GUNS Magazine October 1960 - Jeffersonian

shooting is done from bench rest. Then we concentrate ongetting ourselves ready.There are several excellent targets which give us the"feel" of game shooting. Most of our favorite deercountry is brushy, with a lot of jump shooting. So ourpractice targets have been tailored to meet this sort offield shooting.One of our favorite targets is the full size running deer,lithographed in full color. This is taped to a heavy cardboardbacking nailed to a light lumber frame. A pair ofsmall pulleys are attached to the top of the frame andPop-up target can be jerked upright by string, combinesunknown distance shooting with an element of surprise.mounted to run on a length of heavy wire.In use, we stretch about 75 feet of wire between a coupleof pinon pine trees across a brush-lined arroyo. The wire isset with one end higher than the other so that the targetwill slide down the wire when released. Varying the angleof the wire varies the speed of the target. Actually, thisset-up is in an area very similar to our hunting territory.The target scoots down the wire through the brush, flashingacross the openings just like a scared muley busting fromhis bed.When using this target, the shooter walks in the generaldirection, rifle carried in normal hunting position, with thesafety on. At the discretion of the target operator, thesilhouette is released. The shooter has about three to fiveseconds to slip off the safety, get into shooting position,and snap off his shot. Only hits in vital areas count. Andwhen the rifleman gets to the point where he can keep all ofhis shots in that area from varying distances, he needn'tworry about busting his buck.Another version of this same target we use to good advantageis the "pop-up" type. Here the target frame ishinged to a plank. The outfit is then set out in the brushwith a long cord attached to the frame so that the targetcan be snapped upright.Here again the shooter walks in the direction of thetarget. The silhouette is raised at the discretion of theoperator, and the rifleman is given about 3 to 5 seconds toget off his shot. The best practice is to pull up the targetwhen the shooter is off balance or has his "off-side" footplanted. Or snap it upright when he has to move aroundsome brush to get a clear shot. But vary the time and thecircumstances to get the best results.Ever try to hit an old buck that has just busted from hisbed? A good bouncing target to simulate this situation isan old bicycle or auto tire. Fill the open space with apiece of plywood or stiff cardboard. Paint a black bullabout 6" or 8" in diameter on it. Now roll the tire straightaway, or quartering towards or away from the shooter, orat right angles to him, or directly at him (released remotely,of course). The idea here is to get your shots eitherinto the black bull or into the tire as it bounces along.Everyone likes to see a target shatter or burst. Toyballoons, the I-cent kind, make excellent targets of thistype. Blow them up to various diameters, and turn themloose on a breezy day. The resulting targets, skippingacross a field, will give you some of best moving targetpractice there is. Or blow up some of these balloons tomaybe 5"-6", then hang several from the target frame~onstrings. Back off to 100 yards and try bustin' them offhand.Just about the time the sights are (Continued on page 37)Rolling, bounding tire carcass as it careens down· hill isclose simulation of a frantic deer's flight to safety. Ifyou can't hit this at hunting ranges, don't hunt yet.20 GUNS OCTOBER 1960