While shooting is a fun pastime that can provide hours of enjoyment and help you improve your marksmanship skills, it’s not much fun without something to aim at. That’s where targets come into play. The different target types can make or break your shooting session, depending on your goals.

Targets can range from something as simple as an old cardboard box to as extravagant as an expensive purpose-made steel target that can withstand the impact of high-powered rifles. All target types have their advantages and disadvantages, and all can be used to improve your shooting skills.  

Shooting Target Types

Of course, when shooting any kind of target, the four cardinal rules of gun safety should be followed. As a quick review, those rules are to treat all guns as if they are loaded, always keep guns pointed in a safe direction, keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot and be sure of your target and what is behind it.

For this discussion, add to those rules an additional one: You must have an adequate backstop that stops your bullets whether you hit or miss the target. That will ensure safety for any people, animals or objects that might be in the vicinity. 

Let’s look at a few kinds of targets you might want to consider your next trip to the range.

Rifle & Pistol

There are a variety of different types of rifle and pistol targets available for range fun and shooting practice. Paper targets are probably the most common and come in all shapes and sizes with various different kinds of aiming points (or bulls-eyes).

In most indoor ranges, paper targets are hung from a target retrieval system that can be electronically sent downrange and retrieved to hand. These targets are hung from a clip on the retrieval system and usually don’t require any backing.

At outside ranges, paper targets are typically stapled to a cardboard backing that is then attached to some kind of target stand. When a shooter is done with a target, he or she can pull it off the backer and replace it with a fresh target.

Paper targets range from simple square targets with a bulls-eye to human torso-shaped targets with aiming areas for those wishing to practice self-defense shooting. If you are looking to gain precision in your shots, targets with smaller aiming points are helpful. As the old saying goes, “Aim small, miss small.” For those just plinking for fun, use any kind of paper target that makes you happy.

Splatter Targets

Also called reactive targets, splatter targets are a fun variation on paper targets that make it easy to see where the bullet hit even when shooting from an increased distance. Some splatter targets use GlowShot technology to create a colored ring around each hit, giving the shooter immediate visual feedback on the shot. Other splatter targets produce bright fluorescent yellow splatter when hit. 

Some splatter targets have an adhesive back that allows them to be pasted to a cardboard or other backing, while others must be stapled or taped to a backing like paper targets.  There are a wide variety of splatter targets on the market, with Birchwood Casey offering a number of different styles.

Steel Targets

My favorite of all are steel targets, mainly because of the auditory feedback they provide. The “ding” or “clang” you hear when your bullet strikes a steel target is sure to bring a quick smile to your face.

While steel targets are typically much more expensive than the other target types, they have lots of advantages other than just the auditory feedback. For one, they can be used again and again. On the downside, they are often heavy, hard to transport and can be a pain to set up.

One important word of caution: Bullets can ricochet off of steel targets, causing damage or injury to people and property. Steel targets must be set at a distance that ensures the shooter won’t be struck by a ricocheting bullet or bullet fragments resulting from the round’s impact on the target. And they must be placed at an angle where bullets are reflected toward the ground beneath the target. 

The best steel targets I’ve had the opportunity to use are made by MGM Targets. I have an MGM hanging steel target that is easily hung from a standard t-post that is safe, fun and has absorbed thousands of .223 and 5.56 rounds without any damage to the target. I seldom make a trip to an outdoor range without it.

Shotgun Targets

Shotgun targets are different animals altogether. While some people shoot paper for zeroing shotgun slugs and patterning shotshells, most range shotgun shooting is done using clay targets, sometimes called clay pigeons. These are thrown by either hand throwers or automatic target throwers and shot out of the air like one would shoot a game bird. 

Clay target shooting is tons of fun, and clay targets aren’t very expensive. But to use them properly you must have a safe place to shoot with a safe background beyond where your targets are to be thrown.