Are there any opinions on what the best target color is for silhouette? For our long-range rimfire silhouette matches, I have our targets painted flat black. The color is fine for the scope shooters, but we also have an iron sight (match type sights) division. Due to the orientation of our range, when we start in the morning, the sun is behind the targets making them difficult to see for the iron sight shooters. I do have the back side of the targets painted white so that they can be turned around for the iron sight shooters, but as we found out a couple years ago, the white can be as hard to see as the black under the right lighting conditions. Plus, there is the problem of remembering to turn them around when resetting targets. What I would like to find is a color that works well for both scope and irons. How are the bright colors such as flourescent oranges or greens? Is there any color "in between" white and black that is effective? The chickens(50 yards) and the pigs(100) seem to be okay, but with the turkeys at 150 and the rams at 186, visibility can really be an issue. Just as a size reference(since our targets are not an "official" size)our rams are 13" wide by 10" high.

On a side not, if any one is in the Pittsburgh PA area and interested in "going long" with the .22lr, our first match is this Sunday, April 10 at Clairton Sportsmen's Club.

thanks in advance,
Al

I grew up in Carrick and shot at Clariton for years. Back in the day, I shot pistol at 100 yards at 8X11 steel plates on Sunday mornings. I think the plates were orange?

Orange was a popular color in the late 70's early 80's for the exact reaon you have mentioned...iron vs scope.
Still have some ranges in Florida that use orange, the only ones that have some issue with it now are the Red Dot users.

Mary

I think target color should be determined by what color the back stop is and the light conditions. I am a firm beliver in painting them white on one side and black on the other and using the side that shows up best. One color doesn't fit all.

Jerry G wrote:I think target color should be determined by what color the back stop is and the light conditions. I am a firm beliver in painting them white on one side and black on the other and using the side that shows up best. One color doesn't fit all.

Definately the background/light condition is the biggest question.

Black works great for High Power here in Arizona but, put it in the shaded forest and maybe not.

Jerry W haha!