Which way should the animals be facing (left or right) ?

[j1132s]

I cna't believe that I'm asking this question, but I just can't find the answer.

Should the animals (on the rail) face right or left?

The pics I see of silhouette shooting seems to indicate that they face the right (i.e. head on the right, tail on the left). However, the printable, downloadable targets from NRA have them facing left.

[Jerry G]

It dosen't matter which way they face just as long as they are facing the same way for each shooter. I do think you get better target life if you change the direction between matches so you don't bend them all one way.

[Joaquin B]

It used to be simple, they could all be facing lef or right, until....

A certain unnamed competitor having nothing positive to do, filed a formal complaint and requested a rule change during the 2003 Nationals in Ridgway.

This person said that the riser bumps and the "NRA approved" letters left on the surface of the animals during the casting process served as "an artificial aiming point" and a distraction. While there were many objections - and I was quite vocal in exposing this for the B. S. it really is - Greg Connor did not have the cojones to throw this frivolous request out and incorporated the change.

This is why on any sanctioned State or National match you will find the chickens facing left, the pigs and turkeys facing right, etc.

[stsbuyer]

It dosen't matter which way they face just as long as they are facing the same way for each shooter. I do think you get better target life if you change the direction between matches so you don't bend them all one way.

Take a site; the targets face opposite of the cast writing on the back
Chicken and Ram face head left Pig and Turkey face head to the Right.
For high power Jerry G is correct, most ranges will face all animal the same on all bank. I have attened big matches in high power were the direction was reversed form one day to the next.

Paul

http://www.raystargets.netfirms.com/Ray2.html

[j1132s]

This is why on any sanctioned State or National match you will find the chickens facing left, the pigs and turkeys facing right, etc.

The NRA paper targets have the following:
chicken -- right
pig -- left
turkey -- left
ram -- right

Would somebody please list the official direction? (Is it written somewhere in the rules?) Just thought I'd practice "correctly" if there is an official direction.

thanks.

[Jerry G]

There's one in every crowd. Once again, wouldn't it be the same advantage for everyone? Then it wouldn't be an advantage.

[j1132s]

stsbuyer and I must have posted at the same time.
It looks like the targets from NRA is facing the wrong way.
thanks.

[dryfire]

All interested
I hate quoting rules but they are there as a guide and for running the matches proper like. Latest rule book 2005 plus amendments
Rule 4.1 p12 "...All targets of the same type shall be faced in the same
direction in each bank."
So all chickens face same direction, left or right doesn't matter and so on
for the rest.
The only exception to this is with the cast steel targets with cast marks
and notation on them. Rule 4.1 p13 with latest amendment
"...For cast Smallbore Rifle targets that have casting marks or dimples
on one side,the smooth side must face toward the shooters for consistent
appearance."
Uniformity is the key to reduce the likelihood of contention over eligible targets.

Regards
Andrew

[papabear]

Let me get this straight:

If cast iron= smooth side facing shooter
If both smooth sides= as long as they are facing the same way

Question:

1. If you have all SMOOTH sided targets, Does it have to be uniform for the whole bank, Chicken, Pigs, Turkeys, and Rams? or per animal?

2. If you have a mixture of targets(SMOOTH and CAST IRON) per animal, Will the cast iron target dictate where the others are facing?

[dryfire]

Hi Tobie
Did you get my email about sending a rifle to Canada?

The targets of the same type have to face the same direction.
Chickens can face one direction and pigs can face the opposite etc.

Yes, if your cast targets have dimples or cast marks or printing the smooth side must face the shooters. If you have a mix of cast and plate
steel targets, the cast steel smooth side will dictate the direction of all
targets of the same type. Again all chickens cast and plate shall face one
direction and so on.

However I agree with the comment made back in this thread that if the
cast marks face the shooters , they are there for all shooters and the sameness makes no advantage.

Andrew

[papabear]

Andrew,
No I did not, did you send it to
tlavides@sonnysbbq.com
also try
tlavides@cfl.rr.com

Thanks

[dryfire]

Hi Tobie
I sent the info to the first address. I shall resend to the second.

Andrew

[morerams]

I don't care which way they are facing, a target is a target just shoot it, if you are thinking about which way it is facing you are setting yourself up for a miss.

Pistol shooters have each bank facing the opposite way to the one beside it and they shoot damn good scores so what does it matter, other than it is easier to be sure you are shooting on the correct bank of targets.

[ajj]

Give Morerams the cigar. For practice, don't let it matter. The part you're shooting at is a very small area. It doesn't have horns or legs...

[dryfire]

Morerams and Ajj
I agree that left or right facing targets is immaterial. I beleive and hope
the original queerie in this thread was for competition purposes.
I would urge all shooters to shoot on both facings and different colours.
If you become accustom to shooting on left facing targets and visit a
range that faces them right or have different coloured targets you have more to think about and acclimatise to.
I train on spots or dots considerably smaller than the targets so I get used to seeing and looking for a spot - aim small, shoot small.

Andrew