I’m willing to bet the vast majority of shooting done in this world is plinking. Well, most civilian shooting anyway.
Plinking is where most of us got our start in shooting.
I love training, but plinking brings me the most joy — especially now that I’m a dad and have mini-shooting buddies to join me at the range.
Plinking is a catch-all term applied to the world of informal shooting. You ever taken a brick of .22 LR and a good rifle and shot some tin cans for the fun of it? That’s plinking.
If you aren’t training, competing, or doing any particular task, you are likely plinking. Plinking often gets lost in all the noise we make with training, competing, hunting, and the like.
However, let’s take plinking back! Remember that shooting is fun and brings fun back into the equation. So, with that in mind, let’s talk about some of our favorite guns and gear to take to the range and plink with.
THE QUICK LIST
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Best Revolver
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Best Rimfire
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Best 9mm Carbine
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Best Shotgun
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Most Fun Target
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Best Reactive Target
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Most Durable
Table of Contents
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How We Tested the Plinking Guns and Targets
We spend a good majority of our time at the range for work, but we also like to have too. Over our collective experience, we’ve plinked with a variety of firearms — from revolvers to ARs and just about everything in between. Add that to our extensive personal collections of plinking guns (and targets) and, well, we’ve got a lot of opinions and data on what we think makes a good plinking gun.
All hands-on reviews here at Pew Pew Tactical adhere to a strict testing protocol which includes 500 rounds through every gun. We also test with both FMJ and JHP ammunition to evaluate reliability with different types of ammunition. We shoot 5-round groups and 5 and 7 yards and use a pistol rest for at least one round of fire to eliminate shooter error.
All plinking guns are evaluated based on hits on target, ability to reliably fire, ergonomics, overall value, and fun factor!
For targets, we narrowed those down to those that represent good value, durability, and, again, overall fun factor.
Best Plinking Guns
Heritage Arms Rough Rider – Best Revolver
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- Affordable
- Variety of barrel lengths
- Western flair
Cons
- Only six rounds
Plinking doesn’t need to be expensive, and the Heritage Rough Rider proves that with a simple gun at a low price point.
Heritage Arms Rough Rider revolvers are rimfire guns in .22 LR, but you can also use .22 Magnum cylinders. These guns are super cheap and tons of fun.
The Rough Rider series come in various barrel lengths from 4.5 to 6 inches and out to 16 inches. Beyond that, they also offer the Barkeep variant with its super short barrel and the Rancher carbine, which extends the Rough Rider into a rifle.
Regardless of which model you choose, you can be confident that it will be fun to shoot, reliable, and cheap! The basic models can be found for $150 a lot of the time, with some sales dipping beneath $100.
For more details on the Rough Rider, check out our review!
Ruger 10/22 – Best Rimfire
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- Affordable
- Accurate
- Wide array of models
- Huge aftermarket
Cons
- Occasional feeding issues with some magazines
The Ruger 10/22 has to be mentioned — the most successful .22 LR rifle ever made. I can’t fathom how many shooters cut their teeth on the Ruger 10/22.
Even with all its popularity, the Ruger 10/22 remains affordable, easy to find, and, best of all, easy to accessorize. You can turn it into a tactical beast, a super accurate marksman’s rifle, or heck, dress it up as a P90, a G36, and more.
Ruger’s little shooter is a great plinking choice solely for its proven reliability, affordability, and ability to accessorize it.
What do you think of the 10/22? Rate it below!
Ruger PC Carbine – Best 9mm Carbine
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- Takedown design
- Runs on Ruger or Glock mags
- Last round bolt hold open
- Multiple models
Cons
- Some models are heavier
The easiest and most affordable option to plink with is a pistol-caliber carbine when we move to centerfire rifles.
Ruger’s PC Carbine essentially brings the 10/22 layout to a 9mm carbine. These carbines are super handy, reliable, fun to shoot, accurate, and affordable.
This 9mm blaster can utilize common Glock magazines that make it affordable and easy to wield. This lightweight little shooter uses a dead blow recoil system that helps take the sting out of a blowback gun.
It’s tough to pick just one PCC, but I think the affordability of the Ruger PC Carbine combined with the easy ergonomics, accuracy, and common magazine pattern takes the cake.
We reviewed the Ruger PC Carbine, so read more in our article.
Mossberg Shockwave – Best Shotgun
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- Super reliable
- Runs a variety of ammo
- Comes in 12, 20, and .410 gauge
- Feeds recoil addiction
Cons
- Not for everyone
Yep, the Mossberg Shockwave makes the list. It’s not a plinker for everyone, but for me, I love it.
The challenge of the gun’s recoil and muzzle rise makes it fun. Slap on a Crimson Trace Laser Saddle, and you’ll be having a blast before you know it.
Every other gun on this list is perfect for kids and new shooters, but I’d suggest the Shockwave for more experienced adults. Maybe the .410 variant is kid-friendly, but still, leave these mostly to the adults.
The Raptor grip-equipped Shockwave can be a ton of fun when you start blasting away. It’s exceptionally fun to put a load of buckshot or birdshot into a target and deal with the bucking bronco that is the Mossberg Shockwave.
There are also plenty of ways to upgrade it. (You can read about it here.)
We have a few articles on the Shockwave if you want to dive deeper. Head over to Mossberg Shockwave: How Is It Legal or Mossberg 590M Shockwave: Magazine-Fed Freedom.
Best Plinking Targets
Having guns is one part of the equation, but having something to shoot them with is the other.
I’ve gathered a few of my favorite targets that exemplify fun and affordability.
Any target can be used for plinking, and I mean anything, from soda cans to steel torsos; however, these targets are designed to be fun more than anything else.
Birchwood Casey Battle Target (Battleship)
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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These little paper targets lay out a variety of ships with red and green dots decorating the ships. I’m sure Hasbro, or whoever owns the Battleship name and Birchwood can’t say it’s Battleship, but it’s Battleship.
However, instead of putting little plastic pegs into your battleships, you’re dropping lead into them! It’s not about guesswork but more about accuracy. Each target has two sides, and it becomes a fun and quick competition.
Do-All Outdoors Bullet Pong Target
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Steel reactive targets are fun, but there can be safety concerns, and when dealing with kids, let’s make it as safe as possible. The Bullet Pong target provides shooters a polymer spinning target that spins when shot.
It’s simple, super cheap, and a ton of fun. You can shoot it with anything from a .22 to a .50 cal. This target is self-healing and will absorb tons of rounds. Shooters will quickly get their money’s worth.
I love using these to teach new shooters. Instead of focusing on hitting the bull’s eye and getting disappointed when they don’t, all shooters need is to hit a target the size of a ping pong paddle.
Plus, it spins after every shot.
Caldwell Duramax 5-inch ball
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Another fun reactive target comes from Caldwell and is the Duramax Self-Healing Ball. It can take many hits, and with every hit, it moves, jumps, and rolls.
This thing can take hits from any caliber, up to .50 cal.
I used it mostly with my Shockwave, and I always got a thrill by rocking the Duramax ball all around the range with some birdshot. The design is rugged, made for the outdoors, and can be tied up.
All in all, it’s simple and fun, and that’s the best part of plinking.
Shooting Targets7 Know Your Limits .22LR
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The only steel target I have on this list comes from Shooting Targets7.
The Know Your Limits .22 LR steel target is perfect for plinking. It’s a series of eight ¼-inch thick AR500 steel gongs that swing.
These things are ultra-small — the largest is 2 inches wide, and they get down to .25 inches.
Targets like this are used at the NRL22 matches due to the challenge they create. They are also super reactive and swing rapidly when hit.
I love this setup and use it all the time.
Caldwell Target Turner
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Last but not least, the Caldwell Target Turner can really spice things up.
This isn’t a target but a simple device planted into the ground. Nope, it spins the target towards you. The Target Turner is reactive, fun, and moves a target 90 degrees at a time.
You can adjust the speed and utilize various cardboard and paper targets. It won’t spin steel or anything crazy.
Keep it light, and it’ll spin and bring an entirely new challenge to the world of plinking. The Caldwell Target Turner isn’t super cheap, but in my opinion, it’s fairly priced for its features and design.
Plinking Games & Fun
Shotgun Soccer/Shotgun Golf
Get a Shockwave (or any shotgun) and the Caldwell Duramax ball, and start what I call shotgun soccer.
Now, this is a one-at-a-time game and might be better-called shotgun golf. The object of the game is simply to get the ball to the goal in as few shots as possible.
You start a certain range from the berm and set up a designated goal. I use two basic fence poles. Land the ball between the pole and yell GOAL!
The game is played in rounds and is best done with friends. It will likely require a private range, but if you can play, it’s a ton of fun.
It’s also funny how unpredictable the ball is and how quickly you learn that a real hole-in-one is rare.
Horse (With Guns)
Horse, the classic basketball-based game that challenges you to make shots and mimic other players, can be done with guns.
For plinking purposes, the Know Your Limits .22 LR targets work perfectly. Shooters match each other’s shots.
In this variant of Horse, players will be tasked with hitting small targets and mimicking the position and style of the first shooter.
Nothing crazy, but if they hit the .75-inch target in the standing, you must do the same. If they shoot with their offhand or a single hand, you got to mimic that style to avoid a letter.
You can also use any series of targets for this game, including playing cards, soda cans, or whatever. The more varied the targets are in size and shape, the better, and that’s why I like the KYL targets for this game.
VTAC Barricade
This is less of a game and more of a way to spice up range time. Build your very own barricade to run drills, or just make training a little more interesting than just target shooting.
Supplies are pretty easy to come by and it’s a fun project to work on by yourself or with your range buddies.
We have a whole video dedicated to building the VTAC Barricade, so check it out for some inspo.
Why Trust Pew Pew Tactical
The Pew Pew Tactical team has a ton of experience with a variety of firearms — modern, antiques, etc. — but we’re first and foremost gun owners ourselves. That means we spend a lot of time at the range plinking. We know what makes a good plinker and what doesn’t.
But just to give a bit more background on who’s behind this particular article, we’d like to introduce the team that wrote and edited this piece.
First up, leading this article is Pew Pew Tactical Author Travis Pike. Travis is a Marine infantry veteran and concealed carry instructor out of Florida. Travis is a certified NRA Basic Pistol Instructor and earned his Expert Rifle Badge from the USMC while in service. Travis has written thousands of articles for multiple publications in the gun industry and has tested and evaluated hundreds of guns during that time. That means he has spent a lot of time plinking and trying out targets of all kinds.
Editing this article is Pew Pew Tactical Content Producer & Author Sean Curtis. Sean is a retired police officer with over 20 years in law enforcement, having served as deputy sheriff, Patrol Commander, SWAT Team Leader, and DA Investigator during his career. He is a POST-certified handgun instructor, USCCA Rifle Instructor, Tactical Performance Center Handgun Mastery & Carbine Mastery graduate, among other certifications. He has written for a variety of publications in his career to include Police1, Guns.com, Gun World Magazine, American Survival Guide, and Glock Annual. He now spends a lot of time at the range testing guns and gear for Pew Pew Tactical.
Editor-in-Chief Jacki Billings rounds out the team behind this article. With a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications, Jacki runs our experienced team of expert writers and editors. She has worked as a media professional for over 20 years and has specialized in gun media for almost 10 years. As Editor-in-Chief, she uses her expertise to set testing protocols and editorial standards across the site. During her career, she has tested and shot hundreds of guns.
Final Thoughts
I rely on a few things to relieve stress in my life…plinking is one of those things. Tuning out and having fun with guns is a great way to have fun, rest, and recharge.
The above is how I pink, but what about you? Let me know your favorite plinking guns and ammo in the comments below. Need more targets? We got you. Check out our round-up of the Best Targets & Stands.
Latest Updates
- September 2024: Removed Aero Prevision M16A4 Clone and added VTAC Barricade.
22 Leave a Reply
I trained my wife to shoot in an isolated sand pit, where I’d throw different-colored golf balls for her to hit, first with a High Standard .22LR pistol, then with a Ruger 10/22. After a couple of bricks of .22LR ammunition, she began sharpening her focus, taking her time and gently pressing the trigger… and began hitting the stationary balls. With more practice, she began hitting the balls as they rolled.
Raining like this has limited application, as one rock or piece of steel could ruin someone’s day (or worse). The sand pit was perfect, located far from people and domesticated animals.
The Ruger 10/22 is an excellent choice.
I trained my wife to shoot in an isolated sand pit, where I’d throw different-colored golf balls for her to hit, first with a High Standard .22LR pistol, then with a Ruger 10/22. After a couple of bricks of .22LR ammunition, she began sharpening her focus, taking her time and gently pressing the trigger… and began hitting the stationary balls. With more practice, she began hitting the balls as they rolled.
Raining like this has limited application, as one rock or piece of steel could ruin someone’s day (or worse). The sand pit was perfect, located far from people and domesticated animals.
The Ruger 10/22 is an excellent choice.
I trained my wife to shoot in an isolated sand pit, where I’d throw different-colored golf balls for her to hit, first with a High Standard .22LR pistol, then with a Ruger 10/22. After a couple of bricks of .22LR ammunition, she began sharpening her focus, taking her time and gently pressing the trigger… and began hitting the stationary balls. With more practice, she began hitting the balls as they rolled.
Raining like this has limited application, as one rock or piece of steel could ruin someone’s day (or worse). The sand pit was perfect, located far from people and domesticated animals.
The Ruger 10/22 is an excellent choice.
The first gun I ever bought was a Ruger single six for about $75.
About 20 guns later and some of those are upwards of $2000, the Ruger still gets used the most. It's like a Swiss Army knife.
Everyone has their favorite, but when I think plinking, I think simple, fun and cheap. I simply cannot think of a gun which meets that standard better than the KelTec P17. Available for well under $200, 17 round capacity, threaded barrel for suppressed shooting, and just a damn fun gun. The first batch did have some issues, but those have long since been ironed out and mine is 100% reliable and shoots any ammo you feed it. For an extra few bucks you can get a Crimson Trace red dot direct from KelTec! Talk about FUN! Along with the Ruger 10/22 as a plinking rifle, this combo is unbeatable. The list was a miss IMHO without this gun!
Everyone has their favorite, but when I think plinking, I think simple, fun and cheap. I simply cannot think of a gun which meets that standard better than the KelTec P17. Available for well under $200, 17 round capacity, threaded barrel for suppressed shooting, and just a damn fun gun. The first batch did have some issues, but those have long since been ironed out and mine is 100% reliable and shoots any ammo you feed it. For an extra few bucks you can get a Crimson Trace red dot direct from KelTec! Talk about FUN! Along with the Ruger 10/22 as a plinking rifle, this combo is unbeatable. The list was a miss IMHO without this gun!
Everyone has their favorite, but when I think plinking, I think simple, fun and cheap. I simply cannot think of a gun which meets that standard better than the KelTec P17. Available for well under $200, 17 round capacity, threaded barrel for suppressed shooting, and just a damn fun gun. The first batch did have some issues, but those have long since been ironed out and mine is 100% reliable and shoots any ammo you feed it. For an extra few bucks you can get a Crimson Trace red dot direct from KelTec! Talk about FUN! Along with the Ruger 10/22 as a plinking rifle, this combo is unbeatable. The list was a miss IMHO without this gun!
I think you have the wrong revolver. Look at the Diamondback Sidekick, 9 rounds, D/SA, 22 LR and 22 WMR cylinders and uses the same grips and holsters as the Heritage and Ruger Wrangler, all for $300 or less.
Why are your pages off to the left sll the time now ?
Whoa! No Ruger Mark IV? Made for plinking. Not so sure about the Ruger PC Carbine as a plinker, though.
Amazing blog! we have decided to buy some firearms before purchasing these firearms, we consult with Turners Outdoorsman about the firearms and we bought some tools from them. We got some information from some blogs and our experience was amazing.
The days when a couple of 100 round .22 LR bricks cost less than $4 are long gone. I've a few old boxes of 50 round boxes with a price tag of 26 cents.
.22 LR will always be the "Plinking Caliber" in my mind.
One option the article didn't mention was CMMGs excellent .22 LR Conversion kits for AR-15s. An excellent choice to run for plinking. Not match grade accurate, but accurate enough inside 100 feet for an afternoon of Plink. Less than 2 bills, they are an affordable option that won't break the bank.
There's so much out there target wise for Plinking, you could dedicate at least two articles just on targets alone. From Paper all the way to Binary Explosives, and nearly everything in between.
I too, like the Heritage line of .22s. A darn good choice for an affordable plinker, and an excellent choice for teaching fundamentals to Newbies and kids. They also help stretch that ammo out, as each shot requires cocking the hammer.
I've bought 3 so far, with 2 more to go. As each grandchild comes of age, they'll get a decent little Plunkett as their 21st B-Day present from Gramps.
I've got a bunch of guns, 83 of them currently, in all different calibers, rifle shotguns, and pistols bought and traded for and built over many years including some of the latest and greatest. I love shooting and gladly shoot all different calibers from .22 to .50 cal and just about anything in between. And after all my years of shooting starting at age 6 and getting my first .22 then (still have it) ... my favorite and most enjoyable for plinking is still the .22 round.
I love the pictures and video with people dressed in suit and tie or a tux or business casual. It is a welcome relief from the tactical “uniform “ of all other shooting blogs. I love it! Please keep dressing people up and shooting guns!
I grew up with a rifle in my hand. From Daisy BB gun to Crosman 2100 pellet gun before Dad let me have his Remington 510X Targetmaster .22 when I was 16. Sparrows were kept in check on our farm. Before digital cameras became the norm, 35mm film canisters were great pistol targets. When you bought RC Cola in glass bottles, the bottle caps made challenging targets. When I got cocky, I would mount a 5/8 steel washer on a board and put an acorn behind it. Had to shoot through the hole and blow the acorn away. Now THAT's a challenge. My favorite targets today, whether plinking with my .22s at 25 yards or sighting in my .223 Wylde at 100 yds are 1 inch or 1/2 inch neon orange stickers. You can get a roll of a THOUSAND stickers on Amazon for $6. Plant a couple of T-Posts, slide on an old wooden pallet, staple a chunk of cardboard, scatter some dots, and I'm ready for some shootin. $6 for a thousand targets? Yes, please. For handgun training with my .45 Kimber, my vital body mass target? Standard size paper plate with a cute little 1 inch orange dot sticker in the middle. Full mag on the plate at 10 yards, and I call that good. Got to tell ya, though. I'm going to have to try the battleship targets and go head to head with my "little" 51 year old brudder. . .
The best free targets are empty medicine bottles made of durable white plastic. Very pliable, long lasting and tons of fun.
Love to plink. My wife's first shot with my Ruger Security 6 split the cap of a 2lt bottle at 20'. The 2nd shot blew it up. Will share the games with the kids.
If you're on a farm instead of on a range, grasshoppers tend to park themselves on the ground or on a blade of grass and those grasshoppers make fantastic handgun targets at any distance you can see them.
Recently bought a Taurus TX-22 pistol and LOVE plinking with it! The local VFW hosted a .22 competition using four targets (first target at 5 yds, second at 7, third at 10 and fourth at max distance). Fire six shots at 5 yd target using only right hand, pause (in case someone needs to reload), then six more. Fire six shots using only left hand, pause, fire six more. All the other targets are fired at with two-handed grip.
I was surprised to find I have better accuracy one-handed right now!! Just reminded me that I have more plinking to do
ok good joke!
72 yrs old male, life long hunter, borne on a farm. By age 7 i was a menace to every chicken, pig, cow or wildlife that moved, dogs too! Never discount the mischief that a kid with a Daisy BB gun can get into. Fun was tagging ole Mr bull where it ''really hurts"!
I, like you all, love shooting, period. And plinking is the best stress relief I know of. I have maybe 5-22's rifles and a couple pistols. They are the best training weapon for young and old learner's, alike. Cheap fun? Who doesn't like having 8 out of 9 grandkids at the range for a afternoon long session of ''plinking''. That takes deep pockets---- food and ammo............ but the personal pleasure of them having fun with pawpaw is worth a million $'s. And better citizen's too. Respect for others, safety, discipline, loyalty, that combines too make- Great Americans.
"GOD, GUTS, AND GUNS" is what made and keeps 'AMERICA FREE & GREAT'
Have fun with your troops............... And plink onnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!!!!!
Just got the Ruger PC9 and went to the range. It was fun and addicting to shoot. Put 190 rounds of various weights and types through it before I realized it. Since I have the Ruger Security 9 I already have extra mags. I could only shoot to 25 yards because the range was indoors. In .22Lr, I really enjoy my Walther P22Q for plinking.
Gotta give some love to the Extar EP9. Almost half the cost of the Ruger and fun as heck to shoot. Tons of modifications available and a great community of supporters. Extar continues to improve there product while keeping it affordable to the every day shooter. Just my two bits.