Quick answer: the right paper target is whichever one your course of fire calls for. B-27 silhouettes (B-27PR and B-27-E) use numbered scoring rings, the Q-FBI uses a "bottle" outline where a hit inside counts, and photo or color targets like the IALEFI-QR, ICE-QT and SQT-A1 are built for specific qualification and instructor courses. NRA B-16 and B-2 targets are for slow-fire bullseye, and USPSA/IPSC paper is for action-pistol practice.
If you're an instructor, a range officer, a CCW student or a shooter getting ready for a qualification, the alphabet soup of target names can be confusing. Here's what each one looks like, how it's scored and when to use it.
Paper qualification targets at a glance
| Target | Size | What it looks like | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| B-27PR | 23" x 45" | Full-size NRA police silhouette with scoring rings | Qualification, defensive pistol and carbine |
| B-27-E | 23" x 35" | Economy-size police silhouette, scored to the 7 ring | Qualification, CCW classes |
| B-21-E Blue | 23" x 35" | Blue police silhouette scored by body zone | Shot-placement training |
| Q-FBI | 23" x 35" | Two-tone grey "bottle" outline | Hit/miss qualification and defensive drills |
| ICE-QT | 23" x 35" | Black-and-white "man with gun" qualification target | Courses that specify the ICE-QT |
| IALEFI-QR | 23" x 35" | Black and white photo of a person | Instructor courses, threat identification |
| SQT-A1 Green | 23" x 35" | Green silhouette | Courses that specify the SQT-A1 |
| NRA B-16 | 10.5" x 12" | Bullseye on tag board | 25-yard slow-fire pistol |
| NRA B-2 | 10.5" x 12" | Bullseye on tag board | 50-foot slow-fire pistol |
| USPSA/IPSC practice | 20" x 32" | Torso with A, C and D zones | Action-pistol practice and match prep |
Why the target matters
A qualification score only means something if everyone shoots the same target. Change the target and you change the test: a big scoring ring is easier to hit than a narrow bottle, and a photo of a person is a different mental task than a black silhouette. That's why courses of fire name a specific target, and why instructors stock the exact one their course calls for.
The most common size for qualification paper is 23" x 35". Almost every target in this guide uses it except the full-size B-27PR, the small NRA bullseyes and USPSA/IPSC paper.
Police silhouettes: B-27PR, B-27-E and B-21-E
The B-27 is the classic NRA police silhouette: a black human outline with numbered rings around center mass. Higher numbers sit closer to the middle, so your score rewards tight, centered hits.
- B-27PR is the full-size version at 23" x 45". It's our pick for qualification days and for defensive pistol and carbine practice.
- B-27-E is the economy size at 23" x 35", scored to the 7 ring. It fits standard backers and stands, which makes it the everyday choice for classes and practice.
- B-21-E Blue is a 23" x 35" blue police silhouette scored by body zone instead of a ring count. It's useful for shot-placement drills where you want students thinking about where a hit lands, not just the number.
Bottle and photo targets: Q-FBI and IALEFI-QR
The Q-FBI is a two-tone grey target built around the "bottle" outline, a Q-style shape that covers the head and upper body. The Q bottle is a staple of law-enforcement training because scoring is simple: many courses count anything inside the bottle as a hit and anything outside as a miss. There's no partial credit for "close," which makes it a strict, honest test.
The IALEFI-QR comes from the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors. Instead of a printed silhouette, it uses a black and white photo of a person. Photo targets push shooters to identify and react to something that looks real, which makes them a good fit for instructor courses and threat-identification training.
Course-specific targets: ICE-QT and SQT-A1
Some qualification courses are written around one particular target. The ICE-QT and the green SQT-A1 are both 23" x 35" qualification targets in this category. They're chosen to go with the courses that call for them, so the best rule is simple: if your agency, academy or instructor names one of these targets, bring that exact target. If you're not sure which one your course uses, ask your firearms instructor before you buy.
Bullseye targets: NRA B-16 and B-2
Not every qualification is a defensive drill. The NRA B-16 is the official 25-yard slow-fire pistol target, and the NRA B-2 is the official 50-foot slow-fire target, popular on indoor ranges. Both are 10.5" x 12" and printed on tag board, a stiffer stock than regular paper. These are the targets for pure marksmanship: trigger control, sight alignment and patience.
Competition paper and cardboard: USPSA/IPSC and IDPA
If you shoot action-pistol matches, practice on the target you'll see at the match. Our USPSA/IPSC practice target is 20" x 32" paper with A, C and D zones. The A-zone is worth the most, so it's perfect for accuracy drills at speed.
For match-style practice, the official USPSA/IPSC cardboard target (18" x 30", white on one side and brown on the other) and the official IDPA cardboard target (printed on both sides) are the real thing.
Setting up paper the right way
- Use a backer. Our 24" x 35" cardboard backers are single-wall 32ECT corrugated with vertical flutes, sized to fit 23" x 35" targets like the B-27-E, Q-FBI, ICE-QT and SQT-A1. The vertical flutes make stapling easy.
- Use a stable stand. Our Paper Target Stand holds standard 1x2 boards and weighs about 10 pounds, so it's easy to carry to the line.
- Plan for the tall one. The B-27PR is 45" tall, so it will run past a 35" backer. Give it a taller backing if you want the whole sheet supported.
- Buy for the whole class. A qualification day burns through targets fast. Count shooters, relays and re-shoots before you order.
Common mistakes
- Practicing on a different target than you'll qualify on. A ring target and a bottle target score very differently. Train on the one you'll be tested on.
- Assuming every "police target" is the same. B-27, B-21 and Q targets all look like silhouettes but score differently.
- Skipping the backer. Unsupported paper flaps, tears and gives you ragged holes that are hard to score.
- Running short on qualification day. Order enough for every relay, plus spares.
- Shooting steel too close instead. If your drill calls for 3 to 7 yard shots, that's a job for paper or cardboard, not steel.
What to buy
For law-enforcement and CCW qualification: B-27PR, B-27-E and Q-FBI.
For instructor and course-specific qualification: IALEFI-QR and ICE-QT.
For bullseye marksmanship: the NRA B-16 for 25 yards (the B-2 covers 50-foot indoor lanes).
For action-pistol practice: USPSA/IPSC paper and IDPA cardboard.
To hang it all: 24" x 35" Cardboard Backers and our Paper Target Stand. You'll find the B-21-E Blue, SQT-A1, B-2 and USPSA/IPSC cardboard in our paper and cardboard collection.
FAQ
What's the difference between the B-27PR and the B-27-E?
Size. The B-27PR is the full 23" x 45" silhouette. The B-27-E is the economy 23" x 35" version, scored to the 7 ring, and fits standard backers.
How is a Q target scored?
It depends on the course, but many score it hit or miss: inside the bottle is a hit, outside is a miss.
Which target do I need for my qualification?
The one your course of fire names. If you're not sure, ask your instructor or agency before ordering.
What size backer fits a 23" x 35" target?
Our 24" x 35" cardboard backers. They're a little wider than the target so the edges stay supported.
What's the difference between the B-16 and B-2?
Distance. The B-16 is the NRA 25-yard slow-fire target and the B-2 is the NRA 50-foot slow-fire target. Both are 10.5" x 12" tag board.
Stocking up for a class or qualification day? Contact us and we'll help you get the right targets in the right quantities.