Where to buy a couple dozen SB chickens?

[gunbits]

Where to buy a couple dozen SB chickens?

These any good? http://cgi.ebay.com/NRA-Steel-1-5-Scale ... 0692729752

[Bob259]

Where to buy a couple dozen SB chickens?

These any good? http://cgi.ebay.com/NRA-Steel-1-5-Scale ... 0692729752

I would say you'd be better off getting them from Ray Schaffer
http://www.raystargets.rgpservices.com/Ray2.html

The cast ones seem to hold up better then the welded ones at our range. Also if you break one he'll relace it.

[ppkny]

I'd go with Ray's Targets also. They are cast and guranteed if they break. We've had a lot of breakage with the welded kind. The price of $49 for a set seems way to cheap when a set of cast targets go for $129
ppkny

[Jeaux]

I have seen the targets offered by this person and wondered if anyone on here had tried any. I was looking at some half scale targets he had. He does handle the better quality steels also like the AR series of plate that are excellent material for targets provided they are welded properly. The price for these targets is very good, cheap if you will, and from the experience of our club, the chickens will all end up getting cupped badly over time. If the chickens were built of A-36 steel and made from 3/8" thick plate they do very well. I would contact this seller if you are interested and see how much extra he would charge to build the chickens from 3/8" plate. It should not change his cost too much to make them so It should not affect his price that much either. Ray's cast targets are fantastic and his policy of replacing broken animals is second to none, but when you can buy two sets for the price of one, that is something to consider. If you are using the targets for your own personal use and practice, the targets listed on ebay would probably last you quite a while. If you were using them for match purposes and they will be shot a lot, then the chickens won't last very long without being made from heavier than 1/4" plate, especially if any HV ammo is used by shooters.

Has anyone bought targets from this person and if so, what are they like? I am interested in getting some half scale for Cowboy matches. I may end up making them myself depending on what I can find.

[Jason]

I haven't bought from that seller, but I can say for sure that the 1/4" A36 chickens are too thin. I have many targets from Quality Targets (seller on eBay and on their own website) and, while I have ever had a weld break, I have had the 1/4" A36 chickens get bent with a few shots to the head or tail using standard velocity ammo and with one shot using high velocity ammo. They were also light enough to get tossed over the top of the berm in a few cases. As has been suggested, I'm getting some in 3/8" now instead.

When checking out the cast targets, I noticed that they are only designed to be shot on one side so can only face one way (chickens and rams left, pigs and turkeys right). This might be fine for some ranges, but when I'm practicing I like to practice with the animals facing the way that they are going to be facing for my next match. At my home range, the targets all face left. At other ranges, they face other ways. Combined with the much higher cost, this made me choose something else.

[Jerry G]

Your best bet is to find a steel shop with a gang cutter that will cut them from 1/2" plate, then, have one of your friends weld the bases on.

[Jason]

Why not just ask one of the silhouette target makers what it would cost to get them made out of 1/2" instead?

[Jerry G]

Most of the time spent making targets is welding. If you don't mind paying the shop costs for doing the welding, then that would be the way to go. Buying bar stock and welding the bases yourself can save a bunch of money.

[rogersptl]

Another factor why to use the 1/2" thick chickens is they give the spotter a tad more time to see the hit. 3 Points has some 1" and they topple when hit. I believe NRA says 1/2" is max for their OK. Merry Christmas to all and great shooting through the New Year.

[Jerry G]

You are right Roger. 3 Point has a complete set of 1 inch animals and they all fall over when hit well. NRA has set a limit at 1/2 inch on chickens and there is never any problem with them going over with a decent hit. They last forever and it is true that hits are easier to see on them. 1/2 mild steel is the way to go on SB chickens.

[rogersptl]

Another source of targets and swingers for you is [email protected] contact him with your needs and he'll get you a price.