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Dogman
15th December 2011, 11:37 AM
http://www.americanrifleman.org/Webcontent/images/2011-12/2011126143952-bouncingtargets_m.jpg

Handgunners in search of a new target for informal plinking and impromptu competitions need to take a look at a new device I recently found. Made by a company called Do-All Outdoors (http://www.do-alltraps.com/), this new target is known as a bouncing ground target.
It comes in four variations—ribbed ball, cube, top hat and solid ball—each of which is made of bright orange plastic. The material is said to heal behind a bullet's path and my two samples do seem to be holding up pretty well. The idea is to throw the target well forward of the firing line, then shoot the target in an effort to make it bounce. Since the surfaces are irregular, it's hard to predict what trajectory the target will take when hit. It seems to be almost impossible to drive one straight back. I tried.

This idea of a reactive target that hops, skips and jumps around presents a great many possibilities for shooting fun. How about setting the target at 20 yards and timing how long it takes to drive it to the 50 yard line? Or put out a pair for two shooters, who then race to the finish line. If you bounce your target up in the air and hit it again before it touches the ground, you get bonus points. The possibilities are seemingly endless.

The maker's website claims that the targets will take up to a thousand hits. Mine have nowhere near that total, but seem to be holding up very well. Naturally, the longevity of the target depends on the caliber. Big magnums beat up the plastic more than .22 shorts. Also, you are shooting at a target on the ground. If the ground is hard, you are going to get ricochets. Be very careful that you are not bouncing bullets out of the range. As always, you are responsible for everything that happens when you press that trigger.


http://www.americanrifleman.org/blogs/bouncing-targets/

osoab
15th December 2011, 11:43 AM
They don't work with 22s

Dogman
15th December 2011, 11:58 AM
They don't work with 22s I can sorta see why, but with larger calibers they may be fun?

osoab
15th December 2011, 05:42 PM
I can sorta see why, but with larger calibers they may be fun?

I bought the ball. I only had the 22 out and didn't fell like getting anything else.

I think the 22 at 20 yards might have moved the ball 2 inches.

Larger calibers would be fun I am thinking.

EE_
15th December 2011, 05:53 PM
I think they would be a lot of fun...for my dogs.

chad
17th December 2011, 09:54 AM
shooting in the air so rounds go over the berm stop, that sounds like a great idea.

gunDriller
19th December 2011, 09:36 AM
shooting in the air so rounds go over the berm stop, that sounds like a great idea.

that's always my concern when people are out shooting. if they aren't firing into a hillside or a BIG tree, the bullet just keeps going and going.

when i was a teenager, my brother sent a .22 or a BB through a neighbor's living room window - an act of carelessness. my Dad should have given him a more thorough training.

and, occasionally, that bullet does hit a human target. there are occasional news stories about this, and it's often part of the plot in TV cop shows. in Sonoma County about 3 years ago, a stray bullet killed one of my distant neighbors, about a mile away - and it wasn't even that "bad" of an area.

Dogman
19th December 2011, 10:09 AM
that's always my concern when people are out shooting. if they aren't firing into a hillside or a BIG tree, the bullet just keeps going and going.

when i was a teenager, my brother sent a .22 or a BB through a neighbor's living room window - an act of carelessness. my Dad should have given him a more thorough training.

and, occasionally, that bullet does hit a human target. there are occasional news stories about this, and it's often part of the plot in TV cop shows. in Sonoma County about 3 years ago, a stray bullet killed one of my distant neighbors, about a mile away - and it wasn't even that "bad" of an area.

The safety of knowing where your rounds go and end up is one of the planks of safe shooting. I can see using these targets and others when shooting while in the air only when you KNOW and can see what is down range. Each caliber and load has a max in flight range plus maybe adding a few skips off the ground.

It all boils down to being aware of the surroundings you shooting at. to the sides and down range. Using airborne targets just takes some forethought but not all areas are suitable for their safe use.

Just a thought.