Caldwell's New Flash Bang Steel Target Hit Indicator

It wasn’t that long ago that most people had never shot steel targets, and you’d almost never see them at a gun club. It does require a durable steel that can withstand hundreds if not thousands of shots, and only a few people had the mterials and know-how to make their own steel targets. I hadn’t even seen steel targets until my early twenties, but with companies like Caldwell offering extensive product lines of affordable steel targets, people are seeing the light and enjoying the thrill of shooting at steel targets. Once you do, it’s hard to go back to paper, unless you need a hard zero. I thought shooting steel was as good as it gets for fun on the range; that is until I found Caldwell’s new Flash Bang Steel Target Hit Indicator.

Shooting Steel at Distance

I love long-range shooting, and steel targets are the only way to go unless you need to get your steps in and are willing to check paper. The only catch is that it can often be challenging to confirm a hit on steel at greater distances, especially with smaller calibers. I’m a huge 6mm fan, and I’ve been shooting a lot of 6mm ARC and 6mm Creedmoor lately. The range I shoot has large 32-inch steel plates hanging at 1,000 yards, and those are heavy! There are plenty of times that I do hit those plates but can’t confirm through my spotter, so I have to drive down and take a look. The obvious solution is Caldwell’s Flash Bang hit indicator. It’s a small, affordable device that attaches to your steel target and lights up with impacts.

It uses 10 green LED lights that are highly visible at practically any distance. As long as the steel target is five inches or larger, you can attach the Flash Bang and easily call hits. The unit is powered with three included AAA batteries, which give you approximately 30,000 shots on that charge. The Flash Bang is sensitive, too, and it can detect impacts of even a .223 Rem. At 1,000 yards. However, it’s not just a unique tool for long-range shooting. If you’re a rimfire fanatic, throw a few Flash Bangs on your 100- and 200-yard targets. It will pick up those hits, too, and provide a satisfying green flash when hit.

Caldwell Steel Targets 

The Caldwell Flash Bang attaches to steel targets (five inches or larger) with an included adhesive hook and loop (Velcro) material. Most of the unit is protected by the steel plate, but the green flashing lights to stick out the side. That is the one catch with the Caldwell Flash Bang, as there is the possibility of shooting the lights. Unfortunately, the Flash Bang is not quite as durable as Caldwell’s steel targets, so a hit to the lights would be destroy some of the lights. Fortunately, there are 10 of them, so if you hit one or two, you still can have a few lights that can work. If you end up shooting all of the lights, well, the Caldwell Flash Bang is only about $30, so it’s not going to set you back too much. It’s also important to note that the unit is not waterproof, so you can’t leave it out in the rain all the time, hence the Velcro attachments.

Check Price on Scheels Check Price on Caldwell

All-in-all, the Caldwell Flash Bang is an excellent tool for shooting steel at any range. It’s compact, easy to carry and set up, and it’s affordable enough to get several for all your steel targets. Caldwell has an extensive line of steel targets as well as a unique line of steel target hangers that you definitely need to check out. They have a bit of everything, including pop-up steel targets, animal shapes, IPSC, spinning, portable and even a new line of rimfire steel targets. If you don’t have any steel targets yet, you definitely need to check them out, and don’t forget the Flash Bang!

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