Resources What color are your targets

[rich177]

Can't keep my mouth shut on this one! Targets should be painted somewhat natural colors of the animals they represent AND where possible there should be some detail on them( incidently detail helps with ranging). You don't have to be a great artist to do this. It just takes a little more effort. Targets painted all one color or unrealistic colors just shows a lack of effort and zero imagination. Kill zones should be painted day-glow orange or yellow. Please, NO black, brown, or any dark kill zones including bright red (color blind shooters cannot distinguish). Yes kill zones do get shot up but that's part of the game and everyone starts on a different lane so everyone gets a shot at fresh kill zones.
The even more important thing is that targets should be totally visible from the shooting position. Even though not illegal, I think it is very unfair to hide parts of the target even if the KZ is visible.
You can always tell how much effort was put into an FT match by how the targets are painted and cared for.
My opinion, respectfully submitted.
Rick Bassett

 

[beerthief]

try white ink on black paper

I tried ti have international orange ink on white paper , (mail order ) . What i got was black ink on orange paper , 20 bulls per sheet . Phooey! They did refund my money ,so .

 

[cavedweller]

Can't keep my mouth shut on this one! Targets should be painted somewhat natural colors of the animals they represent AND where possible there should be some detail on them( incidently detail helps with ranging). You don't have to be a great artist to do this. It just takes a little more effort. Targets painted all one color or unrealistic colors just shows a lack of effort and zero imagination. Kill zones should be painted day-glow orange or yellow. Please, NO black, brown, or any dark kill zones including bright red (color blind shooters cannot distinguish). Yes kill zones do get shot up but that's part of the game and everyone starts on a different lane so everyone gets a shot at fresh kill zones.
The even more important thing is that targets should be totally visible from the shooting position. Even though not illegal, I think it is very unfair to hide parts of the target even if the KZ is visible.
You can always tell how much effort was put into an FT match by how the targets are painted and cared for.
My opinion, respectfully submitted.
Rick Bassett

Always important to share our thoughts.
However, my input regarding color schemes is from listening and reading and listening to people for a few years now.... while it is cool to paint targets realistically... very few club members have the time or desire to fiddle with it. More paint colors mean more cost. Less paint colors means less cost. Focusing on properly functioning targets to reduce cold lines and save time, is what most shooters appreciate.

As for color blind issues - i agree, paint schemes should avoid the most typical types like Red / Blue.
To read and learn about color blindness follow this link.

Types of Color Blindness - All About Vision

What causes the seven types of color blindness and what can be done to help individuals see colors more effectively?

www.allaboutvision.com

regarding shot up KZ's - just because something has always been done a certain way in the past "tradition" ... doesn't mean that tradition or method can not be improved upon.

Really enjoying the input from everyone.... put your thinking caps on.

 

[davecole]

I have both FFP and SFP $$$ scopes, and a black reticle on a dark brown or dark green or black target with a leaded up KZ does nothing to improve steadiness in a marksman. IMO.
If some day I’m a MD, I’ll figure out how to disguise target mounting methods in such a way as to make bracketing damn near impossible.....Yeah I know…. This threads about paint. Feeling very "salty" after thanksgiving gravy.

My point, Light colors on face-plates with highly contrasting KZ's, definitely helps level the playing field in HFT where the use of additional magnification isn't allowed.

When it’s a cloudy dark day and targets are deep in a woodland lane, even a well contrasted target can be a challenge.
AAFTA does have a rule about hiding or disguising a KZ, but that rule is very subjective in nature.

Whats the end goal here? Attract more people, frustrate less people. just my thoughts. And WFTF (with the big scopes) apparently agrees.

If your end goal is attracting more people, be sure to make it fun. Give them the opportunity to knock down 85-90%, with an easy Troyer. (I.e. 90% mid 20’s and 10% mid 30’s)
When the OKC club started their FT matches, their Troyer was typically in that range. As a result, more shooters came out, particularly new ones, because they had a fair chance of an high score and didn’t require $3K rifles and $2K scopes. And now, they get 20-25 consistently out to shoot.
Your forced positions are going to be the great equalizer's but don’t make those too hard either.
As for color, If I had my choice, I prefer light colored KZ’s and darker colored faceplates.

 

[cavedweller]

If your end goal is attracting more people, be sure to make it fun. Give them the opportunity to knock down 85-90%, with an easy Troyer. (I.e. 90% mid 20’s and 10% mid 30’s)
When the OKC club started their FT matches, their Troyer was typically in that range. As a result, more shooters came out, particularly new ones, because they had a fair chance of an high score and didn’t require $3K rifles and $2K scopes. And now, they get 20-25 consistently out to shoot.
Your forced positions are going to be the great equalizer's but don’t make those too hard either.
As for color, If I had my choice, I prefer light colored KZ’s to dark colored faceplates.

@davecole - your post hits on a very key idea.... grow the sport! and your recommendations make sense and support what i've heard some new shooters fuss about. I am most definately taking these thoughts of yours and adding them to my book of important field target club ideas.

 

[Motorhead]

YES ... that color

 

[woogie_man]

These are great ideas and hints. Would love to start something up here in ND and you guys are helping greatly.

 

[Bramezy]

YES ... that color

View attachment 516787

This is what my local club does and some others ive been to, some are plain colors. I cant see the detail anyway, even on 16x so the detail is a mute point for me but the MDs like to do it so go for it. They ask me all the time did you see the dragon on lane X, uhh what dragon lol. I focus on the KZ and my shot, not what Im shooting at, tunnel vision usually. I do appreciate their efforts though as you can tell they do it out of love for the sport and want all to enjoy all aspects of it. I say go for it, we don't need more damn rules!!! Let people paint however they want and enjoy the sport for what it is. If they want rules for world wide events, then fine. Beyond that, police yourselves.

 

[Motorhead]

This is what my local club does and some others ive been to, some are plain colors. I cant see the detail anyway, even on 16x so the detail is a mute point for me but the MDs like to do it so go for it. They ask me all the time did you see the dragon on lane X, uhh what dragon lol. I focus on the KZ and my shot, not what Im shooting at, tunnel vision usually. I do appreciate their efforts though as you can tell they do it out of love for the sport and want all to enjoy all aspects of it. I say go for it, we don't need more damn rules!!! Let people paint however they want and enjoy the sport for what it is. If they want rules for world wide events, then fine. Beyond that, police yourselves.

We started the crazy paint jobs while HUNTER was still at 12x ( Pre 2018 ) which helped to create some texture/contrast to help range focus etc ...
Until this last 2024 season the wild painting continued, where we now have a paint party post match and there IMO becoming quite boring with solid and featureless detail

 

[Cloud9AG]

I’m not saying that realistic paint and color schemes aren’t cool, they are. But dark brown, dark green, black colors in dark woodland lanes, slow down acquisition ? and after several shots hit a small KZ, it is indeed difficult to apply holdovers. Now if the 16X would be lifted…:: meh.

I think the rule works well enough as written. Hunter class shooters regularly shoot very high scores even at 16x and with natural or dark targets within the 5 minute time limit. Seems like you’re trying to solve a problem that doesn’t need solving

 

[Cloud9AG]

Like these
View attachment 516616

I have both FFP and SFP $$$ scopes, and a black reticle on a dark brown or dark green or black target with a leaded up KZ does nothing to improve steadiness in a marksman. IMO.
If some day I’m a MD, I’ll figure out how to disguise target mounting methods in such a way as to make bracketing damn near impossible.....Yeah I know…. This threads about paint. Feeling very "salty" after thanksgiving gravy.

My point, Light colors on face-plates with highly contrasting KZ's, definitely helps level the playing field in HFT where the use of additional magnification isn't allowed.

When it’s a cloudy dark day and targets are deep in a woodland lane, even a well contrasted target can be a challenge.
AAFTA does have a rule about hiding or disguising a KZ, but that rule is very subjective in nature.

Whats the end goal here? Attract more people, frustrate less people. just my thoughts. And WFTF (with the big scopes) apparently agrees.

Taking away someone’s ability to bracket isn’t that hard. Just disguise the mounting block with some brush, use different target companies so the targets aren’t all the same, and perhaps use a target with a KZ larger than 1.5”. I don’t consider this fair play as an MD, so I don’t intentionally do this, but I do choose target placement that isn’t just put in the open.

Also, what playing field are you trying to level? The classes already do that and you’re never competing outside your class.

 

[JW.]

You can always tell how much effort was put into an FT match by how the targets are painted and cared for.

Maybe, to nope... Depends on where the course is and how much work it is to simply set the course. Setting up a GP is a lot of work, essentially three courses of fire, lots of targets (50 to 75) and then there is all that work apart from painting and setting out targets. Wide open flat field, yeah, you should have plenty of time to paint stuff up nice and pretty. Hills, trees, not flat, not open, much more to do than paint things up nice and pretty.


I have a beautiful solid blue target on my desk here, by the 'looks' it would be a not so much effort put into the course. Well its a Worlds target, custom made for one event, stainless steel, a solid color and they didn't even sand it between coats... LOL

 

[cavedweller]

Taking away someone’s ability to bracket isn’t that hard. Just disguise the mounting block with some brush, use different target companies so the targets aren’t all the same, and perhaps use a target with a KZ larger than 1.5”. I don’t consider this fair play as an MD, so I don’t intentionally do this, but I do choose target placement that isn’t just put in the open.

Also, what playing field are you trying to level? The classes already do that and you’re never competing outside your class.

The bracketing comment was a dig of sorts and purely in jest as I can’t hold still long enough to do it.
But faceplate color comments are an easy test
Run a match with all white faceplates and all black KZ’s and observe overall match scores

 

[Gear_Junkie]

I enlisted my kids to help paint my targets knowing that they would do a much better job than I could.

I got sick and tired of dealing with strings, with the dogs, raccoons, bears, etc. dragging them around or getting tangled in them, so I converted all my targets to bell targets. They don't ring nearly as well as Motorhead's bell targets, but a hit vs. a miss is distinguishable.

 

[Garrettkq]

We transitioned from cool animal-looking artwork on faceplates to bright, obnoxious colors for a reason. First, it helps the flow of larger matches by decreasing the acquisition time (which compounds significantly over a long match). Second, it allows for easier differentiation between targets when they are all different. Third, FT is not about not seeing where you are supposed to shoot.
We have found that, with the help of a teenage daughter, being allowed to choose the most obnoxious colors in the paint aisle significantly correlates to a better shooting experience for most. Bright and bold. I personally don't agree with drab, black, or grey colors, as they are just that—boring. Furthermore, we paint the back of our targets with a "mirror" or "chrome" color to allow the KZ to pop that much more. 100% recommend.

Hmmm, it's interesting how the World-rules standardized colors. perhaps for the same reasons, lol!

I always thought that the targets pictured above in the dark "lead traps" didn't contribute well to enhancing visibility. I remembered seeing those a while back and thought, "I wonder how thick clear plexiglass boxes around targets could potentially be better?"

 

[cavedweller]

I think the rule works well enough as written. Hunter class shooters regularly shoot very high scores even at 16x and with natural or dark targets within the 5 minute time limit. Seems like you’re trying to solve a problem that doesn’t need solving

An interesting and doable "objective test"

Set 20 targets out (2 per lane) 10 lanes = same distance and same kz's BUT one target having a dark face plate / one target having a light face plate both will have contrasting KZ's. Run the match and at the end tally the misses and see if the darkly painted face plates had more misses.

This could be a fun test and quite revealing... esp if a number of clubs gave it a try.

I am going to give this a try at the home range... i'll set the targets at 30 to 55 yards with AAFTA approved KZ sizing for the distances. I only have 5 shooters to try it out on but that's still a good indicator.

If you are right Jeff, we should see no difference in KZ's scored between dark / light targets.

 

[cavedweller]

I enlisted my kids to help paint my targets knowing that they would do a much better job than I could.

View attachment 518401

I got sick and tired of dealing with strings, with the dogs, raccoons, bears, etc. dragging them around or getting tangled in them, so I converted all my targets to bell targets. They don't ring nearly as well as Motorhead's bell targets, but a hit vs. a miss is distinguishable.

View attachment 518405

i love it, but my suburban neighbors wouldn't. I could claim i was entertaining some dingbats.

 

[cavedweller]

Same Kz size color test soon to be in play

 

[beerthief]

Always important to share our thoughts.
However, my input regarding color schemes is from listening and reading and listening to people for a few years now.... while it is cool to paint targets realistically... very few club members have the time or desire to fiddle with it. More paint colors mean more cost. Less paint colors means less cost. Focusing on properly functioning targets to reduce cold lines and save time, is what most shooters appreciate.

As for color blind issues - i agree, paint schemes should avoid the most typical types like Red / Blue.
To read and learn about color blindness follow this link.

Types of Color Blindness - All About Vision

What causes the seven types of color blindness and what can be done to help individuals see colors more effectively?

www.allaboutvision.com

regarding shot up KZ's - just because something has always been done a certain way in the past "tradition" ... doesn't mean that tradition or method can not be improved upon.

Really enjoying the input from everyone.... put your thinking caps on.

I am currently messing with Fluorescent KZ paint , light green/yellow . To be fair i only shoot benchrest and very small KZ (bulls ) but i cannot see the black dot with a Diopter sight . Last night i finished painting a paper target . (today is Nashville TN for shopping , maybe back home in time to test ? )

 

[Cloud9AG]

An interesting and doable "objective test"

Set 20 targets out (2 per lane) 10 lanes = same distance and same kz's BUT one target having a dark face plate / one target having a light face plate both will have contrasting KZ's. Run the match and at the end tally the misses and see if the darkly painted face plates had more misses.

This could be a fun test and quite revealing... esp if a number of clubs gave it a try.

I am going to give this a try at the home range... i'll set the targets at 30 to 55 yards with AAFTA approved KZ sizing for the distances. I only have 5 shooters to try it out on but that's still a good indicator.

If you are right Jeff, we should see no difference in KZ's scored between dark / light targets.

Rudy, I didn't say dark or naturally painted targets would not make a difference in the ability to hit them. I said that Hunter class shooters seem to achieve very high hit percentages with targets painted naturally or not, so I don't think anything needs to be done.