Odd bullet holes on paper

[1shot]

I find if the actual target is loose against the backer this is the result. If stapled tight with no slack I would bet the holes wouldnt be ripped.

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[Jeff Porter]

Irrelevant to the paper.

This is why bullseye shooters used wad cutters and 10m air and pistol shooters use wad cutters, cleaner hole in the paper if that is your end goal

I shoot an informal indoor pistol match during winters where most shooters are using 9mm ball ammo and tearing ragged jagged torn paper bullet holes that are very difficult to score. Then I pull out my S&W 686 with 148 Hollow Base Wad Cutters. . Almost every shooter who scores my target is asking what I am shooting. Some draw backs are you don’t get some of the close shots going up that the torn paper guys may get.

 

[LHSmith]

When I started in BR Score competition which demands measuring to 0.001" it was customary to use 1/2" homosote as a backer material and regulation targets printed from one source. In time, the paper used changed (supposedly the original paper mill was shut down) and the target measuring became more problematic. As a competitor you could see the change right away. So paper quality as well as backer make all the difference. Also, the backers were secured inside after every match and unused until next match. The targets were affixed (via push pins) and fastened in a manner that staggered the bull(s) from the previous match agg so as to provide a more solid backer- i.e. avoided creating large holes in backer.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

Just for info - the card stock used for ISSF pistol competitions -pre electronic targets- is made from short fibres only, so that it cuts without ripping. One has to take care when handling a full packet, as it will break in half if not kept flat or dropped.