Old Eyes - New Steel

scroadkill · November 24, 2015, 01:00 PM

Hey all - question for the steel shooters out there.
I'm setting up a steel range down in my swamp - I have 2 @ 2/3 idpa silhouettes, and maybe 5 @ 8" rounds, and maybe 5 @ 3" rounds.

Ive mounted the 2 silhouettes and 3 of the 8" rounds on horizontal 4x4's with springs and 1/2"x6" bolts - pretty much held in place on a 15deg downward angle - about 10 yards out.

I normally wear progressive lense trifocal glasses, but can't when shooting. The front sight just goes all blurry. So I shoot with non-magnified shooting glasses just fine.

So here are my problems and questions:

1) When I speed up my double taps I can't tell one hit from the other.. it is just one long ring, and I cant see the splash because of my eyes.
I'm thinking about using chain.

2) When shooting the large steel it keep ringing while I shoot the smaller steel targets making them impossible to hear.. and I cant see the splash when wearing my shooting glasses.

I little help plz

PA Patrick · November 24, 2015, 01:31 PM

You could weld an "x" on the back to get more of a thunk sound instead of a ding sound. We have a plate at 500 yds sounds like the gong show.

g.willikers · November 24, 2015, 04:15 PM

Mine are all either swingers or spinners.
Easy to see when they're hit.
Or just learn to call your shots and know when they're hit.
Requires really paying attention to the sights through out the shot and follow through.
Easier said than done.

scroadkill · November 24, 2015, 04:42 PM

gw - thats my problem. When my friends shoot and I wear my trifocals I can see the hits splash just fine. I just can't see the hits when I shoot w/ shooting glasses -- and with the big gongs ringing I can't hear the smaller 8" gongs being hit. Its bumming me out some, but I think turning the static mounts into chain mounted swingers is the way to go and maybe pick up some 12" rounds and move them back a ways.

g.willikers · November 24, 2015, 04:52 PM

Check out the Birchwood Casey World of Targets.
They're not expensive and hold up very well to handguns and some rifles.
The spinners come in a variety of sizes and the bigger ones rock back and forth with lighter loads and spin with heavier ones or double taps.
No doubt when they're hit.
Lots of the mail order places and sporting goods stores carry them, or buy direct.
https://www.birchwoodcasey.com/Targe...f-Targets.aspx

Slopemeno · November 24, 2015, 05:12 PM

Are you painting your targets between runs? Orchard Supply has their house brand rattle cans for pretty cheap- usually $1.99 @ can on sale.

scroadkill · November 24, 2015, 05:41 PM

slope .. not painting yet. just got the silhouettes in yesterday. today was the first test drive. I'll pick up some paint to see if that helps some. thanks.

cougar gt-e · November 27, 2015, 07:03 PM

White paint will show your hits.

jglsprings · November 29, 2015, 02:38 PM

I think some paint will help.

scroadkill · November 29, 2015, 07:32 PM

thanks all. we shot up the range a ton over thanksgiving break and learned a few things. Paint helps with seeing the hits. And 8" round gongs just go "tink". I wish I started with 12"ers. I'm leaning towards adding more 12" round gongs or the 12x20 idpa targets. They ring just fine.

November 24, 2015, 01:00 PM	#1
scroadkill Member Join Date: November 11, 2013 Posts: 28	Old Eyes - New Steel Hey all - question for the steel shooters out there. I'm setting up a steel range down in my swamp - I have 2 @ 2/3 idpa silhouettes, and maybe 5 @ 8" rounds, and maybe 5 @ 3" rounds. Ive mounted the 2 silhouettes and 3 of the 8" rounds on horizontal 4x4's with springs and 1/2"x6" bolts - pretty much held in place on a 15deg downward angle - about 10 yards out. I normally wear progressive lense trifocal glasses, but can't when shooting. The front sight just goes all blurry. So I shoot with non-magnified shooting glasses just fine. So here are my problems and questions: 1) When I speed up my double taps I can't tell one hit from the other.. it is just one long ring, and I cant see the splash because of my eyes. I'm thinking about using chain. 2) When shooting the large steel it keep ringing while I shoot the smaller steel targets making them impossible to hear.. and I cant see the splash when wearing my shooting glasses. I little help plz

November 24, 2015, 04:15 PM	#3
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Mine are all either swingers or spinners. Easy to see when they're hit. Or just learn to call your shots and know when they're hit. Requires really paying attention to the sights through out the shot and follow through. Easier said than done. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

November 24, 2015, 04:52 PM	#5
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Check out the Birchwood Casey World of Targets. They're not expensive and hold up very well to handguns and some rifles. The spinners come in a variety of sizes and the bigger ones rock back and forth with lighter loads and spin with heavier ones or double taps. No doubt when they're hit. Lots of the mail order places and sporting goods stores carry them, or buy direct. https://www.birchwoodcasey.com/Targe...f-Targets.aspx __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

November 29, 2015, 02:38 PM	#9
jglsprings Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2009 Posts: 1,827	I think some paint will help. __________________ Let's eat Grandma. Let's eat, Grandma. Commas save lives...

November 24, 2015, 01:31 PM	#2
PA Patrick Member Join Date: September 21, 2015 Posts: 18	You could weld an "x" on the back to get more of a thunk sound instead of a ding sound. We have a plate at 500 yds sounds like the gong show.

November 24, 2015, 04:42 PM	#4
scroadkill Member Join Date: November 11, 2013 Posts: 28	gw - thats my problem. When my friends shoot and I wear my trifocals I can see the hits splash just fine. I just can't see the hits when I shoot w/ shooting glasses -- and with the big gongs ringing I can't hear the smaller 8" gongs being hit. Its bumming me out some, but I think turning the static mounts into chain mounted swingers is the way to go and maybe pick up some 12" rounds and move them back a ways.

November 24, 2015, 05:12 PM	#6
Slopemeno Senior Member Join Date: January 19, 2007 Posts: 2,663	Are you painting your targets between runs? Orchard Supply has their house brand rattle cans for pretty cheap- usually $1.99 @ can on sale.

November 24, 2015, 05:41 PM	#7
scroadkill Member Join Date: November 11, 2013 Posts: 28	slope .. not painting yet. just got the silhouettes in yesterday. today was the first test drive. I'll pick up some paint to see if that helps some. thanks.

November 27, 2015, 07:03 PM	#8
cougar gt-e Senior Member Join Date: July 25, 2009 Posts: 1,003	White paint will show your hits.

November 29, 2015, 07:32 PM	#10
scroadkill Member Join Date: November 11, 2013 Posts: 28	thanks all. we shot up the range a ton over thanksgiving break and learned a few things. Paint helps with seeing the hits. And 8" round gongs just go "tink". I wish I started with 12"ers. I'm leaning towards adding more 12" round gongs or the 12x20 idpa targets. They ring just fine.