Target Shape & Scope

[Troy Bakel]

I set seven .177 diabolos on their skirts and marked where they touched and the outer edge of the outer two pellets, this gave me the measurements for a 4 ring target: inner ring 1 pellet wide, next ring 3 pellets wide, next ring 5 pellets wide, and the last ring 7 pellets wide.

I made square, circle, and diamond shaped paper targets using these deminsions.

At 25 meters the square gave me the highest scores, the circle next highest, and the diamond the lowest.

Each night shoot, I would shoot 10 bulls with my .177 M3 and 10 bulls with my .30 M3, for a total of 40 bulls for each shape shot under very, very low to no wind conditions.

Scored best edge . worst edge the .30 had the highest aggregate score for each target shape with an aggregate of 10.739 to the .177's 9.843.

Then out of boredom I changed to the M16A1 25-METER ZERO TARGET.

I use an MTC SWAT PRISMATIC 10×30 on the .177 M3 and a 20×50 on the .30 M3.

At 25 meters at night I cannot see the center dot or the ring with the 10×30 so I have to aim center mass of the torso. With the 20×50 I can see the center dot and ring but the crosshairs cover the dot so again I center mass the torso.

Both the .177 and .30 scores jumped into the high 10.9s.

Inside the 4 squares surrounding the dot is the 10 ring, the next ring of squares is the 9 ring, the next ring of squares is the 8 ring as long as the hit is inside the white circle, outside the circle is zero points. Target is scored best edge . worst edge.

So why is this my highest scoring target using these scopes?

Square shape of torso?

Square scoring rings?

Aiming center mass of torso provides a huge Bullseye and allows the eye to determine the center of target easier.

Lower magnification lowers relative amount of crosshair movement on the target?

All the above?

 

[cavedweller]

I set seven .177 diabolos on their skirts and marked where they touched and the outer edge of the outer two pellets, this gave me the measurements for a 4 ring target: inner ring 1 pellet wide, next ring 3 pellets wide, next ring 5 pellets wide, and the last ring 7 pellets wide.

I made square, circle, and diamond shaped paper targets using these deminsions.

At 25 meters the square gave me the highest scores, the circle next highest, and the diamond the lowest.

Each night shoot, I would shoot 10 bulls with my .177 M3 and 10 bulls with my .30 M3, for a total of 40 bulls for each shape shot under very, very low to no wind conditions.

Scored best edge . worst edge the .30 had the highest aggregate score for each target shape with an aggregate of 10.739 to the .177's 9.843.

Then out of boredom I changed to the M16A1 25-METER ZERO TARGET.

I use an MTC SWAT PRISMATIC 10×30 on the .177 M3 and a 20×50 on the .30 M3.

At 25 meters at night I cannot see the center dot or the ring with the 10×30 so I have to aim center mass of the torso. With the 20×50 I can see the center dot and ring but the crosshairs cover the dot so again I center mass the torso.

Both the .177 and .30 scores jumped into the high 10.9s.

Inside the 4 squares surrounding the dot is the 10 ring, the next ring of squares is the 9 ring, the next ring of squares is the 8 ring as long as the hit is inside the white circle, outside the circle is zero points. Target is scored best edge . worst edge.

So why is this my highest scoring target using these scopes?

Square shape of torso?

Square scoring rings?

Aiming center mass of torso provides a huge Bullseye and allows the eye to determine the center of target easier.

Lower magnification lowers relative amount of crosshair movement on the target?

All the above?

Seems like a interesting topic, I need to play at it to garner a opinion

 

[Vana2]

After trying many, many different target designs, I prefer a target that features vertical and horizontal lines to reference my scope reticle to and a small as possible (and still visible) "donut" as the target.

At 40 yards (my typical testing range) and 24 power on my Element Helix scope I use a .050 inch white space in a .150 inch black circle. I usually have a .500 and/or a 1.00 rings for reference as well.

I shoot at the .050 white target. The aim small, miss small principle works for me.

Cheers!