Rotating Steel Targets: Benefits and Options

The advantages of incorporating steel targets into firearms training are well known.  Steel targets are a “must” for any range. They provide immediate feedback, indicating hits at a distance, forcing one to shoot until the target falls while adding excitement.  While there are numerous steel target designs, the Rotator offers benefits not found with other designs. They are a worthy addition when trying to advance your firearms training program. 

This type of target is commonly called a “rotator” but may be called a “spinner” when purchased from different vendors.  The concept is deceptively easy.  Two connected steel plates are connected to a common axle.  At rest, one plate is effectively heavier, forcing the plates to rest vertically.  The shooter has to alternate shots to the two plates in such a way that they complete a full, 360-degree spin around the axle.  This sounds simple, but after decades of use, it is not easy for most shooters.

First Shot

Most targets allow the shooter to break their shot at the convenience of the shooter.  What makes rotator targets different is that the target controls the timing of engagement.  For starters, the targets are stationary, but once energy is added to the system, they start to move.  To accomplish the “spin,” the shooter can only hit the right plate at the right time.  This forces the shooter to develop an awareness of the plates and how they are moving within the environment. 

Second Hit

The next shot can have two possible effects.  If mistimed, it can stop the plates from moving, defeating the goal of spinning.  If the next shot is properly placed, the bullet will add momentum to the target, making it move faster.  By making the plates move faster, the window for a “good shot” is reduced with each hit.  The target will automatically become more difficult to hit as the shooter places their hits.  Making the shooter break a shot in a time frame they don’t control, automatically increasing the difficulty of subsequent shots, along with a forced awareness of the plates and their behavior, are what distinguish rotator targets from other offerings and what makes them so valuable.

Common Offerings

While there are other vendors selling similar products, the two biggest suppliers of rotator-style targets are Safe Direction and MGM Targets.  Safe Direction’s Rotator is the original design in this market, and its unique features earned it a U.S. patent.  The Rotator offers two paddles, both approximately 8″ x 8″.  On the Rotator, the plates are offset, one to the left and one to the right.  This offset forces the shooter to move the gun side to side to hit the correct plate.  The design of the Rotator makes it unique as the minimal standoff distance is only 8 yards.

The Spinner from MGM Targets is the other common variation of this target design. This target is popular on the three-gun circuit and regularly engages handgun, shotgun, and rifle rounds. MGM’s design is subtly different, with the bottom plate physically larger than the top plate (8 & 10″). On this target, the plates are not offset, allowing the shooter to track the gun vertically to engage the respective plate.

Differences

I have shot both targets and have used both in training.  Both “work” the same way but have some differences.  For instance, the Rotator forces the shooter to move the gun from left to right, which the MGM doesn’t.  The MGM’s bottom plate is larger than the top plate.  This means that hitting the bottom plate with multiple rounds in one pass is the best way to spin it, and it is easier.  However, the distance between the plates on the MGM is greater, requiring more movement by the shooter to deliver hits.

Also, the Safe Direction uses proprietary legs to support the axle, while the MGM target uses common square tubing.  This means that errant rounds that miss and strike the legs will have greater potential to damage the Rotator.  The square tubing on the MGM means that damaged legs can be replaced easily, and the wider stance of the Spinner makes hits to the legs less likely.  For these reasons, I prefer the MGM Spinner for use with rifles at a distance and the Safe Direction Rotator for closer-range pistol and shotgun work.

Other Considerations

Nothing is perfect, and that is true for rotator-style targets.  The biggest drawback to these targets involves their use on indoor ranges.  When the bullets strike the plates, they break up and often send fragments “up.”  If range lights and other infrastructure aren’t protected, this can lead to damage.  This author has mitigated this issue by building a simple “roof” from plywood to capture the fragments.  The plywood will wear given enough time, but it does seem to alleviate the problem.

Besides the normal checks for wear, there is other maintenance these targets require.  If the interface between the axle and center point isn’t lubricated, it can be very difficult for novice shooters to spin them.  The Rotator recommends the use of powdered graphite to address these concerns.  The Rotator’s instructions even include a method to check the targets and make sure they are properly calibrated and consistent.  The Spinner is lubricated via a grease fitting, which requires a grease gun.  Besides the additional difficulty in spinning the targets, failing to properly lubricate the mechanism of the Spinner can lead to the entire assembly seizing when left outdoors as its tolerances are tighter.

Summary

Don’t allow these minor inconveniences to dissuade you.  Rotator-style targets bring interest and excitement to a range session.  They teach important lessons such as timing, situational awareness, and the ability to break a shot in a time frame not controlled by the shooter.  These targets are great for novice and expert shooters as they automatically adjust their difficulty to match the shooter’s ability.

RESOURCES:

MGM Targets

Safe Direction Targets