You can also expect the best in exotic game hunting. What an experience getting to stalk such amazing animals. My wife Liz and I attended the ranch this last October. We had such a blast and were blown away in every aspect! Do not wait to contact Champion Ranch for their all inclusive, five star Long Range Shooting & Reloading School or a hunt of a lifetime.
Chris Sankey
]]>Skill building is a big advantage of using steel targets. The instant feedback on shot placement along with reactive targets such as our AR500 Texas Star is phenomenal in gaining confidence in speed and transition shooting. Recently we outfitted Fort Carson Colorado, the 10th Special Forces Group, with two of our AR500 Texas Star targets; they then sent them to Armed Forces Europe to continue skill training.
Other agencies using our targets include Ottawa Kansas PD, Whatcom County Sheriffs, Orrville Ohio PD, Blaine Washington PD, US Customs and Border Agents just to name a few. We believe in building the safest and most durable steel targets on the market today and that is why many Military and Law Enforcement agencies choose to use Blue Steel Targets for all their training purposes.]]>Customer Question: Your targets use hardware to attach to the backing plates, where others weld the plates straight to the targets. Other manufacturers claim this method is superior due to the removal of anything on the front of the target that may cause ricochet. What would Blue Steel's response be to the use of fasteners instead of welding?
BEST Response: There is very little concern of any ricochet from mounting hardware as they account for very little of the targets surface area! In research, it is much SAFER and more practical to mount your AR500 target NOT weld them especially in high strike zone areas. The reason is simple, by welding to the back of the target you heat up the AR500 steel, the heat then weakens the target plate leaving you with a target that will be a lot more likely to be affected by bullet strike and it will divot which makes bullet deflection erratic. Another good reason we bolt our targets is for longevity, you can reverse the target plate at any time and utilize both sides!
]]>In this sanctioned competition match, there are eight standard stages:
Each stage consists of five steel targets, and shooters are required to hit each one. Competitors shoot each string of five as fast as they can, and are judged solely by the time it takes them to hit all five. Shooters do each stage five times in a row, and the slowest run in each string is thrown out.
The steel targets range in size from 8”, 10", and 12" circles to 18" x 24” rectangles. There’s no doubt when a shooter scores a hit, because you can hear the ding! Targets can be shot in any order, except for the “stop plate,” which must be shot last because it records the time.
Steel Challenge is primarily a handgun match, but there is also a rifle division, too. Participants can choose to compete in a number of divisions.
Centerfire divisions start with guns holstered and wrists and hands above the shoulders. In the .22 pistol, optic or iron sight divisions, shooters start at low position without a holster.
Steel shooting matches are accessible to almost everyone. Local clubs will often run their own unofficial club steel matches, modeled on the Steel Challenge. They’re usually relaxed, yet competitive events where shooters begin from a static position, and focus on hitting their five steel targets as fast as possible. These events feature plenty of fun and camaraderie, with experienced shooters to help you do your best and have a great time.
If you’re interested in Steel Challenge shooting, you can begin with a .22 pistol, a couple of magazines and a box of ammo. For a centerfire pistol, you’ll also need a holster. It’s a good idea to have five pre-loaded magazines ready to go, so you don’t have to stop in the middle of a stage to reload. And, you may want to bring more ammo than you think you’ll need. Steel challenge targets can be hard to hit—especially when you’re nervous about competing, which can happen to the best marksman!
Steel Challenge matches are great for testing your skills. Or if you want just want to get a feel for what goes on at a match, come out and be a spectator. Make sure you bring hearing protection and safety glasses, and you’ll want a hat, too, since fragments will fall through the air.
Once you see how much fun Steel Challenge matches are, you’ll probably want to compete yourself. So check out our complete line of AR500 steel targets and get started today in this fun and challenging shooting sport.
]]>Most of us don’t even hope to achieve a hit close to that distance, but we can all participate in the thrill of long-range shooting. This exciting, challenging sport is a great way to develop your target shooting skills or to become a more successful hunter.
What does it take to hit a target beyond a couple hundred yards? Practice, of course, plus the right tools, and a few insider tips.
First, you’ll need an accurate rifle. Most long-range rifles are a bit heavier than standard rifles, with finely tuned triggers and a milled aluminum bedding system for the action. Barrels are twist-tuned, which means the rifling twist along the barrel is matched to specific bullet weights.
Popular makers of long-range rifles include Remington, which makes more than a dozen, along with Ruger and Savage. Custom rifles, which can cost thousands of dollars, typically utilize higher-end barrels, actions and triggers.
Whether you’re long-range target shooting or hunting, you’ll want to use hard-hitting, fast cartridges that fly efficiently through the air. Heavier, longer bullets have a higher Ballistic Coefficient (BC), which is better for long ranges than a lower one. A BC above .70 is best, between .60 and .70 is great, and between .50 and .60 is good. You also want a fast muzzle velocity.
As far as caliber goes, the .308 Winchester is a great way to start. It shoots a .51 BC bullet at 2650 – 2850 feet per second. Other good long-range calibers are the .30-06, .300 Winchester Magnum, 7mm Remington Magnum, 280 Remington, and the .243 Winchester. You can purchase factory match ammunition, or reload your own.
You’ll need a scope designed for long-range shooting with reticles and turrets to account for wind and elevation. Many long-range scopes come with a mil-dot reticle, which is effective but requires a skilled spotter, and can be confusing to learn. A common duplex reticle and custom elevation dials, such as those found on Leupold’s CDS scope, is a good alternative. The dials match the trajectory profile of your ammunition.
Scope mounts are key to your riflescope’s accuracy, so don’t skimp on them.
Long-range shooting is done from the prone position, so you’ll need a bipod to rest the barrel on and you may want a beanbag for the stock. Try a cheek rest, for proper eye positioning behind the scope. You’ll also need a rangefinder to tell you the precise distance of the target. View our long-range target packages.