Target Paper

[alfsauve]

This'll be a strange one.

I noticed the other day, NSSF was touting the PDF targets on their web site so you can print your own.   There are, I know, a number of web sites with targets.    But here's the rub.    I don't like shooting plain bond paper as targets.  It tears and it's far too white.   I know just enough about paper to be dangerous.   What we normally use is 20# bond with a brightness in the 90-92 range.  What I'd really like is something rougher (more rag?) and tan, just like the targets you buy.    Newsprint, I have and is too thin and light.   Poster board and card stock too expensive.   

So where can I get "target paper"?

Now there are some caveats, of course.

• Would prefer two sizes, 8-1/2 x 11 and 11x14 (or thereabouts)
• Could cut my own if it came on a roll
• Would love the price to work out in the 1-2 cents/target areal

Anybody got suggestions?  Paper, right now, appears to be at a cyclical low cost so this might be a good time to stock up, if I can find what I want.  (20# 90bright bond for printers is $23/5,000 on sale.)

[1Buckshot]

Just go to Staples or any other office supply store. I buy different weights and colors of paper for target posters,etc..
Hope this helps. Good shooting

[Timothy]

Cheap, 20 lb resume paper comes in a variety of colors and is relatively close to plain printer paper in cost at the big box stores.

I used a heavier bond last year for mine.  The didn't sway in the wind as much outdoors and they could be found at the local discount department store giants.

[alfsauve]

Okay, I may have found it.   "Kraft paper rolls"

Right now Staples has 30# 24" wide 1,200' rolls for $46.  Cut into 12x12" that's 2 cents a target.

Now if the consistency is what I want for shooting.   

[MikeBjerum]

Alf,

Do you know what the target printers use?  It sounds like you are on the right track, but is it by chance or based on target companies?  Like you I've been trying to find a good paper.  I don't see that I'll save a ton of money with paper and printing costs, but I'd love to make up my own variety of targets.  The problem with "regular" paper is that because of its strength it tears "tear drops" rather than punching holes.

[Sponsor]

[Big Frank]

Target paper is specially made with extra-short fibers to give you clean holes. I never heard of another paper that makes a good substitute. Maybe you've found it. Keep us posted Alf.

[alfsauve]

I don't see that I'll save a ton of money with paper and printing costs, but I'd love to make up my own variety of targets.

For "bullseye" stuff, I don't mind buying the appropriate target.   For IHMSA, I have cutouts and can spray paint the targets on the paper.

But the bulk of what I'm doing is "action" shooting, and I've gotten to the point that I just need the paper.  No printing.    I've used D-2s which are nice, but it just an added expense (0.09ea) to have a "printed" target when what I really am looking for is grouping in center of mass.

I don't think Kraft paper (which I've used for "craft" purposes) is going to work, but will tear drop or tear like regular bond.

[david86440]

What I use for targets is called C1S 8 point and 10 point paper. The 10 pt is the heaviest I can feed through my printer without having feed issues. The 8 pt is slightly thinner put works equally well.  It is coated on one side so it appears glossy.

It's a poster board or card stock material and holds up really well for targets.

C1S
08 pt. C1S   .239 thickness
09 pt. C1S   .261
10 pt. C1S   .273
12 pt. C1S   .308

[Tyler Durden]

Holy She-ite!

That paper is over a quarter inch thick!

 

That must take some heavy duty printer.

 

[Tyler Durden]

Sorry, but I think you left out a zero just to the right of the decimal point, unless of course that is in the metric system.

I use cardstock paper from the office supply aisle at Wally World.  It actually comes in one thick pack that is an assortment of day glow colors.  Then over by the hardware and paint aisles there is a rack of different types of duck (duct?) tape.  They also have day glow green and day glow orange duck tape.

That is what I use for my aiming points.

I don't even bother printing anything out on them.

In the past, I have used the Birchwood Casey day glow orange stickey dots which you can find in the ammo aisle.

I like the cardstock from wally world because it is a suitable heavy paper that also three hole punches rather well.  Since I reload, I whave all these sheets...forms really...that I write my reloading info on.  Three hole punch that.  Shoot about 20 rounds over the chrono.  Then shoot a target or two for groups.  That is 3 hole punched and placed together insinde my 3 ring binder.