What to shoot has always been a perplexing issue, and oft times some are reduced to shooting what ever is handy- not always the best of things.
Paper targets are undoubtedly used more than any other type, and for a variety of reasons.
They are inexpensive
They are easily placed / hung downrange
They provide for easy scoring
The downside to paper targets is that they are two dimensional, and are useful primarily for basic drills. Having said that, all gunfighting training starts with the basics, and the ability to utilize those basics on demand, within a narrow time constraint (and while you are on fire) is what will go a long way in making sure you stand supreme in the ultimate challenge.
I have always been personally frustrated by the lack of viable training targets. We once worked at a place that used camouflaged "Option" targets. Not a bad target, but the original ones had the center scoring circle low in the body rather than center mass (though not as bad as the useless B-27 Targets). We often noted that shooters would use about every square centimeter of the target. This was not specific to the option target. Others, such as the military "E" Silhouette (a large (23.5" x 39.25" green target made from treated cardboard) also had similar problems, and this is an apparently naturally occurring phenomenon. If you have a large target, you will use only that precision necessary to hit that large target.
We also saw issues with targets that had internal organs printed on them. That was great for pre med students, but my opponents have generally had natural and man made covers concealing those organs. If you spend too much time trying to get a shot into the descending aorta, the bad guy may get five or six shots into you- and that is never a fair trade off. Likewise graphic (cartoon or photograph type) have their place, but generally not on the square range.
One day while driving down to do an EAG Carbine Class in West Virginia, Tim Lau and I started to discuss what we wanted to do. By the time we arrived we were at about the 50% mark, but needed some tweaking. Caleb Crye and Erick Fehlburg of Crye Associates were at the class, and they made a very generous offer to allow us to use their MultiCam™ pattern, as well as do the final art work. This not only ensured that we would have the proper target, but kept Tim and I from going crazy.
We settled on a paper target that would have the outside dimensions of the current IPSC/ IDPA target. This would allow it to fit on an IPSC/ IDPA backer, or could be stapled to a wall or larger backer, such as those on many police ranges.
The exterior dimensions are 19" wide by 29.5" high. The target is white, with a black border, making the interior dimensions 18 x 29. Within that border is a shaded MultiCam™ silhouette 11.5" wide by 23" high, with the top of the MultiCam™ silhouette at the top of the target.
Within the chest of the target (centered 17.5" up from the bottom) is an 8" scoring ring. This ring is dark grey, and not normally visible past 5yds. A 2" wide vertical column extends 3.5" up from the top of that 8" circle to the Brain Box. That box is 3" long, and 3.75" wide at the top, narrowing to 2" where it meets the vertical column.
These lines are a light grey, and likewise not normally visible past 5yds.
We made the center silhouette in MultiCam ™ and the scoring lines muted in order to prevent the shooter from attempting overly precise shots at CQB/ CQC distance. Shooting center mass of the available target is the goal, and the muted scoring lines enhances that.
One of the issues we have always faced as trainers is the zeroing process. We would have to put up a BZO target, engage, and then replace with a real target for training. This took time, and while it wasn't much, it was time better spent on teaching rather then labor.
To that end there is a 1" black circle centered within the 8" circle. There are also a series of fine muted grid lines spaced .25" apart. Most of the combat optics currently in use utilize ˝ moa adjustments. At 50yds one click on the optic will move the strike of the bullet one grid square. At 25yds it will take 2 clicks to move it one grid square, and at 100yds one click will move the strike of the bullet 2 grid squares.
This simplifies the zeroing process for our purposes.
While the entire area within the black border is scored, we intended to draw the shooters focus into the upper chest/ head area with the MultiCam™ silhouette. That area of the body between the nipples is what is Center Mass. Placing projectiles anywhere into the body won't make the guy feel better, but it may not result in the instant incapacitation we are intending. Placing those shots into the upper chest means it will be more likely that you will start depressurizing that circulatory system- letting air in, and letting fluid out. As that leakage continues, the recipient will feel a loss of morale, blurred vision and desuetude; and will- sooner then later- cease being an earthly oxygen consumer.
Peripheral hits may not accomplish this in a timely manner.
Question: How much time do you have in a gunfight?
Answer: The rest of your life.
Scoring any target is generally subjective and relative to that particular target. Our method for scoring is this: For Body shots- Within the 8" circle or within the vertical column up to the horizontal line extending across the shoulders = 2 points.
Anywhere else within the body = 1 point.
For Brain Shots- Within the Brain Box = 2 Points.
Anywhere else in the MultiCam™ head = 1 point.
A chest shot that winds up in the head is a miss; -2 points
A brain shot that winds up in the chest; - 2 points.
For our qual course we require you to place certain shots in a certain place.
If you don't get those shots where they belong then they are misses.
When we first started using these targets we found that the adage "Aim Small, Miss Small" was still as valid today as when a wise soul first figured it out. The MultiCam™ silhouette draws your attention to the optimum target zone, and rapid engagement drills over time show no loss of speed to go with the better hits. We see a lot less shots in the periphery of the target, and a lot more in the kill zone.
We added four geometrical shapes to the inside border of the target; a diamond, rectangle, square and circle. These shapes can be useful for a number of different drills and to enhance trigger control drills.
This target is available exclusively from our good friend Jeff Cahill at TangoDown.
