Target selection for self-defense training.

[Sylvain]

Interesting video on the topic.



What kind of targets do you guys use at your range?
Any restrictions for folks going to public ranges?

 

[Leadeye]

I shoot mostly at home, circular steel of various sizes and distances or cowboy silhouettes. I use paper when I'm just starting out with a new or repaired gun as I don't have a feel for front sight elevation. Years ago when I shot at public ranges you would get the occasional fudd scolding if you used "people targets" instead of bullseye, but like most things fudd I politely ignored it.

 

[jwamplerusa]

No restrictions at my usual range (indoor). I keep copies of Sage Dynamics Cranial and Thorax targets (available as PDFs at the link) in my range bag and tape them to the target I procure at the range.

They are far more realistic from an anatomy perspective than most "humanoid form" targets available at the range.

I would like the opportunity to run a course of fire against the 3D targets Aaron Cowan uses in some of his classes. I think it would be very illuminating when dealing with target presentations which are not straight on flat range typical presentations. This video, especially from the 10 minute point on, provides a good example of what I am speaking of.

Immediate physical incapacitation of an active ballistic threat toward yourself or others just about has to be the objective. The balance is that immediate incapacitation is a small target, thus going for the larger thoracic cavity target is often the better tactical solution.

I will occasionally begin or end a range session with a target at 25 yards and go for the cranial vault immediate incapacitation shot. With a red dot I can often make the shot. With irons I know my limits are far closer, and would be very hesitant to even attempt such a shot.

This form of "test" can also be very illuminating. Yesterday was a range "fun day". Just me and a friend shooting each others toys and enjoying the creation of once fired brass. Friday, and Saturday morning I had spent working on my wife's vehicle and just had beaten my hands to death. (they were cramping up pretty badly after 15 hours wrenching Friday)

I was really disappointed in my accuracy at the range, especially with some of his pistols that I had shot well previously. It was only after I had been home for a few hours that I realized the issue was almost certainly just grip strength, as my hands were just aching and I struggled to open a bottle which I wouldn't have even noticed on a normal day.

I learned something, and that is always valuable.

Check out some of Sage Dynamics Red Dot and anatomy videos. Very interesting and informative.

 

[wcd]

For me it’s 4 inch plates When using the range at home. Otherwise I will use standard target with business cards stapled to the target.

just as important is consistent training is hand strength exercises.

 

[rosejm]

I'll recommend some covering of zoned targets or use of "unmarked" targets.

Threats usually don't have a circle/X/red zone marked in the effective areas. You must imagine your own aiming point...

 

[KLB]

For practice with my carry sidearm, I have a pair of 2/3 scale steel torsos.

 

[Cameramonkey]

Here in the land of the free, nobody is dictating what pictures are on your paper. The only exception I know of is for the Boy Scouts of America they prohibit scouts shooting at man shaped targets. (at sanctioned events) Only bullseyes and MAYBE animal shapes?

 

[Quiet Observer]

I prefer simple targets like a bullseye or metal disk. I do not see any advantage to silhouettes, or pictures of someone holding a gun. In a real situation you will be shooting at the center of mass. Shoulders will not be your target. Even if a head shot is necessary, you will be aiming the center of that mass. I doubt if the assailant will be wearing a T-shirt with the outline of internal organs.

 

[bwframe]

Cool targets are kinda like cool fishing lures. They are marketed to catch fishermen, shooters in this case.



It's important to know anatomy. Whether your precise shot will make for the intended stopping result that you are looking for? The question is, have you trained adequately to make that shot?

If you are justifying hits all over your human-ish target then maybe more accuracy for EVERY shot is important?

A few years back, Coach, obijohn and rhino showed me the virtue of the 3X5 card. Stick one on any target or any surface that will show where your misses land. When all of your shots stay on the card, go faster and shoot farther. When you are really good at it, cut the card in half.

Far be it from me to be critical of Aaron Cowan. He always has great instruction. Especially at the end of this video, where he references marking a precise aiming point on a larger target.


.

 

[jlw]

The FPS-1 target is free for download from my webpage. Print it on 11x17 paper.

I designed the TxT Target several years ago. I don't get any payment for the design. The intent is to be able to shoot many of the popular drills and qual courses on a single target. For instance, one could shoot Tom Givens' Casino Drill and a Todd Louis Green FAST on it or the Casino Drill combined with a qual or the 3M.

 

[ditcherman]

After taking Aaron Cowans class last year I purchased a bunch of his preferred targets and like them.
But…in preparing for the Gabe White class last week I had been practicing his drills on the Sage target, and Gabe’s standard for a headshot is a 4” circle. Practicing on a 7 or 8” circle really hindered me when I got to class. I was not nearly as good as I thought I was, at least by Gabe’s standards.

@jwamplerusa were you at Sage last year?

 

[Gabriel]

I just shoot whatever is free to me... or I use a Sharpie to draw my own aiming point. Aim small, miss small.

Otherwise, these are what I have on hand most of the time because they are what we use at work...

 

[COOPADUP]

This one was kind of fun.

 

[gregkl]

I use the one below when I need a silhouette target. But otherwise I have several that are usually built around specific drills I do; Dot Torture, FAST Drill, various NRA "B" targets,etc..

 

[cedartop]

I just copied off another 100 of these targets from Lee at First Person Safety. The center square is 3X3 with the rectangle being 3X5, and the circle around them 5.5. I use these for a lot of different things. The dots at the bottom I usually use for recoil control drills.

 

[jwamplerusa]

After taking Aaron Cowans class last year I purchased a bunch of his preferred targets and like them.
But…in preparing for the Gabe White class last week I had been practicing his drills on the Sage target, and Gabe’s standard for a headshot is a 4” circle. Practicing on a 7 or 8” circle really hindered me when I got to class. I was not nearly as good as I thought I was, at least by Gabe’s standards.

@jwamplerusa were you at Sage last year?

No, not in my budget sadly.

 

[jlw]

View attachment 209700
I just copied off another 100 of these targets from Lee at First Person Safety. The center square is 3X3 with the rectangle being 3X5, and the circle around them 5.5. I use these for a lot of different things. The dots at the bottom I usually use for recoil control drills.

 

[G192127]

I like to use D1 targets but I put an old T-shirt over them so that you're more or less shooting At a more realistic site picture that you might encounter.

 

[cedartop]

That looks suspicously like a guy torn on the results of the target. On one hand happy he was one of two people (along with the fabulous Heather Reeves) to pass this drill, but on the other hand unhappy that he dropped a round out of the 3X3 box. Targets matter.

 

[cedartop]

After taking Aaron Cowans class last year I purchased a bunch of his preferred targets and like them.
But…in preparing for the Gabe White class last week I had been practicing his drills on the Sage target, and Gabe’s standard for a headshot is a 4” circle. Practicing on a 7 or 8” circle really hindered me when I got to class. I was not nearly as good as I thought I was, at least by Gabe’s standards.

@jwamplerusa were you at Sage last year?

You definitely need to vary the size and type of target depending on what you are trying to accomplish. I do shoot 8 inch circles if that is what the drill calls for, but more often I am shooting a 3X5 or going for black only on a B-8. That is for speed/accuracy type stuff. Unlike some of the others here, I definitely think you should mix in reactive targets, photorealistic targets, 3D targets, and of course ultimately FOF if shooting for self defense is the goal.