Knockdown Targets

[El Sobrante Kid]

Is there any kind of SASS standard for setting knockdown targets? By some combination of bullet weight, velocity, power factor, etc., or is it up to each club to set their knockdowns as they see fit? Thx.

[Garrison Joe, SASS #60708]

A common guideline used in the past is that a factory level .38 special 158 slug should take the KD down if a 7 yard center hit is made.  Seemed to satisfy many of the shooters when EOT was held at Founders Ranch.   A little familiar with setting steel there.  😄  GJ

[Shawnee Hills]

To be fair to all shooters, targets should be adjusted to fall when hit with loads meeting the minimum power factor.  However, I’ve not seen that in writing nor done at any SASS match. It is for USPSA and likely IDPA as well.

[El Sobrante Kid]

5 minutes ago, Shawnee Hills said:

To be fair to all shooters, targets should be adjusted to fall when hit with loads meeting the minimum power factor.  However, I’ve not seen that in writing nor done at any SASS match. It is for USPSA and likely IDPA as well.

 

Yep, I'm familiar with some of the other shooting sports having fairly strict standards for setting knockdown targets. That's why I was wondering if SASS had a standardized method that all member clubs were required to use to set their knockdown targets.

[PaleWolf Brunelle, #2495L]

Quote

To the extent possible, reactive targets should be set to fall when squarely hit with no more than a standard .38 Special factory load.

SHB p.21

[El Sobrante Kid]

11 minutes ago, PaleWolf Brunelle, #2495L said:

SHB p.21

To the extent possible, reactive targets should be set to fall when squarely hit with no more than a standard .38 Special factory load.

 

PWB, thank you for that. Is this a requirement or a recommendation? For instance, are all State, Regional, National, and International SASS matches in the US required to use this standard? Not trying to make an issue, just genuinely curious about how consistent the knockdown target settings are in the bigger matches. Thx.

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

9 minutes ago, El Sobrante Kid said:

no more than

Key words.

[Shawnee Hills]

56 minutes ago, PaleWolf Brunelle, #2495L said:

SHB p.21

Great that it’s defined but why isn’t it consistent with the PF?  So long as a shooter uses ammo that complies with the PF, they should always be able to successfully handle the knockdowns. 

[El Sobrante Kid]

59 minutes ago, Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 said:

"no more than", Key words.

 

If those words are part of a suggestion, a recommendation, or "to the extent possible", and not a required standard that is applied equally at all SASS events, then those are "just three words". Again, I'm not trying to make a point, create a new rule, harass anyone, or generally diminish anyone's bliss. As stated, I was wondering if SASS has a standardized method that all member clubs are required to use to set their knockdown targets.

[I. M. Crossdraw, SASS# 8321]

1 hour ago, PaleWolf Brunelle, #2495L said:

SHB p.21

This has been the standard used in SASS for many years.  

[Creeker, SASS #43022]

In the absence of finely machined knockdowns with precise calibration - it would be neigh impossible to enforce a required "calibration" standard.

 

I would bet that "most" good match directors have their knockdowns set at far less than the 38 spl. standard mentioned in the handbook.

 

I know for myself - I would set my knockdowns to fall with my 105 grain 38 specials and THEN place a 1" thick board under the forward leg of the rack to tip the targets backwards slightly - making it lighter still.

 

I always wanted a center hit with 22LR to take down targets - this ensured that soft lead 36 cal. Black powder shooters and my 22 caliber buckaroos and buckarettes got to have the same fun seeing plates fall as everyone else.

And these light setting helped with the inevitable lead buildup on the knockdown hinge as the match progressed.

[PaleWolf Brunelle, #2495L]

Note this caveat under "Revolver Calibers":

Quote

Although the .32 caliber revolvers and .36 caliber cap and ball revolvers are legal, they may not be powerful enough to handle all reactive targets.

SHB p.39

[Possum Skinner, SASS#60697]

Folks used to carry "Knock-down rounds" just in case they ran across some knockdowns that were stiffer than their usual ammo would take down.  Now-a-days most clubs won't use knockdown pistol or rifle targets as it can be seen as too hard or unfair to those used to using light loads or they won't stay calibrated.  We are lucky to have knockdowns that stay in calibration dang near forever and I set them to go down with a center strike from a .22 pistol.

 

Let's bring back some of the fun we've lost!

[Scarlett]

WCS is my new acronym. “what @Creeker, SASS #43022 said”. 😉
 

I’ve never carried a KD load…I’d get them out of order or change leads or something… I don’t load my cartridges light, though. The key for me has been to HIT said KD. I shoot NMV Single Sixes in 32 HR. I load (all the time) a 115gr 32-20 bullet so that there is an audible HIT in the smoke. (Works the other way, too!) 

 

As for the KD - 158gr bullets… I bet I haven’t sold 3,000 158s in the last year! I shoot them in Wild Bunch…

 

Hugs!

Scarlett

[J. M. BROWN, SASS # 27309]

I have been shooting 78 grain, 32s with a PF of 65-70 for the last 10 years. With  10 years of WR and  EOT, plus all the state and regional matches during that time, I have never had a plate not fall that I hit in the top 1/2 to 1/3 of the target.

The key to KD's with a Rifle or Pistol for me is PF and not hitting the bottom half of the target. Your accuracy may vary!!!

 

JM

 

OOPS! That is, except one bottom hanger on a Texas Star at a local match 🙄

[Creeker, SASS #43022]

I shoot 105 grain 38 specials.

I ALWAYS have a box of rompin' stompin' 158 grainers in my cart for stubborn knockdowns or the match director who's philosophy about kd calibration is different than my own.

 

Just like I usually keep a box of 12ga Handicap trap loads in the cart for the shotgun targets that refuse to fall with "normal" loads.

 

I don't agree with the match directors that require me to carry them - but I'm not eating misses because someone else wants to make a point about mouse farts or light loads.

[Griff]

I shoot a .36 caliber revolver in Frontiersman.  Back in the early days of SASS, I loaded a 90 grain conical to engage knockdowns.  I ultimately quit and just kept using my 77 grain round balls.  I just aim for the upper quarter of the target.   From a new competitor to match & club organizer back to well seasoned competitor, my perspective might differ from most.  Without a standard design KD target, having a measurable, repeatable specification to which KDs will fall is impracticable.  Part of the fun in cowboy action shooting is the variety and sometime ingenuity displayed in target design and execution.   KD calibration is not a thing, that stays stationary.  Over the course of a days shooting that calibration can go from excellent to completely stuck in a matter of minutes.  Doin' the "best we can" is better and more enjoyable goal and maintaining, than trying to meet some arbitrary standard imposed by a sometime seemingly distant and uncaring organization dictating how we play.

Edited March 7 by Griff

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

47 minutes ago, Griff said:

Over the course of a days shooting that calibration can go from excellent to completely stuck in a matter of minutes.

Or the wind can shift.  At Founder's Ranch one year I was the first or second shooter and the wind was blowing towards me.  I had some heavy loads but only managed to knock down two of the ten pistol targets.  Tex was last and by then the wind had shifed 180 degrees.  He fired one shot and all ten fell.

Edited March 7 by Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933

[Chancy Shot, SASS #67163]

On 3/5/2026 at 11:10 PM, Creeker, SASS #43022 said:

In the absence of finely machined knockdowns with precise calibration - it would be neigh impossible to enforce a required "calibration" standard.

This ^    In a previous life, I designed test stands to break green combine parts.  It is very possible to design and build KD's that would stay calibrated for a 3-day match.  I am guessing in today's environment, each one would cost more than two new rifles with actions jobs.