I'm with TCups on the standard 10m ISSF/NRA AP target at 10 meters.
The primary reason for me is, if I am shooting my match pistol, I want to have as consistent a sight picture as possible to the regulation target.
- In fact, if I shot the Gamo target, I would make my own targets, with the black bull matching the regulation ISSF/NRA AP target.
For those that do not have a clear 10 meters to shoot in, a reduced range target would be appropriate.
- At 5 meters, I would recommend a 50% scale reduced target, to keep the sight picture the same.
- However, I would recommend 6 meters as the minimum reduced range.
- One issue with a reduced range target is the pellet. As you scale the target down, the hole the pellet punches is still the same size. While this OK for casual shooting, to do it right, the rings have to adjusted for the pellet diameter being the same size regardless of range. It is a little complicated, but quite doable once you have the formula.
The problem with "aim small...hit small" is, you can't hit what you can't see.
Using open sight, my middle age eyes can't see the small bulls that you younger guys can see, or are you guys using a scope on your pistol?
One problem with multi-target targets (like 10 bulls per target) is that the sight picture will get confusing with too many targets if they are close together.
This is especially so if you use a sub-6 hold, as the front sight is a distance below the bull, and that white space becomes important.
And in my case, I have to cut the target up, as I do not have the vertical height to shoot a target (paper) much taller than about 8".
For home printed targets, put a piece of cardboard behind the target. The cardboard will function like a cutting board, letting the pellet punch a cleaner hole in the paper.
2nd idea is to print on heavier paper. I have found that 60 pound paper will cut decent holes. Some people have used up to 110 pound paper.
WARNING, before you use heavy paper, check the specs for your printer to see the max weight paper that it will work with, and how to set up the printer for the heavier paper.
As for number of shots per target, I feel that depends on how good you are. If you find that you can't score all your shots, because of overlapping shots, then you need to shoot less shots per target.
If you shoot a shotgun pattern, then you can shoot all 10 shots on one target. If you shoot TIGHT groups, then 5 or even less shots per target.
If you can't score because the target is ripping.
- First make sure you are shooting wadcutter pellets.
- Then look at the paper the target is printed. Either put a backer behind the target or change target paper to a heavier paper.
