Having the right targets for your range day can make or break your training session. Every medium for catching bullets has its place, from cardboard cutouts, clay pigeons, rubber e-types, and yes even the venerable steel target. Today we’re looking at two offerings from Shooting Targets USA, the Triple Threat Torso and the Harmonic Human, both having arrived with the Signature Stand.
Let’s cover the specs on both targets briefly, then move towards assembly and range notes.
Tech Specs:
Triple Threat Torso
- Precision-cut from 3/8-inch SR500 ballistic steel
- 18″x30″
- Three swinging mini targets within the torso
- Made in the USA
Harmonic Human
- 12″x28″
- 2x openings in front plate, T-zone and chest vitals
- Rear plate has tuning forks built in, giving a higher pitched ring when hit
- Made in the USA
Signature Stand
- Powder Coated
- Modular for use with multiple target types
- Wide base, reinforced legs
- Adjustable for uneven ground, and target angle
Both of the targets I was send included a Signature Stand, so let’s cover that first. This damn thing is overbuilt. It’s like an I-beam sitting in a steel chassis. Assembly is fast, with the base sitting into laser cut notches in the legs, then the vertical beam sitting in the base. The target sits in notches in the top of the vertical beam.
Interestingly, the legs have 3 different slots the base can sit in, which makes the vertical beam lean forwards or backwards. This can be used to give your target a good angle to deflect bullet spatter downward, or to compensate for sitting on a slope.
The Triple Threat Torso has three mini targets that swing out (or back in) when hit. These mini targets are thick. They have arms that drop into slots on the back side of the torso portion.
The little arms that the targets swing out on also have a little notch sticking out that prevents these mini target zones from hopping out of joint.
The Harmonic Human is aptly named. With cut outs in the front steel in the T-zone of the head and the chest vitals, you get a different tone from the steel plate in the back, thanks to the tuning forks cut into the plate.
That rear plate is held in place by spring loaded bolts, giving it free reign to resonate loudly. Given that conditions aren’t always great to see exactly which part of the plate you’ve hit, getting an aural response for an A+ hit is awesome.
Best Uses:
With a good steel target, your imagination really is the limit for the ways you can train with it. Here’s a couple ideas I’ve put together after a few months with Shooting Targets USA’s steel plates.
The Triple Threat Torso is great for both competitive drills, and for more focused accuracy drills. The 3 swinging mini targets work well with a wide variety of calibers, from 9mm to .308 Winchester in my use cases. The mini’s swing easily, and aren’t prone to getting stuck halfway, nor to bouncing back after swinging out.
The Harmonic Human is awesome for pass/fail drills, with a bit on an enhancement for precision. Steel is always great for hit/miss response during training, but being given a audible reward for hitting the more precise zone is great.
I like putting this target a bit further out than the Triple Threat Torso, and seeing how far I can get while still slipping a .308 round into the A+ zone.
I’ve been working these targets over a lot lately, with my PSA Sabre-10, Glock 43x, and Griffin Armament MKII in .223. The first shot I took on the Triple Threat Torso was a 175gr .308 FMJ from a 20″ barrel at 25 yards.
I figured if can handle that, then the vast majority of what I shoot isn’t gonna harm it. Well, I was able to damage… the paint. Not so much as a dimple in the steel.
The best part? A quick coat of spray paint and you’re back to square one with regards to hit ID.
The Signature Stand absolutely does its job. Not only does it remain totally stable while being hammered, being able to angle the target downwards deflects all the lead and copper spatter into the ground. Steel is well known for being a bit hazardous to shoot at close range, and the Signature Stand absolutely helps to minimize that danger.
Bottom Line:
Steel targets will always have a place on my range. While much heavier (and far less transportable) than cardboard or rubber targets, the Triple Threat Torso and Harmonic Human are both incredibly overbuilt and will last a long time.
The same can be said for the herculean Signature Stand. The Triple Threat Torso (with Signature Stand) runs $587.58, while the Harmonic Human (with stand) runs $628.25. Neither is cheap, but both will provide many years of catching bullets.
–Jens “Rex Nanorum” Hammer
@Rexnanorum
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