Hey Guys and Gals,
I went target shooting with Ed Kim and Russel Ward (@Gimli) this weekend and had a blast. Thanks guys! But, in shooting at 50 and 100 yards with 22lr we sometimes had difficulty spotting our shots based on bullet holes in the target. Here are examples of three different types of targets we used.
Laser printed at my office on a cover stock $0.10 per target
We found the whiter paper was much easier to see through sights down range, and the thicker paper stock made spotting bullet holes easier because there was more white fraying in the hole. But, I’m limited to 11x17 on my copier at work, which is pretty small when trying to hang your targets at indoor ranges with a 17 inch spacing between clips. I would ideally like to produce some 2ft x 3ft targets, so the cost for printing on the photo printer would become too costly at an estimate of $2 per target.
So I had an idea, Screen Printed Targets! I could get a large screen and make a 1 color clam shell screen press. Plus using a plastisol ink may allow for a more splatter/tear out effect as seen on some of the high vis targets on the market. I’ve seen the DIY spray paint options, but they seem a bit pricey and are not all that clean of a printing method. So would any of you makers be up for helping do some print tests of plastisol ink on different paper stocks to see which worked the best? I would supply the paper, just need a moderate area of plastisol ink screen printed on it say 4 inch patch.
If we figured out the process would anyone be interested in some targets to help offset the costs? I’m thinking 50 and 100 yard NRA small bore targets first as I already have the artwork drawn up. But, I see no end of possible fun targets to print.
It would be cool if we could make our own shoot-n-see targets. They have a bright fluorescent color underneath black paint. When hit, the black paint flakes off around the hole, and the fluorescent color shows through, making it easy to see the holes.
I am all for diy on most things, but it is hard to beat the cost effectiveness of commercial targets. For instance 12" x 18" shoot-n-see targets are only $0.50-$0.75 a piece.
Maybe y’all should be shooting this … but I needed someone to hold me down the last time I shot one. And my husband wasn’t too keen on the big dusty handprints on my butt …
I have 3 different calibers that are fairly pleasant to shoot. My 10 year old Granddaughter shoots them and she doesn’t weigh 80 pounds. Heavier rifles moderate the recoil a lot and I stay away from Wandrson’s suggestion.
@wandrson it is actually pretty easy to beat that pricing with screen printing. Also, I’m not a super fan of the options for shot and see targets as I’m wanting a better version of the competition targets. I know it makes since to practice on what you are going to shoot at competition, I just want nicer. It is also an interesting process that may have a use in my daily job given the right customer.
Cost comparison:
Paper $0.05 per sheet
An hour of screen printing labor $15 of $30
Screen printing materials $45 to start
Probably easily produce 100 targets in an hour.
That is $0.80 for first run, then you have the material already in hand and don’t have to buy them again. That would drop the price to $.35 for same production level.
Also, I haven’t seen 2 ft x 3 ft easy see targets for cheap or at all nite that I think about it.
The real value in shooting is learning discipline. It is a life long pursuit - you my approach it but there always is room for improvement. My first interest in teaching someone to shoot is to try to give them some success in their first outing.
That is hard to do if they don’t have the proper equipment. I usually bring some of my match rifles that can be shot off of a rest, using either iron sights or scope sights. When you are doing well it is easy to shoot more. Yesterday Nick shot probably 300 rounds of rimfire ammunition before he had had enough.
It takes thousands of rounds of practice for you to get pretty good. It can be addictive.
I shot more than 300 rounds before Russell showed up to the range. Spent 5 and half hours in one stall strait. And Russell put up with calling my shots for nearly 2 hours while letting me shoot his rifle once he got there.
If you ever have a chance to shoot with Russell jump on it. He is a gracious teacher that is far to kind sharing his equipment. I try to be the same way when ever I take people to the range. But, letting someone shoot my funny Chiappa Rhino revolver doesn’t even compare to letting someone shoot your match rifle with your hand reloaded match ammunition. Shit, Russell’s rear sight is worth more than my pistol at face value and that doesn’t even include the time and money he spent figuring out why that rear sight is so special.
Good luck finding someone as good of a shot as Russell willing to deal with jackasses like me anywhere else. I’ve been looking there are far more jackasses than actual good shots.
Side note in shooting with Russell, All guns are more accurate than you are. This is especially true with adjustable optics. Russell’s match guns just try harder than most to make up for your miss giving. That being said I’m trying to buy a new 22 instead of getting better with the one I have.
I’ve made DIY shoot & see targets before not to difficult but can be a pain if you use the clear tape method. At which point it’s makes it worth it to me to just buy them.
There are lots of cost effective targets out there. I often shoot CHL test style targets that go for $0.20 each in bulk, no labor required. If you’re shooting .22LR at 100 yards check these out.
I was specifically referring to the Barrett M82 50cal. I’ve only shot it on one occasion, but I had a real hard time snugging down into the dirt well enough to keep from skootching backward when I fired it. Your 80-pound granddaughter must be really a tough cookie if it doesn’t toss her around.
I have very little interest in shooting 50 BMG. As a matter of fact I have passed on the opportunity to shoot a Barrett. I have seen really big men have to crawl “back into battery” after shooting one prone. Something to watch for when watching someone else shooting a 50 is the ripple that the recoil causes in the body. Can you say “detached retina”?
