How Do Field Targets Work?



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The whole ideal of field target is to have a target that falls over when the hit zone is hit and doesn't fall over when it is missed. The target face has a hole cut in it when the hit zone is located. Behind the hit zone is a paddle that covers the hit zone. The paddle is part of an assembly that keeps the target face in an upright position. When the paddle is shot, it falls backwards and allows the faceplate to fall. The mechanical connection between the paddle assembly and the face plate is called the sear.

There are a lot of ways to design the target sear. Below are three common designs. This is by no means the only way to design it, however it will give you the general idea of how it can work.


This design uses the weight of the paddle falling against the rear bar to make the face fall rearward. Gravity is the main force making the face fall. The sear is engaged only on a miss. The taret face is moves backward and locks up against the paddle arm, thus the target face isn't allowed to fall.


This design uses a sping attached to the target face to make the face fall rearward. This makes the face fall very fast and flat. The paddle arm is connected to the target face via a small arm. This arm makes up the sear. When the target face is hit, the face pushes down on the paddle arm through the small connecting arm. On a hit, the paddle arm move rearward and releases the sear.


This design uses a sping attached to the target face to make the face fall rearward. The sear in this design is made up of the small post extending from the target face above the hit zone and the top of the paddle. The spring attached to the target face keeps the sear engaged until the paddle is hit which will then move rearward and disengage the sear. The target face can then fall. The target shown is made from wood but the design can also be used for an all metal target.

 

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