Homemade Pistol Targets

The best target ranges have variety. Follow all proper safety precautions and local government regulations to create an area that is suitable for live gun fire. If you want to use backing, try old sections of stockade fence or discarded plywood. Once the target range is set up, consider making a few of each type of homemade pistol target and setting them all up at once. The variety of targets will challenge you and build your aiming skills far quicker than if you only use one type of target.

  1. Aluminum Cans

    • Soda and soup cans are the most common homemade pistol targets. Metal cans are shiny and reflective, making them highly visible, even under low-lighting conditions. But perhaps their best feature is the satisfying sound they make when a bullet hits them. Also, empty cans work in a variety of setups. You can put them in a line on a wooden board laid over two empty buckets. You can hang them by string from a tree or arched stick. You can stack them in a pyramid shape. Or you can poke slender sticks into the ground and put the empty cans on the sticks.

    Plastic Soda Bottles

    • Soda bottles can be used just like cans. If you want water-filled targets, two-liter soda bottles work best. They are heavy when filled with water, making them less likely to tip over. To keep them in place, try burying them upside down and halfway in the ground.

    Cardboard Targets

    • For cardboard targets, the thicker the material, the better they will hold up over time. Use bright colors when you make your targets. Hardware stores sell highly visible neon-colored spray paints and different types of silvery, reflective paints. If you plan on making more targets in the future, consider making some stencils to speed up the process. You can nail cardboard targets to trees or attach them to a narrow strip of wood stuck in the ground.

    Printable Pistol Targets

    • Many gun hobbyist websites offer printable pistol targets. They offer many different file types and designs, all with different layouts, sizes, colors and shapes. Choose your target based on the size of your firing range. The graphics on your targets should be clearly visible from the maximum distance you will be firing from.

    Other Ideas

    • If you have a stack of old CDs laying around the house, you can use them to make great pistol targets. Hang them by strings from a tree or from a tall stick. Or use paper or plastic plates wrapped in tin-foil. Also, try tying helium-filled balloons to small weights or a fence rail. Because they move with the wind, balloons are perhaps the best choice if you want to practice with moving targets.