Target size for training

I’ve decided to start up a bit of a accuracy/training exercise .
My thoughts were to practice shooting at a 4 inch steel gong and see how far I can consistently hit it ( 5 out of 5 times ) from Prone / Bipod , sitting/ shooting sticks and standing leaning on a tree or structure.
It will be interesting to see where my current limits are and if I can increase them with practice .
Practice small , Hit small Hunting .
Has anyone else done this sort of thing and how big a practice target did you use ?

my advice would be to stick with one discipline for a start - first prone using sand bags or bipod or sitting at a proper shooting bench - get your breathing - hold - trigger all good and you can shoot tight groups without fliers then start trying other disciplines - standing is likely the hardest so try that last

When I had a long range set of targets up on a permanent basis on my previous property, I used the 1 MOA width as a measure so I would have had your 4 inch target set at 400 yards. This actually gives you half an MOA from the centre to the edge of the target and really makes you hone your skills.

I work a bit differently, often shooting by myself so if the target is a bit bigger than the desired poi you can see the hits. Chasing your tail with unseen impacts can make your shooting worse.

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Originally Posted by Gibo

I work a bit differently, often shooting by myself so if the target is a bit bigger than the desired poi you can see the hits. Chasing your tail with unseen impacts can make your shooting worse.

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Bloody Nigel no mate aye? Get a buddy to spot you man!

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Originally Posted by Rushy

When I had a long range set of targets up on a permanent basis on my previous property, I used the 1 MOA width as a measure so I would have had your 4 inch target set at 400 yards. This actually gives you half an MOA from the centre to the edge of the target and really makes you hone your skills.

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Standard target at the bull used to inch x inch at 100, 2 inch x 2 inch at 200 and so on

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Originally Posted by Bos

Standard target at the bull used to inch x inch at 100, 2 inch x 2 inch at 200 and so on

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Yep that’s the go.

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Originally Posted by Gibo

I work a bit differently, often shooting by myself so if the target is a bit bigger than the desired poi you can see the hits. Chasing your tail with unseen impacts can make your shooting worse.

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i used a steel plate 3 foot square with a 6 inch heavy plate welded in the middle to take the Big hits and sprayed it after each session . . if i miss i want to know by how much

I'd recommend going for a bigger target, you can always add a smaller aiming point but there is nothing more frustrating than not being able to see where your misses have gone.

Alternatively you could add a bigger target behind the 4x4 target either way, bigger is better IMO.

4x4 targets should be easy to hit out to 200m (with centrefire) from prone but any further than that you'd be surprised how quickly a 4x4 target becomes very very small.
4x4 target would be a little small for a 22 unless you stay under 100m

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Originally Posted by Rushy

Bloody Nigel no mate aye? Get a buddy to spot you man!

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Spotters get it wrong, the plate dont lie ;)

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Originally Posted by Gibo

the plate dont lie ;)

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Ha ha ha you should tell my missus that. Every night I look at my empty plate and tell her she needs to put more food on it.

Ive said for years a 3ltr plastic milk bottle is just about perfect size to represent hilar area/killzone of most of our big game animals...whatever range you can consitantly hit one...you can cleanly kill an animal.... its the first round that counts.

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Originally Posted by Gibo

I work a bit differently, often shooting by myself so if the target is a bit bigger than the desired poi you can see the hits. Chasing your tail with unseen impacts can make your shooting worse.

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Yup, this is mine,

1m x 1m Hardox.

Dots are 50mm. Corner ones are 250 mm in from each edge and centre is obviously 500mm in.

I haven’t got a chrony, so after im zeroed, I can verify velocity from drop, aiming at a top dot at 565 yds and changing the velocity in my phone to get my dope.

5 dots gives me plenty of shooting before a respray.

Attachment 212478

Also have a 250mm square at 400 yds with a 30mm dot for the dinner plate challenge.

B

Attachment 212508
I use these large splatter targets out to 400. Holes can be patched so target can be reused many times. The holes can be seen with good scope or spotting scope and the rings give good indications of wind effects or nescessary corrections.
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Some military and I think NZDA use the following guidelines.
All at 100 yards.
2 MOA prone
3 MOA sitting or kneeling supported
5 MOA sitting unsupported
7 MOA offhand eg. something like a milk bottle top at 25 yds.
Gives a realistic target to aim for as a starting point. Over the years you’d be surprised how many people I’ve seen can’t achieve this.