How do you keep it fun?

[3RDGEARGRNDRR]

teach kids, that makes it really fun .
you know how to teach an antigunner to understand the reasoning behind guns?
You bring their spousess and kids out to a field and teach them to shoot.

[Fly5150]

Apple off the head? I like the golf ball suggestion

[mosinnagantm9130]

I like to shoot a clay bird, then shoot all the decent size fragments of the clay bird. Makes for a decent challenge

[tpuig]

Once in a while you need to blow things up. Like melons, oranges, water balloons, frozen water bottles, etc. Los Altos is a great place relatively close to SJ...

If you're stuck with paper targets, tape small envelopes/balloons filled with baby powder or flour to the back of the target.

Los Altos rod and gun club has a tin can range...

[lorax3]

Have you shot an IDPA or USPSA match? If not, find a local club and try it out. It might just be paper, but many matches contain steel plates and it's a ton of fun.

[Z.1]

If groups are boring, but you're stuck with paper, try printing out different targets - 1 shot each at 20 small bullseyes on a piece of printer paper or tiny hostage targets can make for quite a challenge.

If you can get out to a range that allows (or BLM or private property): cans, steel plates, clays, golf balls, shotgun shells, etc. really bring a different fun element

[busta00]

i just buy a new gun and good with it.
Like trading in the wife for an upgrade.

[dragon7]

Competition always gets my juices going. Bring a friend and shoot against each other. Bring a timer and a friend. Set a challenging time. Make side bets (not necessarily for money). That really makes for a great time.

Make challenging targets. When and where I can shoot at them I'll make aspirin or antacid pill targets. Glue a dozen to a piece of cardboard. Fun when you blow one up, makes a nice dust cloud (this is my kids favorite targets). Again set a time limit to blow up all twelve pills, lots of fun. We also use playing cards and shoot at the suit symbols in the corners.

My favorite way to burn up .22 ammo is metal silhouette targets. I love the instant feed back and sound when you knock one over.

Have fun and share your sport. Many gun haters are turned into gun lovers shooting a .22.

[Jet Setter]

I went form precision shooting not clay/skeet and will be doing DMG/3 gun very soon. I am really enjoying it. Beats a static target.

[dc.fireman]

Shoot NRA Prone, instead of off of a bench (if you are shooting from a bench). Use the standard A23/5, and A27 targets for 50 yards, and the A25 and A33 for 100 yds.

You probably already own most of the equipment:

- a rifle
- a sling
- some kind of mat to shoot from
- a glove to protect your sling hand.

How deeply you get into it, will depend on how challenged you feel by your initial outing. Keep a shot record, of every shot you fire, and the ammo used, equipment changes, etc. When you're consistently shooting 185 + per target, go compete, and obtain your NRA rating!

There is nothing I've found to be as satisfying, as competing against my last 'best' score...

Plus - you Californians have the benefit of being fairly close to one of the best target manufacturers in the business - Alco Target in Duarte, CA.

-tc

[covingtonhouse]

EMPTY steel oxygen tank at 300 yard plus with the valve removed and placed over a foundation stake. We do this at BLM Panoche when we go. Pretty much a high power thing, but it makes a satisfying sound when hit. and .223 + will go through it with no ricochet hazard. For rimfire I have a couple of steel spinner targets from Big 5, and some smaller varmint targets. Empty honey bear containers filled with red kool aid are fun too. The yellow caps pop off and you get some pink mist when hit with .22 HPs. Clay pigeons at varying distances for some realistic small game practice are good too. If you have a tack driver, there are some small breakable targets for airguns that are fun. I have a thing for shooting flies that land on my target on warm days with my target .22lr.

[e_tar]

GOLF BALLS or PING PONG Balls in an open field, preferably a friends farm...

Go to ebay, they sell 'batches' of used golf balls, buy about a set of 100balls.

Now if you have a buddy with you make it more interesting by painting a couple of them different colors.. these will be worth 5 points each if hit. The plain white ones are worth 1 point each.. Throw them in an open field with distances from 50-75 yards. Get the idea?
You can do the same thing with ping pong balls!! they are cheaper and they fly apart when you hit them with a 22lr
Plus ping pong balls move around with the wind a little because they are light..

Lots of fun..

[defcon]

i doubt we can shoot these golf balls at Oak Tree or Angeles? anyone know where we can shoot these in LA county?

[e_tar]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/200-Hit-Away-Used-Shag-Range-Balls-FREE-SHIPPING-/221223939150?pt=US_Golf_Balls&hash=item3381f96c4e

[veejay]

thrift store... old books, hardcover dictionary, old pots and pans, aluminum trash cans