ShootingTargets7 Review
Oh, the glory of steel targets. Is there anything more American than hearing the ring and ding of lead smashing into steel? Maybe a few things, but not much. Steel targets have gone completely mainstream, and never before have we seen such a wide variety of options. The steel target world is now providing us the most reactive steel targets on the market that can be reused for years and tens of thousands of rounds. ShootingTargets7, in particular, has been not only making great steel targets but innovating in setup, takedown, and design.
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Cutting a piece of steel into the shape of an IPSC target is easy, well, not exactly, but anyone can do it. ShootingTargets7 cuts steel into targets but also makes setting up a home range easy. They sent me Their Bullseye IPSC target and their Know Your Limits 22 Target. Both were complete setups with a stand, legs, and their awesome bulletproof Super Hanger.
Before we dive too deep into these targets, let's talk about steel targets in general and why they've come to dominate the market.
Why Steel?
Steel targets give shooters a lot of bang for their buck. Unlike paper or polymer targets, steel targets are rugged and extremely durable. Depending on their rating, they can take thousands of rounds of pistol, rifle, and shotgun rounds without much deterioration. I have an old steel gong that's served me for five years now and doesn't seem ready to tap out.
When you begin heavy training, steel gives a simple and reliable option for targetry. If you are a shotgunner, then you have to love steel. Shotguns tear up paper and polymer targets in just a few shots but still holds up for round after round.
Anyone who has ever shot steel knows the noise steel makes. With every shot, you get that distinctive DING that signals your success. When you hear nothing but the shot, you know you've missed. That ding becomes quite addictive, and beyond a tactile response, it's incredibly useful.
When you move out several hundred yards with a rifle, you can still hear the ding. With paper, you're stuck chasing holes with a spotting scope or walking downrange to figure out if you've even hit anything.
Steel targets can also be reactive and move, fall, or spin with every shot. When they do so, the targets can not only entertain but challenge. Shooting a Texas star or a keeping a dueling tree moving becomes a real challenge.
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Downsides of Steel
We can't have a fair discussion about steel without mentioning a couple of downsides. First is the safety aspect. You can fire on steel targets from excessively close ranges without risking splatter from projectiles. If steel targets are used incorrectly, they can cause ricochets, but when used correctly, there is no such risk. It comes down to don't be dumb about it.
The other issue is when you are chasing precision. If you want to shoot very small groups and measure them, then steel might not be for you. It's tough to gauge groups or zero guns with precision on steel. However, smart design can bring precision to steel target design.
Like I said, anyone can cut steel, but not everyone designs it well. Both the targets I chose from ShootingTargets7 allow you to work precision to a degree beyond most steel targets. The center swinging bull's eye still calls for precision when necessary, and the tiny targets of the 22LR Know Your Limits Target both require precision to hear the ding.
Let's talk a little more about those two targets.
IPSC Bullseye Torso
IPSC cut steel targets are immensely popular for competition, plinking, and tactical training purposes. These targets are cut to represent the center mass and head zone of a person. They allow shooters to practice practical shot placement and train against a like adversary.
Unlike other IPSC torso targets ShootingTargets7 cut a circular hole in the target and field with a gong. This target inside a target allows you to work both the whole target and switch to shots that require precision on the gong. It's a brilliant design that gives shooters the best of both worlds.
For ranges with limited space, it effectively gives you both a man-sized target and a small gong in one package. The design also allows for challenging drills involving both the torso and center bullseye target.
One thing I noticed right away was hits to the center sound a lot different than hits to the outside. I could tell which was which even from a couple of hundred yards away. This allowed me to play a fast and slow drill. Standing with a rifle, I fired three rounds as fast as I could hit the large portion of the target. Then I moved to a kneeling position and took one well-aimed shot into the gong.
If I backed up and took a prone position with a rifle, I could use the gong to really practice precision-based shots. It's a true two-in-one target that allows you to practice the 'aim small, miss small' mentality.
If I just want to train with the target as a normal IPSC torso, I can as well. However, I'm a bit addicted to that little gong. It's made me exercise shot placement a lot more than I usually would with a steel target.
With handguns, I've been practicing my draw and first shot on target. Once I was able to hit the IPSC torso in a 1.5 second part-time, I started working on hitting the gong in 1.5 seconds from the draw.
The concept of progressive overload comes from weight lifting and the act of slowly adding weight to get stronger. That same concept applies to getting better at most things, and this target certainly allows for a progressive overload approach to your training.
Hanging it Up
ShootingTargets7 provided one of their portable target stands with this setup, and there is where some of the brilliance comes in. Moving steel targets from range to range is often a hassle due to their size, weight, and the stands associated with them. This portable target stand can be easily disassembled without tools and moved at will or stored easily.
Taking it down and tossing it in my trunk is super easy. I store these in a shed, and being able to take them apart to save space is a real lifesaver. I could store three normal targets with stands, but being able to take them apart makes so much extra room I can store a dozen or more.
You can hang your IPSC target with chains or straps, but ShootingTargets7 also makes a super handy target hanger. It's called the Super Hanger, and it's another smart piece of gear. This hanger goes behind the targets and is made from AR 500 steel, just like your target. The weak areas are protected by the target so shooting it is unlikely. However, if you shoot it, it's not a big deal.
As someone who has shot the chains of their targets more than once, I appreciate the Super Hanger more than you imagine. It's so utterly convenient and easy to use that it's well worth the initial investment.
Know Your Limits Rimfire
When ShootingTargets7 offered to send me some steel targets to test, and I review I found myself browsing their website looking for what I thought would be interesting. I saw the Know Your Limits targets and felt a wave of deja vu. I couldn't place it, but I had seen that target before and had wanted it.
Know Your Limits Rimfire For Sale
I instantly chose the Know Your Limits target and eventually realized where I had seen it. The National Rifle League 22 competition uses this target. That's quite the testament in and of itself. The Know Your Limits target is actually eight targets built into one. It's a series of small targets that start large and slowly get smaller.
The targets run from left to right and are sized 2"/1.75"/1.5"/1.25"/1"/.75"/.5"/.25". Once you get to that last target, you'll need to practice the basic fundamentals of marksmanship perfectly to hit it, even at closer ranges.
When shot, these targets swing nicely and make a satisfying ding. It's such a fun challenge, and with mamo the way it is, I'm doing a lot of rimfire shooting. Having fun and challenging targets keeps me going day in and day out.
Beyond my own practice, this target has been popular with my kiddos, as well as friends. At our last barbeque, quite a few people flocked to a Ruger 10/22 and the KYL targets and tried their hands at 'clearing; the table, which means hitting every target in the first shot. It's much more challenging than it appears.
Challenging and addictive.
This type of target works best with a rifle like the aforementioned 10/22. However, there is no reason you can't rock and roll with a rimfire handgun. However, you can most certainly expect a bit more challenge with a handgun. It will take a lot of practice to clear the table with a handgun.
Setup
The KYL target comes complete and ready to shoot. Just add the legs and go. It's a portable target stand variant that offers the same level of easy transporting and storage as its bigger brother. It's super easy to set up, take down, and put away. Plus, it's plug-and-play with all the necessary components included.
ShootingTargets7
This is only two of the dozens of targets ShootingTargets7 offers. The KYL 22 is just one of the KYL targets, and a centerfire model exists for those looking to up their limits with an AR. Outside of targets, they make a wide variety of stands, hangers, and more. It's a cornucopia of targetry and delivers an awesome selection of goodies.
I chose my two favorites, but it wasn't easy. Steel targets are a must-have for any home range. They deliver an addictive noise that makes you want to keep shooting and shooting and shooting. The more you shoot, the better you get at it. It's a win-win all around. My advice, get targets that can challenge you, or you'll never grow as a shooter. I found these two challenged me, and I'm better for it.
