Best Plinking Guns, Targets & Games

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.

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

Best Revolver

Heritage Rough Rider Revolvers

$140

at GrabAGun

Prices accurate at time of writing

$140 at GrabAGun

Firearms Depot (see price)

Sportsman's Warehouse (see price)

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

Best Rimfire

Ruger 10/22

$229

at Palmetto State Armory

Prices accurate at time of writing

$229 at Palmetto State Armory

Midway USA (see price)

GrabAGun (see price)

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

Best 9mm Carbine

Ruger PC Carbine

$719

at Primary Arms

Prices accurate at time of writing

$719 at Primary Arms

GrabAGun (see price)

Kygunco (see price)

Palmetto State Armory (see price)

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

Best Shotgun

Mossberg 590 Shockwave

$445

at GrabAGun

Prices accurate at time of writing

$445 at GrabAGun

Classic Firearms (see price)

Kygunco (see price)

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)

Most Fun Target

Birchwood Casey Battle Target

$9

at Amazon

Prices accurate at time of writing

$9 at Amazon

Sportsman's Warehouse (see price)

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

Best Reactive Target

Do-All Outdoors Bullet Pong Target

$14

at Amazon

Prices accurate at time of writing

$14 at Amazon

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

Most Durable

Caldwell Duramax Ball

$22

at Amazon

Prices accurate at time of writing

$22 at Amazon

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

Best Steel Targets

Shooting Targets7 Know Your Limits .22LR

$139

at Amazon

Prices accurate at time of writing

$139 at Amazon

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

Caldwell Target Turner

$74

at Caldwell

Prices accurate at time of writing

$74 at Caldwell

Amazon (see price)

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.