How big a target?

[Jimhp02]

I have really gotten fascinated with long range shooting. I don’t think I could ever compete but I would like to see if I could shoot ( and hit a target) at the end of my range which is 300 yards. And, if I am able to do that there is a place on my farm where I can shoot over a pond against a hill which I think is more like 500 yards. Looking online I am surprised to see that I can buy metal targets 16 inch, 18 inch, 20 inch even 22 inches in diameter. I would hang the target between two cedar posts with change. What size target would you recommend I purchase?

Best,

Jim

[Jimhp02]

Oh, my rifle is a Shiloh Sharps 45-70 with 30” barrels. I have ordered sites from MVA but they are going to take a while to get here. On the other hand, wild turkey season begins in April 1 and I will be preoccupied with that for a while. Been hunting wild turkeys for 28 years and have gotten one every year but wants. I love it!

[Jimhp02]

Every year but one.

[SharpsBig50]

You'll probably need a 36" black square or disk at 500 to see it well enough to shoot at. I shoot a 12" square at 2 & 300 yards but it is painted on a slightly larger steel target that is 16" wide and 18" high. Of course that also depends on eyesight and sighting system as well.

[J.B.]

Without the benefit of optics... you need to select a size that allows you to get a reasonably sharp sight picture on target, through your aperture. It needs to be large enough that you can hold your sights on it. When properly fed and utilised, these rifles are capable of amazingly consistent accuracy. I'm sure others with far more experience will chime in directly. You may be able to get a four inch group together at 200 or more yards.. but trying to hold open sights on a target that is 4 or 5" in diameter is pretty hard work. To some uninitiated.. the 44" eight ring on the BPTR target sounds huge.. but at 1000 yds it surely shrinks when the sights come up to your eye. The same applies to shorter distances with smaller targets. If the backstop at your target placement allows for good spotting should you drop off E/W or N/S.. then you may be able to go smaller but quite a few have a larger plate with an aiming point painted in the centre as it allows more scope and better to track your shots. You don't win matches by missing but you certainly can learn from your misses . Just as well or I'd have given this up years ago

J.B.

[Jimhp02]

It sounds like I should get a 20”+ target for my range, shooting 200-300 yards then consider a scope before going any further.

Jim

[Kurt]

You can always use a larger plate and paint it black with a smaller white bull for a aiming point. That makes it good for making sight corrections.
And the sound makes you put a smile on your face. Missing a small plate and hitting dirt you will miss that sound.

[CaptnJack]

You can always use a larger plate and paint it black with a smaller white bull for a aiming point. That makes it good for making sight corrections.
And the sound makes you put a smile on your face. Missing a small plate and hitting dirt you will miss that sound.

I went down to a local scrap yard and found pieces of1/8" steel welded them together to make a target 4'x4ft. It works for my 200-yard range. I paint it white and put a black X in the middle. Just a thought.

[mdeland]

You'll bend up 1/8 steel with your 500 grain bullets pretty quickly at 2-300 yards.It's quite expensive but I would suggest AR 500 at 1/2" thickness at the same dimension and some paint.

[Jimhp02]

Just ordered a 24” gong from shootsteel.com made of AR550 with their gong swing mount.

Jim

[Jimhp02]

1/2” AR550