. Increase distance until I can’t keep all the shots on a 3x5 while firing 3/4 to full speed. Miss and I go back to the start.

 

[bk42261]

I make quite a few of mine for pistol shooting. My wife uses a lot of paper plates. Says that is cheaper than washing them, especially in the dishwasher. I kinda doubt that but it's an argument I would lose so I just keep my mouth shut. Anyway most of them are probably clean enough to use again after you flip the crumbs out of them but that ain't happenin' either. I collect them and use them for targets. I do some drawing around a 2 1/2" plastic square made for cutting quilt patterns. I tried to swipe her's but I had to go to Hobby Lobby and get my own. I also use a draftsman's set of circle templates. I mark around or inside depending what I'm using with a medium point magic marker. Then I color them in using black tempra paint and a 3/8" beveled artist's brush. It doesn't take long to make up a bunch and for very little money.

 

[bk42261]

The center "inserts" from thirty-packs are just about the size of a COM torso, and work really well for assessing 00Buck spread as well as "draw and fire" drills for me.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

I print basic lines on cardstock from online templates I adapt.

Or use bottle lids and a sharpie to trace circles, again on cardstock.

Cardstock holds up nicely for high round counts as opposed to other paper in my experience.

 

[Skgreen]

Fortunate enough to have 200+ 'Full year laminated' calendars from the Office that were 'last year extras',,,
Tough enough to stay put while store bought targets can blow off int eh wind,,,
Backside is all white.
Large enough that I get 2 rifle sized targets or 4 pistol sized targets from each one. (Matches the same size the range sells and staples to their wood the same way)

For 100 yd rifle, I use 1 inch self adhesive target paster's. 4 bucks for 360
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002IKAW8/ref=ox_huc_add_on_msg_title_1?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

I can easily put 30+ on (1) rifle target. I shoot 5 shot groups and only walk to the target once to post, and once more to retrieve/go home.

Pistol;

DISCLAIMER: I don't shoot pistol worth a darn, so I use 3" self-adhesive pasters. 5 or so per pistol target. 18 bucks for 500 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071D9VNPT/ref=twister_B06ZYNDNKQ?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

DAD: Shoots at home on his Farm. Paper plates or 3X5 file cards are his current favorites. Don't think he even bothers to draw a bulls eye on 'em!

 

[Captcurt]

I print my bullseye targets off of the internet. Not bad with my new laser jet. My old ink jet was expensive to use, never had enough ink and said it was empty when the cartridge was half full (or half empty if you are a pessimist.)

 

[north east redneck]

For handgun shooting I use 8.5x11 card stock and a sharpie. 75 targets for $3-4.
Can't see spending the money on the thin paper ones that cost $10 for 12 targets.

 

[Sebastian]

I tend to print them from differing sources and spruce them up with stickers...although I was thinking of making my own style with a 1/4" grid with a white 1" bull square and bolded lines //etc

 

[FindANewSlant]

My cousin (more of an uncle to me, taught me how to shoot) has a big ol ball of melted down brass from old casings he shoots. he either shoots it off poles or embeds it in dirt. Every so often he melts it down again with more brass and to repair the holes.

 

[Waveski]

A different re-use ---

In our house we go through a lot of 1 gallon plastic juice jugs and 1 liter soda bottles. (I am a tonic water junky) A spot of red spray paid , fill 'em up with water - nice interactive target. Set them up on a dirt pile at different heights and ranges , fun practice!

I get bored with paper punching.

 

[BSA1]

I use images I find on the Internet and a copy machine.

I downloaded a traditional bullseye and a 5 point star and photocopied a bunch of targets. The five point star is very challenging to shoot the tips of it off.

I found a large Happy Face in the trash at work so I photocopied it. It is a fun target and The Lady's favorite one.

Another favorite target is shooting 2" circles drawn on sheet of paper. I got this idea from Ernest Langdon. The drill is to place two shots inside each circle. He recommends starting a 3 yards and backing out to 7. The Lady starts at 5 and backs out to 7 and I start at 7 and back out to 10 yards. It is a surprising challenging drill. No time limit. On a white piece of paper it gives instant feedback on proper shooting skills.

I make the circles tracing around a pickle jar lid (actual size about 2 1/4" or so) with 8 circles on a sheet of paper.

 

[GarySTL]

There are several internet sites where there are downloadable targets. They have many to choose from. Big colored dots to Battleship games for the younger set.

http://www.targetz.com/
http://www.mytargets.com
https://www.waterproofpaper.com/targets/
https://www.varminthunters.com/targets/
https://www.groundzeroprecision.com/pages/free-printable-target-downloads

 

[Plan2Live]

In the past I've recycled desk blotter/calendars from coworkers at the office and used those as the main "target" then applied Shoot-N-See "repair dots" I plucked out of the trash can at the range as my aim point. I photocopied a bunch of "Tortuous Circular" targets (brand name withheld for obvious reasons). I have more of those than I'll ever use. I've also shot at flies that landed on my target paper while shooting.