Tracking shots on target questions

[Chris Edmondson]

I've done some searching for ways to track shots on target, and I've tried a few, still looking.

The range I shoot at now is limited to 300 yards, I may look for some longer ranges but, for now, it's 300.

With a 10-50x60 riflescope I can see the holes, up close if I want, but 20x is enough. I have used the tried-and-true drawing the bullet holes on a piece of paper, it works but, I'm retired, I don't care much for paperwork any longer, lol.

I tried a tripod-mounted DSLR camera with a claimed 40x optical zoom and more megapixels than sand grains on the beach, it worked-ish. The holes were visible during playback, but just barely, and that was at 200 yards.

Also tried a Longshot Hawk wifi camera which bolts onto a spotting scope. The amount of time required to get everything perfect exceeded my range time budget. Even then, the results were poor at best. I think the underlying problem with a spotting scope approach is the field of view (FOV) is larger than a riflescope; all I want to see is the target. Dialing up the magnification on a spotter to compensate makes it so jumpy, it's frustrating to work with.

From what I can tell, the Shot Marker system is the gold standard but, it's expensive and requires specialized target frames that aren't practical at this time, at this range.

Figured I'd ask here for ideas or suggestions for what works, and doesn't cost a king's ransom. I'm just an avid rifle shooter, not a competitive shooter, tracking shots would be a nice to have, but not a must have.

Thank you.

 

[JFrank]

Color-Coat Bullet Tips to Better Define Long-Range Groups « Daily Bulletin

When shooting groups at long range on paper it can be difficult to distinguish which bullet holes belong to a particular sequence of shots. If, for example, you shot three 5-shot groups at 600+ yards on a paper target, you would have 15 bullet holes on the target (assuming no misses).

bulletin.accurateshooter.com

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

I've done some searching for ways to track shots on target, and I've tried a few, still looking.

The range I shoot at now is limited to 300 yards, I may look for some longer ranges but, for now, it's 300.

With a 10-50x60 riflescope I can see the holes, up close if I want, but 20x is enough. I have used the tried-and-true drawing the bullet holes on a piece of paper, it works but, I'm retired, I don't care much for paperwork any longer, lol.

I tried a tripod-mounted DSLR camera with a claimed 40x optical zoom and more megapixels than sand grains on the beach, it worked-ish. The holes were visible during playback, but just barely, and that was at 200 yards.

Also tried a Longshot Hawk wifi camera which bolts onto a spotting scope. The amount of time required to get everything perfect exceeded my range time budget. Even then, the results were poor at best. I think the underlying problem with a spotting scope approach is the field of view (FOV) is larger than a riflescope; all I want to see is the target. Dialing up the magnification on a spotter to compensate makes it so jumpy, it's frustrating to work with.

From what I can tell, the Shot Marker system is the gold standard but, it's expensive and requires specialized target frames that aren't practical at this time, at this range.

Figured I'd ask here for ideas or suggestions for what works, and doesn't cost a king's ransom. I'm just an avid rifle shooter, not a competitive shooter, tracking shots would be a nice to have, but not a must have.

Thank you.

You have to be careful with camera specs. When they say 40X zoom, that's not the same as 40X magnification. The range of a camera will go from wide angle, something like 0.3X magnification to telephoto at 12X and then say the zoom is 40X. It sure is: 0.3X * 40 =12X. That's a 12X telephoto lens, not a 40X,

 

[rwj]

Longshot Marksman.

Marksman - 300 Yard UHD

The Longshot Marksman camera has a straight shooter 300-yard guarantee of 1080p imagery. Buy this spotting scope for 300-yard shooting at TargetVision!

www.longshotcameras.com

 

[Chris Edmondson]

Color-Coat Bullet Tips to Better Define Long-Range Groups « Daily Bulletin

When shooting groups at long range on paper it can be difficult to distinguish which bullet holes belong to a particular sequence of shots. If, for example, you shot three 5-shot groups at 600+ yards on a paper target, you would have 15 bullet holes on the target (assuming no misses).

bulletin.accurateshooter.com

I forgot to mention coloring bullets; I have tried that also. It rains a lot here most of the time, by the time I get the target, it looks like a retread from a Kiss concert . Maybe I need better sharpies. I will revisit though, and thank you for the link.

 

[Chris Edmondson]

Longshot Marksman.

Marksman - 300 Yard UHD

The Longshot Marksman camera has a straight shooter 300-yard guarantee of 1080p imagery. Buy this spotting scope for 300-yard shooting at TargetVision!

www.longshotcameras.com

I spoke with another RSO at the range who has one of these, he shoots competitively and said it's a good tool, but that he'd buy a Shot Marker system next time around. Maybe I'll see if he'd sell it so he can move to the SM .

 

[Albany Mountain]

Shotmarkers are not expensive. I set up a target system with a camera and although it worked, it left a lot of questions and setting it up with the power supplies and monitor took a while and you had to improvise to see the shots. If you have a decent scope on your rifle or spotting scope and stand, you can afford the $800 for a Shotmarker. Very few questions to answer after easy setup and repeatable setup. The main question that comes up is why you can't stay within your monthly budget and time management because you can shoot twice as much in half the time. If you are serious about midrange shooting and beyond, you can't afford to be without one.
one sheet of chloroplast and 2x4's or pvc pipe and fittings and you have a first class frame.

 

[Walt Krafft]

A Shotmarker will do exactly what you described you want. For 300 yards you wont need a very large target so it should be easy to move and setup. If you decide you dont like it, it would sell quickly for what you paid for it.

 

[Chris Edmondson]

I have the contact information for a range member who keeps a shot marker target frame at the range, it has the magnetic holders in place. I think I'll reach out to see if maybe he'd consider sharing the frame for a nominal fee or rental, and maybe I could offer to buy a couple of replacement bases in case one gets shot.

Thanks for the help guys, really appreciate it!

 

[Chris Edmondson]

Anyone seen this new Labradar riflescope camera system in action? Looks interesting, a heads-up display for shooting.

https://buymylabradar.com/products/triggercam-2-1?mc_cid=97cc87c8b9&mc_eid=0219467ab0

 

[fkimble@charter.net]

How much length does it add to the rear of the scope? Would make me real nervous with a light weight medium recoil rifle especially with a higher powered scope with limited eye relief.

Frank

 

[SSchnd]

Personal E Target Like Kenny and Walt. At the price of a camera you are not that far from an e target, Build a frame and shoot to a 1000 yds. Provides a lot of data and more. One of the best things I ever spent $$ on.

 

[CharlieNC]

Perhaps not what you're looking for, but there are targets for 22lr matches which contain 25 small targets (approx 1") plus sighters where you shoot one shot per small target for score. So you would know where every shot goes.