Custom targets

New to the market comes Custom Targets, a really neat option, that doesn’t cost a fortune, yet offers a variety of challenges. The manufacturers are shooters themselves, and the story goes that they grew tired of paper targets, and didn’t want to pay for reactives. With their own graphics business, equipped with laser technology and metal and wood engineering systems, it seemed a logical next step to design their own!

Environmentally sound

For those who worry about the environment, these targets also come up trumps and are lasercut using 3mm hardboard, which the makers found to be the best material, not plywood, which is prone to shattering when shot. The designs see small kill zones to be shot out, and come in a variety of animal shapes, as well as some extra fun layouts. They are biodegradable, but with half the fun, shooting away the remainder of the target surrounds, there’s little waste left at the end!

Most are priced at a very reasonable £1.99, unless they have over 50 shoot-away zones, then they cost £2.50. The ‘Critter Tree’ is an exception- at £2.50 with 33 larger zones. The ‘Fairground Shoots’ have proved very popular, with 142 shootaway zones (rabbit and duck versions at present) and retail for £3.99. On each target, the smallest circular zones can be shot out with a perfectly placed shot, but at just over 4mm, they are a real test of skill. I set the Fairground target up at 35-yards, and with my competition rig from a rest, the ducks (roughly 18mm x 8mm body) are fairly straight forward. As for the small kills, it reminded me that I wasn’t as good as I thought I was. These would make a great challenge, whether standing at 10-yards, or a speed shoot rested at the same range. Basically, you decide, and the overall versatility is terrific. Consider the number of shots to be taken, and they’re great value too. They are as hard as you want to be- just vary the range, and take up the challenge!

Wide range

The current range stands at 25 individual targets, but there are apparently many more in the pipeline! Custom Targets designed these targets originally for bored garden shooters, shooting at 10-15 yards, but they now have regular customers using rim fire at 45-yards too. They also make 6mm steel stands for £6.99, with wing-nut fixing for quick replacements, although the fairly soft material makes self-fixing to a post pretty easy.

Their advertising states ‘Fun Targets With Accuracy In Mind’, and having spent some time now, blasting away at them on my range with a couple of friends, I reckon that sums them up nicely! Custom Targets are available as singles, or in variety multi-packs of 6, 15 or 21, whilst a 10% discount is also available for a purchase of six of the same type, supplied with or without a steel target holder. All the sizes, and number of zones are listed on the website, and are available from their online store, as well as a shop front in Yeovil.