As an Amazon Associate, this site earns a commission from Amazon sales.
The paper targets you use can make a big difference during load development and training — helping you align your crosshairs, estimate group size visually, and also record load data/gun type. Here’s a collection of FREE printable precision and training targets. This selection includes popular load development targets AccurateShooter created as well as other useful grid targets. You can download ALL these targets as PDF files and then print them out on 8.5×11″ heavy paper.
AccurateShooter.com offers an online archive with over 50 FREE downloadable targets. You’ll find all types of FREE targets — sight-in targets, varmint targets, rimfire targets, bullseye targets, tactical targets, load development targets and more. CLICK HERE for all our free targets, including our LOAD DEV target.
Since we created this target a decade ago, it has proven very popular as a load development target, since all your load data fits neatly in the boxes under each target. In fact this target is used by both rifle-makers and barrel-makers (including Criterion) to test their products. The diamonds have 1/2″ sides and you can align your cross-hairs on the horizontal and vertical lines. It is a clean design that is easy to see even at 200 yards. When we test, we usually crank in a little elevation, setting the point-of-impact higher. That way our shots land in the gray circles, leaving the red squares intact for precise aiming.
This is a nicely-designed six-bull grid target. Use this for load development or accuracy testing. Set your scope so you can aim at the orange diamonds while your shots impact in the box above. This target has a visible background grid so it is easy to estimate your group size. You’ll find other load development targets in this Shooters’ Forum Thread.
Here’s a popular grid target with multiple red diamond aiming points. The background includes a grid pattern with 1″ squares — that helps to quickly estimate group size through your scope. We recommend using a color printer for this target so the diamonds and grid lines are bright red.
We use the two targets below for load development and precision practice. For the left target, use the corners of the diamonds to align your cross-hairs precisely. The circle dot target (on the right) can also be used for informal rimfire competition at 50 yards. Right-Click Each Target to Download Printable PDFs.
Here’s a rimfire training target with “big to small” target circles. Start with the largest circles, then move to the smaller ones in sequence. This systematic drill provides increasing challenge shot-by-shot. Novices often are quite surprised to see their accuracy improve as they move from bigger to smaller aiming points. That provides positive feedback — always a good thing.
This target was created using Open Office (Draw) by Forum member TwoBoxer for 100-yard load development and practice. He tells us: “The color, size of the center dot, crosshair lines, etc. were varied to work with my scope and magnification at 100 yards. I expect the group POI to move as elements of the load are varied. So concern about obliterating the aim point is minimal, and needs to be controlled by how you zero the rifle in any case.”
Here’s a NRA-type target for pistol shooting. The bright red center helps when shooting indoors because well-placed bullet holes are much more visible. This target includes data entry boxes to record gun type, score, and load data. This is one of many good free targets available at Targets4free.com.
Share the post "FREE Downloadable Targets for Practice, Precision, and Fun"
