Free target for NRA Pistol Marksmanship Program

[BigFatGuy]

The NRA/Winchester marksmanship program, at the lower pistol levels they call for the use of a 9" paper plate, with the requirement being to hit the plate more than 1.5" away from the rim of the plate.

That's too much thinking. So, I took my calculator and a couple of hours time, and figured out that this amounted to a 6" circular target.

So, since paper plates don't lie flat on a target hanger, and printers are everywhere, I laid out a 6" circular target on an 8.5"x11" pdf file.

Help yourself, distribute as needed, use as you see fit. Hopefully this will help someone get started on the marksmanship program, and if you are the type who likes to keep lots of records there is a place to keep shooter's and witness' names.

To print in the proper size, set your software to not scale the printout. You should also set your printer to its minimum margins. The white circle should be exactly 6" diameter when printed.

Download here.

[Cactus_Tim]

Keep in mind, printer paper is not flame retardant.
My local indoor ranges won't allow you to bring printed targets.
Should be okay for outdoor ranges.

[BanjoGunner]

According to my guide, the paper plates (or your target) should be shot at 15 yards.

From the NRA Training Counselor Guide 3rd Edition:

Candidate will shoot any gun of their choice, regardless of action, sights or caliber, at a
blank 9 inch diameter paper target at a distance of 15 yards

...and 80% is the minimum pass rate

+++++++++++++++++++
ETA:

Okay, my mistake, I was looking at the marksmanship requirements for the NRA Pistol Instructors course. And I even have the qualbook linked below by AAShooter..., Doh!

[AAShooter]

Here is the document for the program . . .

http://mqp.nra.org/documents/pdf/education/training/marksmanship/qualbook.pdf

[AAShooter]

Great target. I would suggest replacing the black ring with a shaded area. That would use a lot less ink to print. Print cartridges are pricey.

[diverwcw]

Very nice, simple, utilitarian and uncomplicated. Just as it should be for new shooters. I'm taking my daughter in law shooting in the future and will use this target. Thank you.

[rsmorgan]

In my experience, goblins don't have circles painted on their chest...

If you are using a handgun for self defense, the fundamental idea is to put shots into the thoracic cavity of an attacker with the goal of inducing a collapse of blood pressure leading to the termination of the attack.

There is no need for any kind of printed target except for "bullseye" type target shooting. A simple piece of 8.5" by 11" paper does a pretty good job of duplicating the "paydirt" of the thoracic cavity.

[AAShooter]

In my experience, goblins don't have circles painted on their chest...

If you are using a handgun for self defense, the fundamental idea is to put shots into the thoracic cavity of an attacker with the goal of inducing a collapse of blood pressure leading to the termination of the attack.

There is no need for any kind of printed target except for "bullseye" type target shooting. A simple piece of 8.5" by 11" paper does a pretty good job of duplicating the "paydirt" of the thoracic cavity.

The target is designed to support the NRA/Winchester marksmanship program.

[BigFatGuy]

Keep in mind, printer paper is not flame retardant.
My local indoor ranges won't allow you to bring printed targets.
Should be okay for outdoor ranges.

Newsprint and cardboard aren't flame retardant either. Your indoor range is doing something I would call suspiciously close to ripping you off.

In my experience, goblins don't have circles painted on their chest...
.

Really? If we're going to be self-defense-guy shouldn't we point out that bad guys don't stand in a straight line directly in front of you at a measured range hanging from a motorized string?

[AAShooter]

. . . point out that bad guys don't stand in a straight line directly in front of you at a measured range hanging from a motorized string?

What!?

[BigFatGuy]

What!?

I was pointing out the silliness of complaining that bad guys don't have circles on their chests when the very act of being at a range is not what happens with bad guys.

Also, AAShooter made the excellent suggestion to make it more ink-friendly. I've done so, the target is now a gray ring of a slightly smaller size. The white target section inside the black ring is still 6" diameter

Download the ink-friendly version here

[AAShooter]

I was pointing out the silliness of complaining that bad guys don't have circles on their chests when the very act of being at a range is not what happens with bad guys.

Also, AAShooter made the excellent suggestion to make it more ink-friendly. I've done so, the target is now a gray ring of a slightly smaller size. The white target section inside the black ring is still 6" diameter

Download the ink-friendly version here

Awesome. Thanks.

[G-forceJunkie]

Nice. I might suggest make a version with the center circle all black. I've found when training new shooters ( I am an NRA pistol instructor) that having a more defined aiming point helps. They shoot better when I give them a 2" circle target than a 8" circle target.

[fonzy]

Cool Thank you for posting.

[Packy14]

you don't have to have "flame retardant" paper for the range. I prefer shooting tennis balls personally, I like the moving target and acquisition skills it builds, but that's because my paper groups are 1-2 inch consistently, so it gets boring.