Bullseye Target Camera

I was able to try the Bullseye at Mirfield Rifle Ranges where a loaned unit is on trial for possible full scale adoption. The system stows in a sturdy toolbox container that includes the camera with tripod, rechargeable batteries, a router and a wireless network antenna.

Setting up is a 5 minute job, the camera and tripod is positioned at 4-8 feet away from the target offset at a safe angle between 30° and 45° from the line of fire. A laser pointer incorporated into the camera allows it to be aimed directly into the target’s centre and a zoom facility within the software allows a specific `window of interest` to be monitored. USB - type plugs connect the electronics which can remain in the carrying case out of the weather. Placed a safe distance back from the camera, the Wi-Fi antenna conveys all data back to the receiving unit (laptop) and once the green lights all illuminate, you are ready to go!

LAPTOP

Any Windows-equipped Wi-Fi computer can be paired with the Bullseye; Android and Apple iOS compatible software is also in development for tablets, iPads and phones. Supplied software is installed to run the program and range of the system is advertised as 1000 yards with batteries rated to last from 4-6 hours, both very likely to depend on atmospheric conditions.

In use the fact that no specific target media is required is a definite bonus as international and regular acquisition of a specific one would be a nightmare. Anything printed or hand drawn will work on most backings. When the Bullseye software is running, various parameters are input to discern different users and locations. In various modes of operation, the system can be used to flash up the impact point of each bullet with different colours of `spotter` disc assigned to each shooter. The system will log all groups and sessions allowing a post shoot de-brief or on-going analysis, all without the need to walk back and forth or employ fellow shooters or paid target markers.

The downsides seems to be that just like the naked eye whether unaided or optically boosted with a riflescope, binos or spotting scope, target colouration/contrast can be key. Small bullet holes in a black zone or even a line marker can be lost by the all seeing eye so once performance becomes well established, I expect `known’ target colours to hold favour. At 100 yards, the tiny 4.5mm bullet holes left by the 17 Hornet did occasionally fail to register but .22 and above was a 99% success rate even in the black if well illuminated. At long range, a bad windage call could easily mean a bullet hitting the camera as it is quite close but still significantly cheaper than many other systems, siting it low pointing upwards to the target seems sensible preferably behind the mantlet on a gallery range.