What does Target Mean?

[nedmoore]

Can you guys explain to me when certain models of guns say target at the end of the model names. I assume it is a gun with tighter manufacturing spec's for competitive shooting.

[Liko81]

It generally refers to a variation of the design suited for target shooting, as opposed to the everyday plinking/defense model. It can also mean as opposed to a "trainer"; for instance, the Ruger 22/45 Mk III is a .22 pistol designed so that the controls and grip frame are similar to a 1911. A "target" model compared to other models of that design will have a longer and/or bull barrel, more finely or easily adjustable sights, more substantial grips or the opportunity to replace them easily, a scope dovetail, and/or a crisper, shorter, and/or adjustable trigger.

It's not quite as useless a term as "tactical", yet, but it's getting there; most stock "target" model pistols are still not precise or custom-fit enough to be suitable for long-range pistol competitions, and professional targets pistols cost thousands.

[G.C.Montgomery]

It generally refers to a variation of the design suited for target shooting, as opposed to the everyday plinking/defense model. It can also mean as opposed to a "trainer"; for instance, the Ruger 22/45 Mk III is a .22 pistol designed so that the controls and grip frame are similar to a 1911. A "target" model compared to other models of that design will have a longer and/or bull barrel, more finely or easily adjustable sights, more substantial grips or the opportunity to replace them easily, a scope dovetail, and/or a crisper, shorter, and/or adjustable trigger.

It's not quite as useless a term as "tactical", yet, but it's getting there; most stock "target" model pistols are still not precise or custom-fit enough to be suitable for long-range pistol competitions, and professional targets pistols cost thousands.

Sometimes, it mean's almost nothing unless the feature adds value in the mind of the consumer. A good example is the Kimber Custom versus the Kimber Custom Target model 1911 pistol. The only difference betweeen the two is the Target model costs $50-$100 more in exchange for Kimber's copy of the Bomar adjustable rear sight. While fitting the adjustable sight requires additional machining. Neither the sight, nor the extra machining add more than $15 to the cost of the gun over a typical production run for all Kimber models of similar configuration. No additional fitting is performed to the slide, frame, barrel or the trigger system. One is as precise, accurate and reliable as the other.

[aardwolf]

It's a marketing term. It can mean anything but it usually means you pay more.

[flintknapper]

Both of these Ruger 22/45’s are “Target� models, owing only to their adjustable rear sights and Bull Barrels.

In this case… barrel length has nothing to do with the target designation.

Features that make a firearm a “Target� model can vary greatly from one manufacturer to the next. The term doesn’t really mean much these days IMO.

[txinvestigator]

TARGET: