Electronic targets in clubs

[Rutty]

We have a newly built air range with about 8 paper targets and we have 2 or 3 electronic targets for the people that can shoot well.

I do hope your club’s policy isn’t stated that way. Whilst there is some justification for initial teaching to be carried out using paper targets, as soon as the shooter is safe and can keep all shots on the target then there is no reason to exclude them from using EST. It is quite reasonable to prioritise use of EST, e.g. team competition cards, individual competition cards, elite shooter (GB or national) training, otherwise club facilities should be available to all members.

Rutty

[thirdwheel]

As we are all electronic even beginners shoot on the EST's but we do use carpet surrounds on the target, it does not take long to not need the carpet. Glad you spotted the odd one out Rutty, have you built one for yourself yet.

[Rutty]

As we are all electronic even beginners shoot on the EST's but we do use carpet surrounds on the target, it does not take long to not need the carpet. Glad you spotted the odd one out Rutty, have you built one for yourself yet.

No, I haven’t built one as unless you want an electronics hobby project I can’t really see that they’re of much use. If you want to train at home, then your time and money would be much better invested in dry firing on a SCATT. Unless you live in North Dakota* (if you’ve been there you’ll understand) when having something to shoot at during the winter might keep you sane!

Rutty

*Other “attractive” locations are available.

[thirdwheel]

Interesting about South Dakcota, I get your drift and wanting something to do.
Fortunately I have a large workshop at home and have a 10m range set up but it is "challenging" to shoot in there in the winter due to not being able to feel bits of your anatomy after a while, I use a Scatt too along with my home EST which is a Freetarget, and when testing it for accuracy in exactly the same way you would any EST I've found it superbly accurate, like you I was very, very sceptical about it all but being a CDT teacher I just had to make one and test it. Mine turned out fine it uses witness paper that is motor driven like commercial targets, has integral LED lighting with the brightness controlled via the software and my favourite as my workshop is in constant use is that it is wire free and talks to the laptop via wifi. The software is as good or better than commercial targets both visually and for ease of use. I've put thousands and thousands of shots through it both at home during the lockdown and at the club when we needed more targets and it continues to be a great backup. I recon a yr 9 / 10 pupil could make one as the only challenging things are the correct spacing of the mics. and the making of the paper motor drive. We have bought all commercial targets (8) for the club and members love them.

[rapidboy1]

I should have added ......

these can be printed off and used for postal entries as well.

We don't have a printer on the one i use, is the print out actual size ?, reason i ask is that i scan my cards with an app.

[thirdwheel]

That is a strange question Rapid but reading back over other threads you have some older ones that no one at your club knows how to use and you are trying to get them up and running. With electronic targets all you need is the print out of the scores for competition use, all will also print out a small representative graphic of each string and an overall match shot picture, so you can see your overall grouping. Older targets were sometimes linked to thermal printers like the Suis targets at the LRC Bisley but can also have an out put to a desktop printer but again only the scores and represented shot placement not full size. You have the target, screen on firing point with your scores and a visual target and shot placement graphic and a printer for printing off the scores. All manufactures still support their older products as the targets last a long time. We have a mixture of thermal and inkjet printers. It must be exciting to have all that old but new kit just waiting to be used properly, and take your club forwards and attract new competitive 10m rifle and pistol athletes, they really do help focused coaching and training outcomes as you and your coach can see the outcome in real time after each shot.

[rapidboy1]

That is a strange question Rapid but reading back over other threads you have some older ones that no one at your club knows how to use and you are trying to get them up and running. With electronic targets all you need is the print out of the scores for competition use, all will also print out a small representative graphic of each string and an overall match shot picture, so you can see your overall grouping. Older targets were sometimes linked to thermal printers like the Suis targets at the LRC Bisley but can also have an out put to a desktop printer but again only the scores and represented shot placement not full size. You have the target, screen on firing point with your scores and a visual target and shot placement graphic and a printer for printing off the scores. All manufactures still support their older products as the targets last a long time. We have a mixture of thermal and inkjet printers.

It's not that we don't have anybody who knows how to use them, (we certainly do), its that the club is completely dysfunctional and one group wont help another group ....... club politics ......

The 15 electronic targets that we have on the 50m prone range are all linked together, you can use the meyton screens or use tablets / laptops.
They have a projector that can be set up for competitions that puts all the stats on a big screen.
They have an inkjet printer as part of that network.
Unfortunately very few people shoot prone these days so they don't see a lot of use which is a real shame, it is an impressive system when its used for the larger shoots.

We had purchased 4 targets for 10m air but almost as soon as they arrived the 10m air range was removed and for several years we couldn't shoot any 10m air so the targets went into storage.
After several years, out of frustration i set in a temporary 10m range in the clubhouse attic just to try and rekindle interest so we now have one electronic for 10m but it's set up as a stand alone unit and isn't part of the main meyton network so can't print.

I use the TargetScan app on my ipad, it scans cards and then scores / generates various stats from, also allows you to add notes for each session, all very useful and i use it for keeping track of training and competitions across various disciplines.
Im was just wondering if there was a way to generate a full size target printout from the electronic target that i can scan using the TargetScan app, its just so that all my shooting can be recorded in one place.

It must be exciting to have all that old but new kit just waiting to be used properly, and take your club forwards and attract new competitive 10m rifle and pistol athletes, they really do help focused coaching and training outcomes as you and your coach can see the outcome in real time after each shot.

It should be, it really should be, but there is virtually no interest, people seem to have lost all interest in competitive disciplines and are more interested in "plinking and socialising" than target shooting.

[thirdwheel]

Pm on the way Rapid

[aris]

Seems to be very hard to find pricing info - what is the rough cost per target?

[Rutty]

Seems to be very hard to find pricing info - what is the rough cost per target?

That's a "how long is a piece of string question" as it is dependent not only on the target unit, but how you intend to operate it. The cheapest option is the "personal" unit, i.e. one target directly connected to a PC\Laptop, you buy the target and supply your own processor. If you want anything more, and you will for club use; then you need to add the peripherals. There are some prices quoted for Sius Ascor.

I would suggest that a figure of £2000-2500\lane as a starting point, but you really need to do a bit of research to decide what you want from EST. Try to visit a club that has it installed and see how they run them. Then when asking for a quote you can make it quite detailed. There are many options available within each manufacturer's range, but you will not want all that's on offer.

A point to bear in mind, is the IT element of the installation. Not all run on Windows, some run under Linux.

Rutty

[aris]

Thanks. I don’t think my club could justify that. For 10m air we target retrieval which run on motorised strings - which seems to work well.

[zooma]

Thanks. I don’t think my club could justify that. For 10m air we target retrieval which run on motorised strings - which seems to work well.

Our club would not be able to find that much cash either - thats far too rich for us - we just could not even start to think about finding two thousand pounds (or more) per lane.

Like many airgun clubs we have become a lot less "consumed" with pure competition shooting in recent years and enjoy some of the less formal shooting disciplines as well - including classic springers and even sporting rifles with scopes (!) .....as well as the formal 10 metre air pistol and air rifle target shooting

We can still shoot 10 metre competition targets when we want to - but without the big spend.

Maybe if the electronic target system prices come down (dramatically) in the future, or some good used or "self-build" options become available we could join the "electronic target set" then.......maybe.....

[Hemmers]

We have 4 of the Sport Quantum SQ10 targets for 10m airgun. Unlike most electronic targets, these do not use conventional circular target face and just detect the passing bullet/pellet. It's a computer screen behind a perspex panel, which has some piezometers on it which detect the pellet striking the panel. Aside from standard competition targets, it also allows games and training exercises, as well as doing timed/rapid-fire shoots nicely. They came in at about £2500 each - paid for with a generous COVID grant that our Secretary identified.

We also have 3 Meytons for 50M Prone and 3P shooting.

Probationers are started on paper until they can reliably hit the black. It goes without saying that new guns/sights are to be zeroed on paper before going anywhere near the shiny-shiny, but they're otherwise available for all.

The other thing to consider is not simply your own club, but the surrounding ecosystem. The Welsh Association did a canny thing a decade ago to encourage clubs to standardise on Megalinks if they were going to invest in electronics. A number of clubs have a handful of targets each, but these can be pooled for events like the Welsh 50M Championships. If there are other clubs in the area who have already moved on electronics, its worth considering whether there might be demand for doing the same thing for (say) County championships, and standardising on compatible kit (plus there are people who know about the gear if you need tech support and you can all help each other out and pool experience).

[thirdwheel]

Pooling targets for opens what a super idea Hemmers and one we will certainly pick up on, as there is a local club that has the same as us. This highlights what could be done in conjunction with other clubs by standardising and doing the same thing locally. Thanks for that!

[BlueAngel57]

I use a Meyton with 22 rifle, wizzers with paper on 10m AP.
I’ll be honest, I’d rather keep iPads & printers away from shooting.
Yes, it’s helpful seeing where every shot goes, but it’s another step away from the simplicity I enjoy.