Pepper Popper Targets
If you’ve spent any time in the shooting community, you probably know what people mean when they refer to a Pepper Popper target. These falling, steel targets are a staple in all types of competition shooting including USPSA, IPSC and 3-Gun matches. You’ll also see them commonly used by the police and military for firearms training.
Pepper Popper targets were conceptualized and named after their founder John Pepper in December, 1978. John was a veteran of the Korean war and later ran a marksmanship course on the East Coast. He was known for introducing his combat experiences into competition shooting venues. On December 22, 1978, he drafted his concept of what would later be known as the “Pepper Popper Target”. His design included a 30” long x 10” wide base plate made of “channel iron” and a full size 42” tall “Popper” plate.
USPSA Competition Rules provide Steel Popper dimensions, diagrams and calibration zones on page 85. Although USPSA guidelines are considered the gold standard for Pepper Popper specifications, some companies produce steel targets that look similar but don’t meet the exact requirements as outlined in the USPSA rules. Terminology can also be confusing as some companies refer to USPSA Mini-Poppers as “US Poppers”, “2/3 Pepper Poppers” or “Classic Poppers”. Also, it’s not unusual to hear people refer to the Colt Speed Steel as a “Colt Popper” or “Colt Speed Plate”.
Challenge targets is licensed to produce USPSA targets (License# CT-303). Our steel Pepper Poppers are built to USPSA specifications and approved for use in all USPSA and 3-Gun matches. We spent over a year refining our Pepper Popper Base with feedback from professional shooters, match directors and range officers around the country. Our Patent Pending design provides a cost-effective solution for ranges looking to set-up efficient, trouble-free matches on any level.
