Can't see the bullet holes @ 200 yards....

[Ray Newman]

Colleagues: the weather is changing up here in the Pacific North Wet, and as a result, the bullet holes in the 200 yard target are harder to see in the spotting 'scope when I shoot in the mornings.

I heard that if a Shooter placed a white sheet or a piece of Tyvek on the ground behind the target or partially on the berm, the light would reflect up, making the bullet holes visible.

Anyone know if this is true?

[John in MS]

Yes, I have fired in 300-yard reduced HP rifle matches. It's important to see where each shot goes as you fire it, in slow-fire.
They had white target cloth hung from the back of the target frames at a 45 degree angle to catch the sunlight. It made even .223
bullet holes in the black easy to spot in spotting scope. Flourescent orange works well too, and may make it easier to see holes in the
white part of a target.

Hope this helps,
John

[Griff]

Wow! Never heard of that! Cool.

[FWiedner]

Birchwood Casey makes Shoot-N-C targets.

Don't know if you care for the product or not.

For me it's just one less thing to carry down-range.

[El Chivo]

Shoot n C's are a nice way to treat yourself. You spend money on ammo, range fees, gas, etc. A .50 cent target isn't going to break you.

You can also make your own if you want a large area to show your misses.

White or orange board, covered with shrink wrap, then the cellophane is spray-painted black.

[wolfdog]

Thats why I like 45/70.

[Old Ironsights]

That's why I shoot Steel. A killbox is a killbox. The deer don't care if the bullets cloverleaf @ 200+ so long as they all are in the boilerroom...

[Ray Newman]

Gents: John: going to re-examine my plastic pipe target stand about adding two brackets to hold up a white cloth. Just might work. On another board, one poster suggested hanging a white plastic garbage bag.

To elaborate further on my problem: my spotting scope is the older 77mm Kowa. It is stoutly secured to the bench by a c-clamp with a pipe extension -- holding the scope bracket -- welded on.

The Kowa works well, but the deep and dark shadows on the range at this time of the year from the trees and changing sun angle, make seeing the target difficult. Even looked through a Fellow Shooter's Leica, which was not much better. Then when I factor in my 66 year old eyes....

For the iron sights on my .45 -110 Borchardt, I shoot the 15” bull’s eye 300 meter reduced target for 200 meters. Anything smaller and I just can not see it clearly enough to aim.

Same with the 5 power ¾” diameter ‘scope on one of my .45-2.4” Sharps rifles– the 25 ring German target (12” bull) works well as it shows up in the ‘scope. Too small a bull and I “loose it”. The 25 ring red bull’s eye gives a clear picture of the reticle in the MVA ‘scope. The very fine reticle does not show up on a black bull, unless it is a small bull and then I have trouble seeing the bull’s eye.

Speaking of spotting 'scopes:
http://roguesuperscopes.com/default.htm

Binocular type eye piece with a 127mm objective lens. Problem is that is very large and requires a substantial tripod, which will get in the way of my wheelchair. A deceased Fellow Shooter had one and it is a very powerful ‘scope.