The History and Scoring Zones of the B21 Target: A Guide for Shooters

Posted by Torres Targets on Apr 4th 2023

The History and Scoring Zones of the B21 Target: A Guide for Shooters

The B21 Target has been a staple in the shooting world for decades. It's used by law enforcement agencies, military personnel, and civilian shooters around the globe. But what makes this target so legendary? In this post, we'll dive deep into the B21 Target's history, scoring zones, and how to use it to become a pro shooter.

The B21 Target is a silhouette of a human figure that features ten scoring zones representing vital organs. Each scoring zone has its own point value, with the largest scoring zone located in the chest area worth 5 points. The next two largest scoring zones in the upper and lower abdominal areas are worth 4 points each, while the shoulder area zones are worth 3 points. The upper arm area zones are worth 2 points, and the lower arm area zones are worth 2 points each.

But what's the history behind the B21 Target? The target was first introduced by the Los Angeles Police Department in the 1970s as a training tool for their officers. It was designed to replicate a human silhouette and to provide officers with a realistic shooting experience. Since then, the B21 Target has become a staple in law enforcement training and is also used by civilians for self-defense and competitive shooting.

Now, let's talk about how to score the B21 Target. To score the target, tally your hits within each scoring zone and add up the point values. The maximum score you can achieve on the B21 Target 5 times the total number of rounds allowed (example 50 rounds x 5 points + 250 points). Remember that the larger scoring zones represent more vital organs and carry more points. The smaller scoring zones are worth fewer points, but hitting them can help you improve your aim and accuracy. You can add time and distance requirements like many law enforcement agencies do. 

Example:

Distance From
Target
Rounds Fired
Time Allowed
3 yards
3 Rounds
5 Seconds

3 yards

3 Rounds

5 Seconds

3 yards

4 Rounds

5 Seconds

5 yards

3 Rounds

5 Seconds

5 yards

3 Rounds

5 Seconds

5 yards

2 Rounds

3 Seconds

5 yards

2 Rounds

3 Seconds

7 Yards

3 Rounds

5 Seconds

7 Yards

3 Rounds

5 Seconds

7 Yards

2 Rounds

3 Seconds

10 Yards

3 Rounds

5 Seconds

10 Yards

3 Rounds

5 Seconds

10 Yards

2 Rounds

5 Seconds

15 Yards

2 Rounds

8 Seconds

15 Yards

2 Rounds

8 Seconds

15 Yards

2 Rounds

8 Seconds

15 Yards

2 Rounds

8 Seconds

25 Yards

2 Rounds

15 Seconds

25 Yards

2 Rounds

15 Seconds

25 Yards

2 Rounds

15 Seconds

Score 50 Possible Hits Total Minimum Passing Score 38

In conclusion, the B21 Target is an incredibly versatile and challenging target that's loved by shooters of all levels. With its realistic design, challenging scoring zones, and rich history, the B21 Target is the ideal tool for improving your shooting skills and becoming a pro. So why wait? Choose Torres Targets for premium-quality B21 Paper Shooting Targets that will take your shooting game to the next level!