Tactical Target Features

Posted by Lance Earl of Lance Earl, LLC on September 01, 2011

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Photos by Susan Deitz of the Power County Press

The Tactical Target (TT) is an innovative targeting system that allows a user to literally program a target with a unique personality.

Overview

Do you want a target that makes a set of totally predictable moves? TT does that. Do you want a target that makes one-hundred percent random and unpredictable moves? TT does that. Do you want the ability to program a personality into your target, quick and choppy, long and slow, hyper or lazy, or any blend of the above? TT does that. As an instructor, do you want a target that allows you, via a remote control, to modify run parameters on the fly while the target is moving? TT does that. As a firearms instructor, would you like the ability to totally control target movements while your student engages the target? TT does that. Would you like a target that can move in four speeds from a walk to a hard run? TT does that too.

Pre-Programmed Challenges

Built into the system are a number of pre-programmed Challenges. These Challenges become progressively more difficult as shooters progress upward. These can be selected from the system menu for quick and easy access to the most frequently used functions. Each run has it's own personality that ranges from slow and dumb (pretty easy to shoot) to wild and random (you will get a cardiovascular workout). Some of these challenges are programmed to give predictable target movements. These are perfect for entry level and intermediate shooters. Other runs are totally random and have been designed to make an experienced shooter think and preform while under mental and physical stress. One of the nicest things about these random challenges is that as the same program is run again and again, it will maintain a consistent level of difficulty while the pattern of the run will always be different.

Custom Runs

In the event that the pre-programmed challenges do not meet your needs, you can build your own. The following are examples of challenges that you might create:

Predictable challenges that might be used in an practical shooting style competition

Example one:

1. Select the custom run
2. Set minimum and maximum pre-move pause to six seconds respectively.
3. Set minimum and maximum speeds to speed one respectively.
4. Set minimum and maximum move size to ten feet respectively.
5. Set run modifier to static.
6. Set run moves to three.
7. When activated, the target will make three ten-foot moves in the same direction at the slowest speed with a six second pause between each move. After the run is completed, the target will automatically reset.

Example two:

1. Select the custom run.
2. Set minimum and maximum pre-move pause to two seconds.
3. Set minimum and maximum speeds to speed nine.
4. Set minimum and maximum move size to thirty feet.
5. Set run modifier to zig-zag.
6. Set run moves to five.
7. When activated, the target will make five thirty-foot moves in alternating directions at the fastest speed possible with a two second pause between each move. After the run is completed, the target will automatically reset.

The following is an example of a random run that may be appropriate for tactical training situations.

1. Select the custom run
2. Set minimum and maximum pre-move pause to one and three seconds respectively.
3. Set minimum and maximum speeds to speed one and nine respectively.
4. Set minimum and maximum move size to ten and thirty feet respectively.
5. Set run modifier to Random.
6. Set run moves to thirty.
7. When activated, the target will make thirty moves of ten to thirty feet in random directions at speeds from one (walk) to nine (hard run) with a one to three second pause between each move. The pre-move pause, move direction, move size and move speed will all be randomly set in compliance with the run parameters. After the run is completed, the target will automatically reset.

The behavior of all pre-programmed and custom runs may be further influenced by the run modifier. Currently four modifiers are available:

1. Auto, when activated, pauses, direction, speed and move size will all be randomly set by the system, in accordance with run parameters.
2. Static, when activated, target moves will continue in the same direction until a pending move will cause a collision with an end pulley. When a pending collision is detected, move direction will be reversed and remain unchanged until another collision is detected.
3. Zig Zag, when activated, target moves will be in alternating directions.
4. Step, when activated, the target will not move until input is received via the remote transmitter. The move will be made when the user presses the left or right transmitter button. When input is received, the target will move in the direction selected by the user. If the user selects a direction that will result in a pulley collision, the target will move in the opposite direction. This mode is very valuable for a instructor who can initiate target moves for his or her student at will. Note: when running a Challenge with another modifier set, the user may drop to step mode at any time using the control panel or the remote transmitter. This is ideal for an instructor who needs to slow a Challenge down or stop it for purposes of instruction.

Measurable Performance

All programmed challenges are started and stopped by pressing a start/stop button. An unlimited number of buttons can placed throughout the shooting area. The shooter simply presses a button to start the run. When he completes the required shots for a run, he moves to and presses any button to stop the run. After the run has been stopped, the run time will be displayed on the system LCD screen. The shooter receives credits for correctly placed shots and loses credits for procedural errors and tactical errors. The shooter then earns a score which is simply the number of credits earned per second. This, however, is just how we do it here at Lance Earl Tactical. The key is that the ability to create your own runs, coupled with the integrated timer, will allow you to create whatever programmed run is best for your organization or agency.

Remote (manual runs)

When activated, all moves are controlled via the remote transmitter. All moves are made by pressing the left or right button. For example, pressing and holding the left or right button will cause the target to move in the direction selected. Releasing the button will cause the target to stop. Pressing the top and bottom remote buttons increase and decrease the move speed.

In summary, if you can think of something you would like the target to do, it probably already does.

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