Load workup targets?

[Axis II]

I'm playing with different powders and bullets and in need of more targets. What's your favorite style target for this? I currently use the 2'' shoot n c circle targets but they are sometimes hard to split in half and shoot tight groups. I am looking at these but not sure if they are what I need? I figure the triangles would help split the middle.

https://www.amazon.com/Champion-Tra...d=1550758631&sr=8-38&keywords=sight+in+target

 

[Keith G]

I would think virtually any target should work so long as you can see where you’re missing/grouping. Personally I buy a 100 pack of paper plates, draw about a 2” circle in the middle and let the lead fly. Cheap and effective and easy to see where POA vs POI is. I can shoot out my front door, so this might not be an option at a range.

 

[PO2Hammer]

Too busy for my eyes. I like a very plain background so I can watch the front and rear sight together. When the targets get too busy I tend to focus only on the front sight, and my groups open up.

I have resorted to plain white squares for targets. For 25 yard shooting I use a 15" x 15" piece of white packing paper (scrap from work) and turn it so that it's a diamond. The points help me visualize the center of the target, and the plain white surface gives me a better look at my sights.

If you want a defined aiming point, try a plain white paper or cardboard background and a small black circle or square stapled on it.

 

[kidneyboy]

I like to use sight in targets with 1" squares when working up loads. White with black lines or white with red lines.
Once workup is done I just need to be able to see the target.

 

[Grumulkin]

I get blaze orange round color coding labels and put them on whatever waste piece of paper or cardboard that's handy. They come in various diameters.

 

[doubleh]

I use cardboard and draw a grid on it with a wide magic marker to use for load development after the gun is sighted in on a bullseye target with my starting load. I find a 4" grid works well at 100 yards. I use a level to staple my target to the back board and sight covering both the vertical and horizontal lines.I Just move from grid to grid as I change loads without having to use multiple targets or going back and forth changing targets. I keep a note book on the bench with the grid drawn on it and write down the info for each grid as I shoot so I can remember what each target got shot with what load.

 

[GBExpat]

I created an 8½x11 Excel page covered in a ¼" grid pattern. For aiming points I add the round blaze orange stickers as mentioned by Grumulkin.

One such sheet can serve for multiple loads.

 

[Nature Boy]

I use 8x11 card stock and one inch dots

 

[Toprudder]

Depends on the circumstances. For my 6-18x scope @100 yards, I find that just a small stick-on dot works well, or I draw a grid with a magic marker. However, the diamond grid in the link posted above works well for lining up the crosshairs, especially with lower power scopes (grid lines line up with the corners of the diamond).

For open sights, I need something larger that I can easily see. I sometimes draw a grid, but make the lines wide enough to see them, which is usually about 1/2" wide when I am shooting @ 50 yards.

If I am using a red-dot, then I need a circle that is the same diameter of the dot, or just slightly bigger, so the size of the circle depends on the distance shot. A red-dot with a 4 moa dot would be 4"-5" diameter @ 100 yards.

 

[Rule3]

Many online frees sites you can print your own. Of course if you can use the "company" copy machine they are cheap

http://www.mytargets.com/

https://www.targets.ws/site-map.htm

 

[Blue68f100]

I print most of my own targets. I have an old Jaserjet that is a work horse, 25ppm. Toner cartridge good for 10k pages. I use recycled paper for targets. I get some from a vendor at the gun shows. The ones I like best either have a 1" or 1/2" dot with horz & vert lines to help you align up with the scope. I have anywhere from 4-6 targets on a 8.5x11 or 8.5x14 sheet.

Edit: To add I have both diamond and circle patterns all with alignment lines. I have these in PDF format. Drew the targets using a cad/drafting program.

 

[crestoncowboy]

I make 6 rounds of each. Start on one end firing 3 rds On each target. Then start at the opposite end of back. That way heat nor fatigue shouldn't be any issue. I use however many I need. These come with dots to cover the holes but I rarely use them. Yardage and time between rounds as well as increments in powder vary by the round. Then I can take a picture and have it for my records. Burn the box.

 

[Axis II]

I would think virtually any target should work so long as you can see where you’re missing/grouping. Personally I buy a 100 pack of paper plates, draw about a 2” circle in the middle and let the lead fly. Cheap and effective and easy to see where POA vs POI is. I can shoot out my front door, so this might not be an option at a range.

I get blaze orange round color coding labels and put them on whatever waste piece of paper or cardboard that's handy. They come in various diameters.

Now not being funny here guys...How do you know your holding the crosshairs in the exact same place as you did for each round? I find that hard to do with the circle targets or just drawn dots like @crestoncowboy has pictured. I could go from shooting a 5 round group with 2 in the same hole to others not part of that group and I feel its because I have nothing to "line" the crosshairs up with.

 

[Bfh_auto]

I like a 1" dot with a grid if I'm using a scope. With irons, I vary the distance and dot size too match the front sight.

 

[crestoncowboy]

Those red circles are petty small at those distances. I do have redfield versions thursday have grids on them though

 

[Keith G]

Now not being funny here guys...How do you know your holding the crosshairs in the exact same place as you did for each round? I find that hard to do with the circle targets or just drawn dots like @crestoncowboy has pictured. I could go from shooting a 5 round group with 2 in the same hole to others not part of that group and I feel its because I have nothing to "line" the crosshairs up with.

Fair enough question. For my revolvers, a 2” circle on a plate from 25+ yards is precise enough to tell me how a load is working. A 2” circle from 75-100 yards with a rifle will let me know if I’m accurate enough to put down a hog on my land humanely. I guess if I was trying to shoot competitively, something more precise would be better. But for my utilitarian purpose, a plate and a sharpie will do the trick.

 

[Walkalong]

I go simple and cheap. Doesn't take much ink.

 

[crestoncowboy]

The dots on those shoot-n-see targets I posted are probably 1/2 inch. At 200 yards they are as small as I need. Lol

 

[RKRCPA]

It depends on the circumstances but I used a lot of those old Redfield targets back in the day. It's fair to say they were my favorite target. But, I was shooting a custom 22-250 with an 18x scope that would hole1/2 moa all day long.I found the diamond patterns and grid lines to be very helpful in holding precisely with each shot.

But if I'm blasting away with my 41 mag the grid is not all that useful.

 

[Varminterror]

Big white paper or cardboard with 1” orange stick ons.

 

[Tony k]

I'm playing with different powders and bullets and in need of more targets. What's your favorite style target for this? I currently use the 2'' shoot n c circle targets but they are sometimes hard to split in half and shoot tight groups. I am looking at these but not sure if they are what I need? I figure the triangles would help split the middle.

https://www.amazon.com/Champion-Tra...d=1550758631&sr=8-38&keywords=sight+in+target

I like the diamonds in because in ones similar to your link because I can also line up the crosshairs to avoid inconsistent rifle cant.

For pistols or open sights I'm not too particular.

 

[GBExpat]

... Of course if you can use the "company" copy machine they are cheap

I still have a healthy stack of such that resulted from an in-ad-ver-tent OOPS at work many years ago ... and it "just happened" to be a color laser printer so they are really nice.

 

[stillquietvoice]

22 x 28 inch construction paper black marker lines form 1 inch squares so I can see how far to adjust 2 inch Ted squares for 200 yds. 3inch red squares for 300 yds. Same style for 100 only 11 x 14 inch paper. I use red because it's easier for me to see bullet holes than in black

 

[Tilos]

I use 1" square no lick 'em black pasters, stuck on in a diamond configuration, with opposite corners on the horizontal.
A roll of 200 are $2.50, hard to find them with sharp corners though.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lyman-Targ...h=item2ce4db0c32:g:4uMAAOSwPSxbV1i0:rk:1:pf:0
I put them on the side of a paper grocery bag, cut out and stapled on the target stand, I hate a white target.
Now you know the correct answer to "paper or plastic?", seriously I just grab (steal) a few at the checkout.
Wait, I think I just out cheaped Walkalong

Edit: and for a bigger aiming point I just use 4 of them edge to edge to form a BIGGER diamond.

 

[Milt1]

Try National Target Company