Targets for iron sights

Status
Not open for further replies.

nettlle

Contributing Member
Joined
Oct 10, 2014
Messages
3,312
Location
Preble County, OH
Recently purchased a M1A and really enjoy shooting it with iron sights. After shooting pistol for years I have 1.5" diameter orange stickies. These work well for pistol but not so well with iron sight rifle at 100 yards. My vision isn't all that bad (yet). Looking for a good iron sight target that I can see well enough at 100 yards to get some good 100 yard groups.
 
What I like are clay birds on a berm, maybe 50-odd yards, shoot them off your hind legs.
This is fun with an iron sighted AR, or a pistol caliber carbine. And something that flies to pieces when hit is a lot more entertaining than punching paper.
This is assuming that a local range doesn't get all sideways at the thought, and perhaps police the fragments.
Smaller pieces are biodegradable, but the bigger pieces are another matter.
Hardened clangers are another choice, tho' further away would be better.
Moon
 
Here is an idea of what to try.
Any target with a 6" black like an NRA B-16 target

National match course, fired with a service rifle (iron sight AR15 or M14/Garand/Springfield) is
10 rounds, standing, unsupported, in 10 minutes. target is 3" X ring, 6" 10 ring at 200 yards.
10 rounds, standing to sitting, with a sling, in 60 seconds. same target.
10 rounds, standing to prone, with a sling, in 70 seconds, at 300 yards
20 rounds, prone, with a sling, in 20 minutes. target is 6" X ring, 12" 10 ring at 600 yards.
 
I have used each of these for iron sights at 100 yards.

Champion 47387 Sight-in Targets https://a.co/2dnFFDa

Champion Range and Target Score Keeper Fluorescent Orange Bull 100-yard Sight-in Rifle Target (Pack of 12) (45726) https://a.co/1t97XpH

This one is the largest of the 3

Dynamic Shooters 17x25 Inch Sight in Paper Shooting Range Targets- (50 Sheets) for Firearms, Guns, Rifle, Pistol, BB Guns, Airsoft, Pellet Gun, Air Rifle https://a.co/eBASlwl
 
My preferred iron sight target is a simple 3" black circle on a white background, made using a paper sheet cut from a roll of 'tablecloth' or butcher paper, using a felt marker and the inside of a roll of masking tape as stencil.

I adjust my sights to center on a 6 o'clock hold at the desired distance. This gives me maximum contrast around the sights. Even then, for best results I need the weird shooting glasses shown in my avatar to cleanly resolve open sights in all but the brightest light.
 
Last edited:
I have found that a 12" white paper plate with a upside down T written with a black magic marker is best for me. I put the site at the bottom of the T centered under the vertical line so the elevation and windage is lined up. I say a black bull is the worst target cant see the holes where the white paper plate can easily see the holes and are real cheap
 
I really like those orange rubber "self healing, reactive" targets. I liked the cube the most, it'll jump pretty good depending where you hit it.

I intentionally abused my first one, doing everything they specifically tell you not to do, like hitting it with 12ga slugs or peppering it with bird shot at close range. Wad cutters chew it up pretty good too. It still lasted thousands of rounds and was a little chewed up looking, but still working just fine when I retired it for a new one.

It's a great target for standing, unsupported iron sighted plinking. No set up, reactive, high visibility, cheap, reusable. What's not to love?
 
I use a white square of whatever size I think I need stuck to a piece of brown cardboard.That gives my old eyes the best resolution.
 
Bottom tips of diamonds or big V’s have been the best targets for me when using irons, with the exception of aperture/globe sights on circle targets. This V shape target lets me align the front sight post like a Y in the sight picture, and has given the easiest target picture for me - but it ONLY applies at my home range where shooting matters less than anywhere else. Despite being stuck using conventional circle targets in competition, I’ve never been terribly convinced they are the optimum target for irons with a front sight post - but those are the targets they put in front of us in competition, so that’s what we have to use.
 
I also like the shoot-n-c targets. There are also some called Dirty Bird, I think it is. Both sets have a "splat" effect where hit, and that makes those hits much easier to see.
 
Bottom tips of diamonds or big V’s have been the best targets for me when using irons, with the exception of aperture/globe sights on circle targets. This V shape target lets me align the front sight post like a Y in the sight picture, and has given the easiest target picture for me - but it ONLY applies at my home range where shooting matters less than anywhere else. Despite being stuck using conventional circle targets in competition, I’ve never been terribly convinced they are the optimum target for irons with a front sight post - but those are the targets they put in front of us in competition, so that’s what we have to use.
the V is a good idea
 
Most of the time i just staple a single page of white paper on cardboard and or wood backer, add a red dot and blast away.(checking scopes) To many bumpy roads..

When serious i set up one of the portable benches with real solid targets...
 
5624434F-EAF4-4861-83A1-25087D34EFEE.jpeg I like these particular ShootnSee targets with the 3” center. I can aim at 6 o’clock at any range I regularly use and the 3” center is big enough I can use it at 100 yards and less.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top