quest for a DIY 'Shoot-n-c' type target

[g19fanatic]

Recently I got fed up purchasing targets that allowed me to see where I was hitting. I also got fed up with just printed targets as its really hard to see the tiny little holes (I guess i need to make bigger ones... )... This leads me to my quest to create a DIY target that mimics the 'Shoot-n-c's that are available.

Today I tested 3 different 'types' at MG and have to say that all 3 were really successful. The 2nd and 3rd type are virtually the same thing just done slightly differently.

Method 1:
-Take some paper (all I had at the time was white computer paper)
-Take a walmart type shopping bag and cut one panel out to just have 1 piece of flimsy plastic
-Glue the plastic to the paper (i used what I had at the moment, which was an elmers glue stick)
-spray paint over the plastic and let it dry (I had some textured black rustoleum paint)

Method 2:
-Everything is the same as method one but instead of a plastic bag, I used wax paper (like the kind you would use for baking)

Method 3:
-Take a 'good' paper plate (the type with a waxy surface) and spray paint it black.

After it all (and 3-4 hundred .22 rnds later), Methods 2 and 3 give essentially the same results... Being as the paper plate method was extremely quick (no prep), I'm going to only ever do methods 1 and 3.

Results were interesting. The first method gave the most 'shoot-n-c' type result with a rather large 'splatter' effect as you see with those types of targets. This really is the easiest to see but eats up the target the fastest. The 3rd method still had bullet holes with a white 'splatter' effect but the spatters werent as large...

My wife is into scrapbooking and I got her a 'Cricut' for her hobby a while back. Using her paper cutter (CNC style), I'm going to try method 1 using different pieces of construction paper to create a multi-colored bullseye. The cricut will allow me to quickly cut multiple perfect circles at a time.

All in all, i'm going to use method 1 for longer distance targets and method 3 for closer in targets. Method 3 is really quick to make and really inexpensive as well. Method 1 is almost free for me (i mean who doesn't normally have computer paper + plastic bags...?) but takes a little more time (about 1-2 mins per target... which still isn't bad).

Check out the pics to see what the test firing looks like

 

[WeaponsCollector]

That's a great idea, shoot-n-c targets are my favorite but can be somewhat costly.

 

[Gummy]

Even plain el cheapo paper plates work ok for up to 25 or 30 yards. Bullets leave black ring around the bullet hole and it's fairly easy to see.

 

[dannyboltz]

i was thinking of doing the same thing but with flouresent green cardboard paper and flat black paint, the bag one looks really clear. good post.

 

[guthook]

Pretty cool.

 

[marko12]

Fantastic post, different color papers and different color paints. Which will be the best?

 

[Kevmo]

with some spray adhesive this could be VERY easy... i wonder if you could put a thing layer of paint between the pastic and the cardboard... so you could REALLY see....

 

[CroftonBilly]

A+ for cheap and ingenuity. Good post.

Try the inverse too... solid black glossy paper or waxy substrate/background, and flat white spray paint over it.

I'm a big fan of those Birchwood Casey/DirtyBird/Shoot-n-C targets. Another cheaper brand I came across is GlowShot.

 

[HarCo2ANewb]

Awesome job, I am sure to try some of these myself, thank you for the ideas!

 

[Half-cocked]

One thing I have found out is that the bright white paper targets the Hap Baker sells, show the holes a LOT better than the cream-colored paper targets that Walmart sells... and they're just as cheap.

The green/red zones are just as contrasty, but if you hit in the black the holes are always harder to see.

 

[marko12]

Another reactive target is filling an empty G-ade bottle with water then adding food coloring, red is cool, then freezing it solid. It will take many many rounds depending on the grain of the bullet, but I've shot .223 for hours and still watched it react to that. Someone else on MDS suggested a can of tomato juice, gotta try that one.

 

[SNovaTac]

Dude, targets look great! Next time you're going to toss some lead down range let me know and we'll have to continue experimenting. I never even thought of doing something like this.

 

[canuck]

Nice job. Very creative.

 

[snavematt]

greta idea, I usually get these

http://www.amazon.com/100-Pack-Reactive-GlowShot-Instantly/dp/B00514GT50?tag=food1d0-20

 

[zombiehunter]

I'm truely impressed. Great post

 

[marko12]

I tried the one with the white paper and the WM bag painted black, exactly as the OP said. Easy to make and fun to shoot, you can easily see where you are hitting the target. Good Post.

 

[ColonelHurtz]

Interesting experiment.

Top Hat has Shoot-n-C's in bulk at good prices if you are so inclined.

 

[mopar92]

Anybody know the tolerance level at shooting ranges for this kinda stuff? I.E. do they allow it or frown upon it because of (in the case of the gatorade bottle) chance of ricichets?

 

[marko12]

Anybody know the tolerance level at shooting ranges for this kinda stuff? I.E. do they allow it or frown upon it because of (in the case of the gatorade bottle) chance of ricichets?

It's my fault for not being more specific. The ranges will probably not allow the gatorade bottles, I was doing this on private property. As reactive targets they are so much fun to shoot and cheap to boot, I had to mention the set up. Sorry to mislead anyone.

 

[brain juice]

Great idea! Mind if I repost this to another site? All credit to you, of course.