Birchwood Casey Gallery .22 Targets Review: Built for Rimfire

The Gallery and Expert targets from Birchwood Casey may look similar to the commonly seen airgun targets, but they’re made with a key difference: thicker, harder steel and reinforced frames, making them suitable for use with .22 rimfire rifles. Although I’ve used these with my .22LR, I primarily wanted them for testing the ever-growing fleet of FAC-rated airguns I’ve been reviewing recently.

Why Are These Targets Good for FAC Airguns?

Whereas the .22LR, generating around 100ft/lbs of muzzle energy, is more than capable of handling the smaller centrefire-rated steel targets I already own, those tend to be heavier and bulkier. These Birchwood Casey targets are smaller, lighter, and much more portable, thanks to an integral frame.

FAC airguns used to generate between 20 and 40ft/lbs, making them suitable for serious pest control, but it’s now increasingly common to see high-powered, larger calibre pre-charged pneumatics producing 60 to 100ft/lbs of energy, with muzzle velocities between 900 and 1,000fps. As such, the Gallery targets from Birchwood Casey have been ideal.

How Do the Resetting Targets Work?

The larger Gallery .22 target has four lower gongs measuring 2.5” (64mm) that swing freely when hit, flipping up to rest on a horizontal bar beneath the upper gong. Once all four are hit and latched against that top bar, you shoot the fifth, upper target to reset them. It knocks the lower gongs loose, so they drop back down vertically.

The all-steel framework is foldable for easy storage and transportation. Birchwood Casey applies its signature orange target dots to the gongs, but as these are obviously sacrificial, you can either replace them or simply respray after each session.

What’s the Difference Between the Gallery and Expert Models?

The smaller Expert target works in the same way but features 1.75” (45mm) gongs that are slightly thicker at 9.5mm, compared to the 4.5mm gongs on the Gallery model. Both targets share the same 11.1mm steel bar frame construction with a thick powder coat, and the forward legs slide along the vertical frame, allowing you to angle the unit towards the shooter as needed.

Both are rated for use with standard velocity .22LR ammunition, and it’s reasonable to assume the Expert’s thicker steel and added leg braces/pins are intended to withstand closer-range impacts, where projectile energy is still relatively high, while the lighter gongs on the Gallery model are optimised to spin freely at longer ranges.

What Are the Safety Requirements?

Instructions and safety warnings are included: do not use anything more powerful than .22LR, including higher-energy rounds like .22WMR or .17HMR. Avoid using BBs, and always shoot from a minimum of 25 yards, wearing appropriate ear and eye protection.

I tested both targets at 50m to properly put the steel to the test under maximum energy delivery, and they both held up perfectly. Birchwood Casey advises that the steel may mark or bow slightly over time, but both targets can be completely reversed to extend their usable life.

Although airguns are not mentioned, the targets appear to be compatible if due diligence is applied. I would, as always, ensure a suitable backstop is in place to capture all projectiles. While a struck gong will deflect the projectile downwards, any miss that strikes the frame or edge of the target can still result in a ricochet, so all standard safety precautions must be followed.

Technical Specifications

 
• Name: Birchwood Casey Gallery and Gallery Expert .22 targets
 
• Suitability: .22LR (standard velocity), FAC-rated airguns
 
• Gallery Model:
         
  • Gong Size: 2.5” (64mm)
         
  • Gong Thickness: 4.5mm
       

• Expert Model:
  

         
  • Gong Size: 1.75” (45mm)
         
  • Gong Thickness: 9.5mm
       
• Frame Construction: 11.1mm steel bar
• Safety Minimum Distance: 25 yards
• Price: £46.80 each
• Contact: Hannam’s Reloading - www.hannamsreloading.co.uk