How to get clean target holes

[Wild Onion]

My target sheet clipboard is literally blown to pieces   I tried to put corrugated cardboard (Sam Adams box) behind my paper but still get ragged holes. I'm using H&N Cuda Match pellets which aren't wad cutters, but are accurate in my gun.

What do you put behind your target paper?

[Fishbone]

It depends on the paper. If you're printing your targets from computer paper you'll ragged holes.
Using NRA target paper targets you'll get cleaner holes.

In my pellet trap, I just use the clip of the clipboard on top and a other clip on the bottom, no backer. I use the NRA paper targets, or good quality paper.

For the stand up targets, like Pyramid sells for $13, when the back wears out, I use poster board for a backing. 30, 50 and 70 yards.
I use Shoot-N-C, so ragged holes aren't an issue!
But looking at them up close, when I change them, it's a clean hole.

Crosman Destroyers on the pellet traps, and CPHP on the distant targets stands.

[Wild Onion]

You called it, I'm printing on my home printer on 20 lb. copy paper. I'll try the 28 lb. when I run out of the targets I already have printed. It will increase my cost from 1 to 2 cents per sheet 

[gamo2hammerli]

I use a cardboard backing...works fine with wads and domes...but with the pointy pellets (Crosman Hunting for example) I only get a 3 line tear (At least it leaves a dark dot...so the shot can still be scored).

[ac12]

What are you shooting?
How many shots, and how tight is the group?

The cardboard backer only functions while it is still there.  Once you blow away the cardboard from behind the target, there is nothing to prevent the target from tearing.

If you are shooting a rifle, and shooting TIGHT groups, then the backing will be chewed up in a few shots.  Your only option is to shoot less shots at the target.  At the point that you cannot score each shot, you need to shoot less shots per target. 

Example, on a good day, I shoot 5 shots at the AP target, so I can still score each shot.  On a bad day, I can easily shoot 15 shots on the same target and score each shot.  It is all about how tight the group is, and how much the backer is chewed up.

For a rifle, I can easily see you being able to shoot only 2 or 3 shots per target before it is rendered unscorable.

Going from 20 to 28 pound paper won't make much of a difference, if any at all.  IF your printer can handle it, I would use 60 pound card stock.  But as above, that won't make much difference if you are shooting many shots into a tight group.

[breakfastchef]

All comments above are essentially good. Even though .177 will leave the best holes, there are two things needed to produce crisper holes.

First, a firm backing. This can be corrogated cardboard, foam board or other stiff material that is easily pierced by a pellet. It is normal to replace the backing often for reasons given above. I prefer foam board (available at craftstores).

Second, the target needs to be dead flat against the backing.

[CeeJay]

I print targets on 110# card stock from WW and use thin cardboard backing for a Crosman trap. With three curtains, very few 4.5mm
pellets make it to the back (metal sheet) up to around 600fps.

[Wild Onion]

Thanks for the tips. My groups are 4 or 5 out of 5 within an inch (and improving!). I'm mostly shooting matches with a RWS 48 .177 with H&N Cuda Match, but JSB Diabolo Exact Heavies are accurate too. The JSB pellet head looks flatter so should help. The paper might not be tight against the cardboard, I'll check that. I do change the cardboard every few targets. My printer supports up to 90 lb paper, and it's worth a try.

[vadalejrfan]

I print targets from my computer and then take some clear 2" wide packaging tape and laminate the target. Or I have used wall paper glue and glued the target to one half of a yellow folder.    jrfan

[Dockey 454]

I print my targets on 65 lb card stock. Corrugated cardboard seems a little to soft. Poster board or cardboard from a 30 pack work well for me, as a backer. When I find my groups getting tight, after 2 or 3 shots I shift my target to the left or right a little on the backer.

[Wild Onion]

I used the 65 lb card stock and it made a big difference. That was a good tip. I'll have to buy more 30 packs for backing - hehe 

[Dockey 454]

Nothing wrong about 30 packs. Had to get a second frig, wife complaning about no room for food.

[Kailua]

Shelving contact paper works well need to look for a good sale.  Could just add where the target rings are.

[Lambchops]

I think it might be the nature of the pellets you are using.

[35remington]

Baking the targets helps me get clean holes.  You could also try cardstock instead of regular paper if you're printing from a computer.

[jglover]

Covering the back of the target bull with duct helps as well, especially with lighter weight papers

[ac12]

Stuff like this starts to get expensive, but how about using brown paper tape.  The one that you wet the adhesive with a sponge.  Then like others said, tape it behind the bull.  The paper tape will make the target stiffer, and hopefully a cleaner punch through.  Just don't use the one with the fiberglass reinforcing fibers, as the fibers would probably not cut well and rip the target if you hit the fibers.

[jglover]

Stuff like this starts to get expensive, but how about using brown paper tape.  The one that you wet the adhesive with a sponge.  Then like others said, tape it behind the bull.  The paper tape will make the target stiffer, and hopefully a cleaner punch through.  Just don't use the one with the fiberglass reinforcing fibers, as the fibers would probably not cut well and rip the target if you hit the fibers.

I just generally cut off a small square of the duct tape and cover just the black portion of the bull, as I really don't want to know about those other shots....  Seriously though, a roll of cheap duct tape last quite a while when just covering the black but the paper shipping tape is a good idea as well and certainly should be cheaper....at least I guess it would since I've not priced that tape in quite some time.

[Wild Onion]

Thanks for the suggestions. I've had good success using 65 lb card stock (the heaviest paper recommended for my printer) and a coke/beer case behind that. I just need to move or replace the coke/beer case after a few rounds.

[gene_sc]

Here is  a cheap solution. Everyone see's the small election signs along the road.. Right? Everyone buys gas, Right? Ok, I go around when election time is over and pick up old left behind wire signs on side of roads. At gas stations they put corrigated signs all over. They usually throw them away after a while. I go around and ask owners or managers if they would sit them aside for me. They work great for backing. You can cut them up in smaller chunks to fit wire signs. I run the wire signs legs through the corrigated legs of the wire signs I find along road.
I then take printing paper and either spray glue it to corrigated backing or us thumb tacks. The corrigated backing is all weather proof and they will last for a long time. I have some that are a couple years old now.

Gene