I have ordered a set of steel targets and am getting ready to put together a set of target stands to use when we myself and friends go to the range. These stands will have to be portable and hopefully fit in the trunk of a normal sedan. (No SUV or Truck in my Garage) I am planning on using regular collapsable saw horse stands. Does this set up seem to be reasonable? Are there any rules that say how far apart the targets are from each other? Is a standard 2X4 on edge wide enough to accomodae the targets? I am bound and determined to get involved in this sport. Maybe by having my own set up, going to the range on a fairly regular basis, and showing others what I am doing will spark some local interest in this sport.

Steve,
The saw horses are a great way to go. I'd add a piece of angle iron to the top to avoid low shots from tearing up the top where you set the anmals and stiffen up the 2x4 from wobble. The correct spacing is 1 animal width between the animals, but just for practice you could adjust as needed.

For a portable set-up, swingers would seem to make sense to me for practice.

Steve,
I have always prefered to practice on swingers or paper targets. You will be able to see your hit and will be able to confirm your shot break to the impact on the target. Paper is especially benifical for this, as it will also show your misses. The other thing is you will have to constantly be going down range to set up targets. Who needs practice at that? I would rather take a 100 meter walk once in a while to paint or change paper targets. Al

Al....you are correct paper is easier to see where you are not hitting the animal...but it is much less reactive, which a very strong draw to this sport.

Steve, as previously stated 1 animal width apart is the correct distance, also, no specific direction as long as all animals in a bank are facing the same direction.

Mary

Ok, tell me more about these Swingers..... where to buy.

Steve,

Check tis link. http://www.raystargets.rgpservices.com/swingers.html

Al

Here are the ones I use: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/983637 ... with-stand

I prefer shooting the targets just like at a match, with the walking back and forth resetting just like at a normal match. But there is a time and place for paper shooting. We took some 4x4's and added some 1x1 angle to an edge for the animals to sit on. Drill some holes on the end to drive some rebar or large landscaping nails. Works great and easy to pick up if you want to haul around in the truck. The ram one needs to be a 10' for spacing but the others work great at 8'.

Paper is good for practice and so are swingers but as Innocent noted the hook is the flying animal and the clang of the hit. It is that tactile down range feeling you get with the target when you connect that sets the hook into people far more than punching holes in the same animals on paper. Otherwise it is just another paper shooting game. Once you get hooked and want to improve you can find more appreciation for shooting the paper IMO.

Sure walking to reset can suck but the loose animals are the fun ones to shoot. We use loose at one match and have resetables at another and the one we all enjoy the most is the loose ones. Resetables are great and easy and not to be overlooked for ease of setup, resetting and taking down. Swingers give you the best of both easy setup and steel smacking at least. Here at the house I only use swingers and paper now and I have a set of resets and a set of loose on rails.


Dee