Favorite 22LR targets - trying to keep my 7 year old engaged

[z7.jled]

I got my daughter a ruger precision rimfire for her birthday and put my Gen I Vortex PST 4-16FFP scope on top, I had her shooting yesterday at 50yds off a bench, she laid down a 3 shot .25" group with CCI SV and a 15 shot .7" group with federa HV match. let's just say that with a ckye-pod, good scope a and a rear bag she can hold close to 1MOA groups at 50yds "all day"

She had a great time, but I want to keep her interested, engaged and excited. hitting the bullseye on a shoot n see is fun, but popping reactive targets is more fun

I am looking at some of the birchwood 22lr spinners https://shop.birchwoodcasey.com/products/world-of-targets-duplex-rimfire-spinning-target.html
or the Champion Target auto reset targets http://www.championtarget.com/targets/metal/auto_reset.aspx (the hog, coyote and maybe a dinosaur)

these are cheap, portable a good size for a kid to shoot a 22LR at ranges from 50-200 yds with good conditions.

I know they won't last forever and I should NOT shoot them with a 9mm or a 5.56. . . .what are your recomendations for 22LR targets that could be taken to a range (that allows it) that makes a 22LR more fun?

 

[Old_Longhair]

Shotgun primers were the first "reactive targets" that I shot as a kid (back when dinosaurs roamed the earth). They fit perfectly into an existing .22cal hole and are a challenge to hit, but you'll know when you do.

 

[0dd]

Few other ideas paintball on golf tee, cheap soda, charcoal briquettes, balloons with a little flour inside then inflated, eggs, clay pigeons .

Most are ones my father used with me many years ago, others are ones I plan to use with son, nieces and nephew.

 

[goatboy]

Pretty much any broken toy is more fun to break further with a 22........ Wait 'till she meets tannerite

 

[straightshooter1]

Pretty much any broken toy is more fun to break further with a 22........ Wait 'till she meets tannerite

Definitely fun, but . . .

probably not a good idea given we've got more than enough plastics flowing into our streams, rivers, lakes and oceans. Huh???


PS: No, I'm not an "environmentalist".

 

[z7.jled]

She LOVES clay pigeons, a local range had a Kids only rimfire day last year and she fired 500rds through my 10/22, i loaded mags until my fingers hurt

thanks for the suggestions, I can think of a few toys she needs to shoot right now (mainly the ones that are NOT broken but have batteries and make noise)

 

[missed]

Many good suggestions above. The race targets where your knocking them further and further down range are great ones. We have some metal ones and the plastic stars.

 

[308pirate]

tannerite?

 

[gunner442]

I did my 22 range out either cheap or free scrap steel and a welder. 25 to 110 yards btw.

 

[BillOH]

tannerite?

 

[z7.jled]

I did my 22 range out either cheap or free scrap steel and a welder. 25 to 110 yards btw.

while that is awesome and I'm sure works great, I don't have any land so I have to transport whatever targets and set them up each time.
I am jealous of your range though, looks like a fun place to shoot

one day . . . .

 

[Jeeper48]

View attachment 6999426View attachment 6999426

I did my 22 range out either cheap or free scrap steel and a welder. 25 to 110 yards btw.

Did you make the KYL targets yourself?

 

[goatboy]

Definitely fun, but . . .

probably not a good idea given we've got more than enough plastics flowing into our streams, rivers, lakes and oceans. Huh???


PS: No, I'm not an "environmentalist".

ah, its called take a rake, clean it up and then recycle it?

 

[Longshot231]

If she can lay down a 3-shot .25" group at fifty yards then do this.

Get a 2 X 4 that's about 4-6 feet long. Drill some holes in it that are spaced about 4-5 inches apart. Drill the holes only deep enough to hold golf tees. So they should only be about an inch deep and a little wider than the golf tees.

Set the board with golf tees at the 50 yard line. Then put some paint balls on the golf tees. I shouldn't have to tell you the rest.

Tell her that points are taken off if she hits a golf tee.

You're going to get about a 6 inch drop at 100 yards. Figure out your holdover on paper first unless you've chronographed the round and got the ballistics figured out.

I've made a sport out of shooting golf balls at 100 yards with a .22LR. The problem is that I hate picking them up.

So I made a target frame with wood slats that have holes drilled at the top ends. There's only one crossbar and it's toward the bottom of the target frame.

So get the picture? The top end of the target frame is open and again there are holes drilled at the upper end of the vertical pieces of wood.

Drill a hole about 3/16" diameter in a golf ball. Then run a piece of string through the hole so that you have two strands of sufficient length to tie through the holes of the target frame.

Make sure you keep the string from coming out of the golf ball by tying a knot at the end of the string on the opposite side of the ball from the loose strands. What you should have is a golf ball at the bottom of a "V" formed by the strings that are tied in the holes of the upright pieces of wood.

Set the golf ball target at 100 yards. When you hit it with a .22LR bullet it moves around like a mating bullfrog. Yet the two strings allow it to settle down faster than if you had one string holding the ball.

One golf ball will last you for several hundred rounds. I've let a lot of people shoot my golf ball target and watched them get addicted to it real quick.

Instead of plain white string, I used brown mason line. That way the mason line blended in with dirt in the backstop. So what you see is a white orb suspended in space. If you use white string, it can help them aim. Make it challenging so only the ball is visible.

Or you can do like this group did...



I don't have any video of shooting paint balls with a .22LR but I do with my air rifle...



Another scenario I set up for my son's friend is called the "Taliban Takedown."

In this scenario I have my Anschutz 64 MPR set up for shooting at 25 yards. With a 50 yard zero the hold under is .1 inches. That's not much but keep that in mind for the size of the targets you're using.

I set up about 2 dozen spent .22LR cases in a line on the top of the target frame at 25 yards. You may wish to use a 2 X 4 for this as you don't want to be buggering up the target frame.

To keep the shell casings from falling over, I used a little dab of duct seal on the wood and pressed the shell casing into the duct seal. That way all of the shell cases will stay on the wood if it's accidentally hit. Space the cases about 3 inches apart.

At the left end of the line, I placed a couple of empty 9mm cases then explained the scenario.

My friend's son is to imagine himself as a US sniper in Afghanistan. The 9mm cases were hostages being led away by the Taliban, represented by the .22LR cases.

His job was to eliminate the terrorists from a few thousand yards away. At 25 yards a .22LR case represents the size of a man at about 2,900 yards.

As I told him, the hostages are at the head of the left end of the line. Then I asked him who he was going to shoot first.

Smart kid! He said he was going to start with the terrorist at the right end of the line then work forward one at a time so the terrorists don't see their buddies getting hit behind them.

That is also an addicting game!

 

[Longshot231]

View attachment 6999426View attachment 6999426

I did my 22 range out either cheap or free scrap steel and a welder. 25 to 110 yards btw.

I like the KYL targets. I got mine here. It's also an addicting game to play.

 

[Rthur]

Cheap and easy, ballons and a stapler.
All you need is a board to place on the ground or stands.
Have the kids blow them up.
Staple down and let the wind add the fun.
Have taught many kids 22 pistol with this version.

R

 

[straightshooter1]

ah, its called take a rake, clean it up and then recycle it?

, , , but, one can never get it all.

 

[hermosabeach]

A good friend has a quarter on his keyring.... When he was little, a relative took him shooting. Quarter was taped to a target. He shot it once. They cleaned up the metal and it became a life long keychain reminder....


if you can find a private range, that is best. At public ranges, other do shoot your steel and targets #jerks

As others have said-
If your range allows them
Clay Pigeons
Diet Soda- not sticky for clean up

Golf Balls - spray painted different colors
Then you use your timer- how fast to shoot 5 golf balls
spotter selects a random order for the shooter to follow- blue, green, yellow, white , red, etc

Save all soda bottles- Buy a 100 pack of stem valves and a stem valve pull tool

Drill cap of coke bottle - insert stem valve - pump to 50 PSI - they pop when you shoot them.
Paint all caps hi vis color so you can find and reuse them


Here is the pull tool- $3 at Pep Boys

$7/ 25 valve stems- you can make a wood rack to hold the bottles and protect the caps
a 4"x"4" x 5' - Drill a hole that allows the cap/ neck to go into the wood- bottle sticks up in the air....

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-25-Tr-...6:g:Ph4AAOSwgA1b16DD:rk:3:pf:1&frcectupt=true
(not my Tire stem auction)

 

[hermosabeach]

 

[Old_Longhair]

I also make spinners and hanging targets out of Dollar Store spoons. You can get different sizes, and they're usually stainless (so they don't rust). When they get too bent up you just hammer them flat and hang 'em back up.

 

[hermosabeach]

 

[gunner442]

Did you make the KYL targets yourself?

Yes. the plates are 3/16 steel, with 3/4 black pipe as the pivot and rebar as the legs and cross bar.

 

[Longshot231]

For my KYL target we use red, white and blue touch up paint pens. The red and blue paint pens are for the plates. The white touch up pin is for the bars that the plates are welded to.

The bars are painted white to determine if you hit it with the bullet. Only a hit on the plate counts. If the bullet hits the bar, that is counted as a miss.

The video is for the benefit of those folks who haven't shot a KYL target.

 

[jbell]

size it according to the abilities, distance, and conditions:

https://www.amazon.com/Crayola-Washable-Sidewalk-Chalk-Outdoor/dp/B00LH1WN4W

 

[Lynn Jr]

I don't see them around much anymore but they used to sell a very small black claypigeon about 1.25 inches across.
A little silicon and a piece of cardboard and put 5 rows of 5 and shoot for nickels dimes quarters.
Missed shots cost money of your choosing.

 

[cupid stunt]

Cat's make the best targets of all.

 

[Old_Longhair]

I don't see them around much anymore but they used to sell a very small black claypigeon about 1.25 inches across.
A little silicon and a piece of cardboard and put 5 rows of 5 and shoot for nickels dimes quarters.
Missed shots cost money of your choosing.

Are you talking about the Daisy Shatterblast targets?

 

[Lynn Jr]

When you watch the Olympic biathlon where they ski and shoot they have a giant pegboard with very small clay pigeons on them.
They are smaller than a mini but for the life of me I can't remember who made them.
We would knock out the centers then shoot for the rims.
Maybe a shotgun guru will post?

 

[Old_Longhair]

White Flyer makes all kinds of targets for Sporting Clays.

 

[DuneShoot]

Needs more cow bell!
Set it at 100 yards then move it back. Makes a nice report.
Edited to add: Not sure why my photo is not showing.

 

[Rover31]

Golf ball, drill a hole through it, thread a thin rope through hole, hang it from cross bar at 50yds or more, then, shoot em. When hit they will spin and dance around.
Hang several at different cord lengths
Fun challenging and very reactive

 

[GTOJOSH]

Golf balls are a favorite here too. We drill a 4x4 and put golf tees in the holes, and balls on the tees. You get 1 shot at your target to try and hit the tee so your ball is out of play, and 1 against your buddys targets. They usually hot more of their own., Also, action target sells "battleship" targets we've used. Each shooter tries to sink opponent's battleship.

 

[quietmike]

Animal crackers, necco wafers, aspirins and oyster crackers are cheap reactive targets that you don't have to clean up.
Tack up a paper plate, smear some honey on it, and try to shoot the flys that land on it.

 

[TheMightyGorilla]

Dum dum lollipops at 25 or 50 yards. We keep a bag of them in the range bag.

 

[Foul Mike]

Lots of neat ideas here in this thread.
Our range just pushed out an area about 100 meters X 30 meters wide dedicated to rimfire. It is in sugar sand and will probably blow a bit. or a lot. Has a berm at the end but that could be moved out farther if need be.

We are a County owned range that is open to the Public and sells annual memberships around $100-$140, thereabouts and a daily use fee of $10 a vehicle so it is kind of like the drive in theater of old. How many can you pack into the vehicle?

The new rimfire section has absolutely nothing on it now but we have nice adjustable benches on site and are thinking about running a slab and putting some of them there and as funds become available some overhead cover.

We are not sure as to what rimfire people want but want to build it right the first time. and need ideas. We want it to be a fun place to shoot.

We have a facebook page at Logan Count Shooting Sports Complex Sterling Colorado and would appreciate any input.

What do you rimfire shooters want? FM

 

[Longshot231]

We are not sure as to what rimfire people want but want to build it right the first time. and need ideas. We want it to be a fun place to shoot.

Shooting steel is always fun. If you're sure that people will keep their center-fire rifles off of the rimfire range you might put up some steel plates on permanent fixtures at different ranges.

If you use quality steel, you should only have to paint them occasionally. However, if the soil and back stop are sandy as you say, the black or rusty steel plates should be very visible compared to the sandy soil.

 

[Hellbender]

Here's an old post of mine with some ideas...

http://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/22-fun-stuff.23349/

 

[olive drab]

This may inspire some ideas

 

[Longshot231]

This may inspire some ideas

The target mannequins with the towel heads added a certain je ne sais quoi to the ambiance and exhilaration of the experience.

 

[Loonhunter]

Eggs are fun and currently pretty cheap.

 

[Longshot231]

I discovered this the other day and it was the most fun that you could have with your pants on!

Hot glue paint balls to paper plates, 4 X 8 index cards, typing paper etc. Then staple the paint balls and paper to your target at 100 yards and shoot at them with your .22LR trainer. Or you could put them at whatever distance you have your favorite .22 LR zeroed at.

Please note that you don't need but a small dab of hot glue. too much and it will cause the paint ball to leak

At 100 yards, the wind will really cause you grief.

To make it interesting, give each player 10 shots to hit the paint balls. If they hit the paint ball on their assigned target with the first shot they get 10 points. If they hit the paint ball with the 2nd shot they get 9 points. If they hit it with the 3rd shot they get 8 points.

You get the idea. If they miss the paintball completely then they get zero points.

The person with the most points wins. In the event of a tied score they have a shoot off against the players that are tied.

Put money on it then it gets really interesting!

 

[dtdk]

Go to garage sales, thrift shops, goodwill and you can find all kinds if stuff to shoot at. We used to like little figurines, and you can call the part you're going to shoot off.

 

[jd350az]

Another option I haven't seen mentioned is use iron sites. When I was a kid I used to get bored shooting my uncle's supper accurate bolt action .22 because it was too easy. I had more fun shooting empty shotgun hulls at 20 yards with open sites with my marlin 60 than shooting empty 22 shells at 100 yards with his lol. Making cans dance rapid fire too. I've always tried to keep a stock-ish 10/22 around for those reasons. Even around the house my son can shoot a 10 shot .5" group with the Marauder .22 but gets bored faster than shooting co2 empties with the old Gamo .177 with iron sites lol.

Just something to think about.

 

[z7.jled]

I got some 22 rated steel poppers and spinners that i have scattered from 40 yds to 150yds, I have taught her to dial or hold elevation and she can do a pretty darn good job, and she absolutely loves popping steel (who doesn’t?)

 

[psychogecko]

I know this is an older thread, but worth reinvigorating. I like the paintball idea, cheap and a good splatter. Others mentioned golf balls on the T, I did paintballs on a T with a white background. I also have some bowling pins. You can set them up just to knock them down, I also tie them to a string and let them swing.

 

[lash]

A dueling tree gets you involved too and is great competitive fun:

Do All Outdoors Range Ready .22 Dueling Tree | Cabela's

The Range Ready .22 Dueling Tree from Do All Outdoors® provides hours of rapid-fire shooting practice with .22 rimfire firearms, without having to set up cans or replace paper targets. Practice

www.cabelas.com

Or a target wheel:

Champion VisiChalk Target Wheel

Designed to provide hours of shooting fun, this dynamic target holds nine VisiChalk targets and rotates when you shoot it. Fun for shooters of all ages,...

ads.midwayusa.com

 

[Longshot231]

I got the Shooting 7 Target Bullseye and IPSC Bullseye targets with the center plate. The videos below show how they work. I found it easier to place a piece of cardboard between the back plate and the front plate to avoid overspraying of the back plate. Then I paint the outer/front plate white, and leave the inner/back plate a dark color.





Here is the link for the 3/16" IPSC Bullseye target.

https://shootingtargets7.com/collections/ipsc-bullseye-silhouettes/products/ipsc-bullseye-torso-3-16

Here is the link for the 3/16" Bullseye target.

https://shootingtargets7.com/collections/bullseye/products/10-ar400-bullseye-target-3-16

I also got a set of 3/16" gong targets here:

https://shootingtargets7.com/products/combo-gong-set-187?custom=Gong Combo Sets

You could probably save money by getting the thicker armor plates to use for both centerfire and rimfire. However, I discovered that the thinner plates when used with .22LR have a better ring to them which sounds almost like a bell. The thicker targets just sound like a klink when hit with a .22LR. In addition, the thinner plates are lighter and easier to transport than the heavier, thicker, plates.

https://shootingtargets7.com/products/combo-gong-set-187?custom=Gong Combo Sets

I also got the hanger kit from this place and use 1" conduit for the legs and crossbar.

https://www.yankeethunder.com/

 

[lash]

I do have one of their bullseye targets and it works well. I made the mistake of having it up at the 100 yard line at the local range when some idiots showed up, took out their brand new off the shelf ARs and started peppering the 3/16” steel without asking or putting up their own targets. Pretty much ruined the target before I got them to stop shooting at it. I had a friend’s son there using it with his .22 at the time.

They will last forever with rimfire, but at not made to withstand idiots.

 

[Longshot231]

I do have one of their bullseye targets and it works well. I made the mistake of having it up at the 100 yard line at the local range when some idiots showed up, took out their brand new off the shelf ARs and started peppering the 3/16” steel without asking or putting up their own targets. Pretty much ruined the target before I got them to stop shooting at it. I had a friend’s son there using it with his .22 at the time.

They will last forever with rimfire, but at not made to withstand idiots.

Somebody did that to a soft steel target, intended for plain lead bullets, once. I was pissed after I told him to use only the .45-70 and NOT the .308.

He drilled a hole right through it at 300 yards. It was the first time he ever shot past 100.

I yelled at him; "What did you do that for?"

He replied, "I didn't think I could hit it."

Me, "Why do think they put scopes on those things?"

It was an easy fix. I took it to a welder who patched up the hole.

 

[gunner442]

I got the Shooting 7 Target Bullseye and IPSC Bullseye targets with the center plate. The videos below show how they work. I found it easier to place a piece of cardboard between the back plate and the front plate to avoid overspraying of the back plate. Then I paint the outer/front plate white, and leave the inner/back plate a dark color.





Here is the link for the 3/16" IPSC Bullseye target.

https://shootingtargets7.com/collections/ipsc-bullseye-silhouettes/products/ipsc-bullseye-torso-3-16

Here is the link for the 3/16" Bullseye target.

https://shootingtargets7.com/collections/bullseye/products/10-ar400-bullseye-target-3-16

I also got a set of 3/16" gong targets here:

https://shootingtargets7.com/products/combo-gong-set-187?custom=Gong Combo Sets

You could probably save money by getting the thicker armor plates to use for both centerfire and rimfire. However, I discovered that the thinner plates when used with .22LR have a better ring to them which sounds almost like a bell. The thicker targets just sound like a klink when hit with a .22LR. In addition, the thinner plates are lighter and easier to transport than the heavier, thicker, plates.

https://shootingtargets7.com/products/combo-gong-set-187?custom=Gong Combo Sets

I also got the hanger kit from this place and use 1" conduit for the legs and crossbar.

https://www.yankeethunder.com/

I just finished putting up my second Shooting 7 Bullseye target today. They are the best steel for the lowest price I've ever scene.