Pistol targets are one of the most commonly used training equipment that many trainers use to help their students learn proper shooting technique. In fact, most experienced shooters will tell you that they would happily use anything rather than a pistol in any circumstance other than shooting competitions. There are a number of different types of pistol targets available on the market, and you should do your research to find the one that is best suited to your needs. Some are made to be very realistic, while others are much less expensive and more easily broken.
Two types of pistol targets are popular for training, and both of them can provide you with a good way to improve your skills at shooting while on the range. The first type is designed as an alternative to shooting mats. A variety of different colored plastic targets are set up on the ground, and the shooter has to shoot off a series of balls at these plastic obstacles in order to get a score. This type of test is designed to simulate the range time required to get a clean shot, without actually having to fire a weapon at the target. The pattern of the shots is based on the requirements of the competition, and the shooter doesn't have to worry about taking a shot at the mark if his aim is not correct. Take a look at: https://ustargetinc.com/
The second style of target is paper targets. These targets are cheaper than the plastic ones, and even have a small footprint to simulate the environment on which you'll be shooting. They are a bit trickier to use, but they're also easier to see when you're working on improving your shooting skills. They allow you to place your target anywhere, in any situation, and it's easy to see where you're hitting your target, especially when you're working on a good steady shot. Paper targets are ideal for practicing your pistol handling skills.
For people who are just starting out, you might want to try out a couple of different pistol targets first. This will allow you to find out what types of shots feel the best, and which ones you're comfortable with. This will also let you know what to work on using paper targets, and which ones you should stay away from using. Some people like the sound of hitting an animal, and will naturally gravitate towards hunting animals on paper targets.
You can also experiment with shooting squirrels and other small animals on steel targets, although I wouldn't recommend it. Your goal here is accuracy, and not quantity. There's no need to get overly excited over every little squirrel, rabbit or chicken you shoot as you will easily miss most of them, even if you get the hit once. A good general rule of thumb is to aim for the center of your target, and don't waste too much energy trying to hit the targets out in left field. If you focus too much on these smaller animals, you won't develop your pistol shooting skills as efficiently.
For example, I prefer to shoot steel gun targets for practice instead of going after an elk or a moose. I prefer shooting distance between one and five yards to maximize my accuracy. If I were going after an elk, I would definitely aim for a target at least two feet further out than I normally shoot, so that I have more of a chance of making that shot.
Check out this post for more details related to this article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooting_range.