Quick answer: a Texas Star is a spinning steel target with five plates on a rotating hub. Each hit knocks a plate off, the star goes out of balance and starts to swing, and the remaining plates get harder to hit. Set it on level ground in front of a berm, shoot it from at least 10–15 yards with a non-magnum handgun, 25 yards with a magnum handgun or 100 yards with a rifle, and reset all five plates by hand in about 20 seconds.
The Texas Star is a regular sight at 3-Gun and USPSA matches, and for good reason. Few targets teach you to hit something that moves the way it does. Here's how to set ours up, how to reset it, and the drills we use to get better on it.
Texas Star at a glance
| Spec | STUSA Texas Star |
|---|---|
| Plates | Five 8" round plates |
| Plate steel | 3/8" SR500 ballistic steel |
| Hub | 48" diameter |
| Rotation | Stainless steel shaft on two sealed pillow bearings |
| Assembly | One 1/2" bolt, about 10 minutes with a 5/8" wrench |
| Reset | One person, all five plates in about 20 seconds |
| Rated for | Handgun, rifle (not magnum rifles) and shotgun (lead buckshot and lead slugs; slugs from 100 yards) |
| Minimum distance | 10 yards non-magnum handgun (we suggest 10–15), 25 yards magnum handgun, 100 yards rifle (200 yards over 3,000 fps muzzle) |
| Made in | King, North Carolina |
How a Texas Star works
With all five plates in place, the star is balanced and sits still. Each plate is held by a spring retention pocket. When you hit one, it pops out and drops to the ground. Now one side of the hub is lighter than the other, so the heavy side swings down and the whole star starts to rotate.
Every hit after that changes the balance again. Sometimes the star rocks gently. Sometimes it whips around. You can't fully predict it, which is the point. The star forces you to read the movement, pick a moment and break a clean shot.
Our plates are 3/8" SR500, a ballistic steel made specifically for targets with a guaranteed minimum hardness of 500 Brinell. That's why the star is rated for handguns, rifles and shotguns (lead buckshot and slugs). If you want to know more, read AR500 vs SR500 steel targets.
Setting up your Texas Star
Assembly takes about 10 minutes. The star goes together with a single 1/2" bolt, and all you need is a 5/8" wrench. Once it's built, where you put it matters as much as how you build it.
- Pick level ground. A level base lets the hub spin the way it's designed to. If it leans, the star can drift on its own before you fire a shot.
- Put a berm behind it. A dirt backstop catches misses and fragments. Keep the area around and under the star clear of rocks, concrete or anything hard.
- Leave room for falling plates. Plates drop when they're hit. Make sure there's open ground beneath the star so they land cleanly and are easy to collect.
- Measure your distance. At least 10 yards for non-magnum handguns (we suggest 10–15 yards as your starting point), 25 yards for magnum handguns (.357 Mag, .44 Mag) and 100 yards for rifles. Rifle loads over 3,000 fps at the muzzle (including many 55-grain 5.56 loads) need at least 200 yards, and very fast varmint rounds need even more. Magnum rifles (.300 Win Mag, .338 Lapua, .50 BMG) aren't recommended on 3/8" steel. Shotguns: lead buckshot and lead slugs only, never steel shot. Shoot slugs from at least 100 yards. See how far away to shoot steel targets for more.
- Check your ammo. Standard lead or jacketed only. Never steel-core, armor-piercing, green tip, tracer, incendiary or steel shot.
- Wear protection. Eye and ear protection for everyone on the line.
How to reset a Texas Star
Resetting is fast once you've done it a couple of times:
- Make sure every gun on the line is unloaded and the range is called cold before anyone walks downrange.
- Collect the fallen plates from the ground.
- Hold the hub steady with one hand so it doesn't swing while you work.
- Lift the retention spring and slide the stem of the plate back into its pocket.
- Repeat for each plate. With practice, one person can reload all five in about 20 seconds.
While you're down there, look over each plate. Retire any plate that's pitted, cratered, bent or cracked.
How to shoot it: trapping vs. chasing
There are two ways to hit a moving plate. Chasing means following the plate with your sights and trying to fire while it's moving. It feels natural, but it's hard to do well. Trapping means picking a spot on the plate's path, holding your sights there and firing as the plate arrives, or as it slows at the end of a swing.
Most shooters do better trapping. When the star rocks back and forth, every plate pauses for a split second before it changes direction. Learn to wait for that pause.
Which plate to shoot first? Think about balance. The plate at the very top is the easiest to remove without making the star spin hard: once it's gone, the heavy side is already at the bottom, so the star barely moves. Taking a plate from the bottom leaves the top heavy, so the heavy side swings down and the star spins fast. Many shooters start at the top for that reason, then work through the rest with as little spin as possible.
Texas Star drills
- Clear the star: five plates, as few rounds as possible. Count your misses, not just your time.
- Top-first sequence: take the top plate, then shoot each new plate as it swings near the top. This builds a plan you can repeat in a match.
- Reload clear: load only three rounds in your first magazine. Reload while the star is still moving and finish it.
- Transition to the star: hit a stationary gong or popper first, then move to the star. This is how it often shows up in match stages.
- Rifle clear: from 100 yards or more, clear the star with a rifle. Small movements look much bigger through an optic.
- Timer runs: use any shot timer to record your total time. Try the same drill at the start and end of each range day to track progress.
Want twice the chaos? The Double Texas Star puts two stars and ten 8" plates on one stand that's over 6 feet tall.
Common mistakes
- Chasing every plate. Following a swinging plate with your sights usually means shooting behind it. Trap it instead.
- Rushing the first shot. The first plate is the only stationary one. Make it count.
- Setting it up on a slope. An uneven base changes how the star spins and can make it drift.
- Shooting too close. Stay at least 10 yards back with a non-magnum handgun, 25 with a magnum and 100 with a rifle (200 for loads over 3,000 fps at the muzzle).
- Going downrange on a hot line. Every gun unloaded, every shooter behind the line, before anyone resets.
What to buy
Start with our Texas Star, or step up to the Double Texas Star for a real challenge.
To build a full moving-target bay, pair it with the Dueling Tree, the Speed Rack or the Deluxe Plate Rack for speed work, and an Elite Series Popper for transitions. Keep plate faces fresh with target paint.
See our full lineup of SR500 steel targets.
FAQ
How far away should you shoot a Texas Star?
At least 10 yards with a non-magnum handgun (10–15 yards is a good starting point), 25 yards with a magnum handgun and 100 yards with a rifle. Rifle loads over 3,000 fps at the muzzle (including many 55-grain 5.56 loads) need at least 200 yards, and very fast varmint rounds need even more. Magnum rifles aren't recommended.
Can you shoot a Texas Star with a shotgun?
Yes. Our Texas Star is rated for lead buckshot and lead slugs, never steel shot. Shoot slugs from at least 100 yards.
How long does it take to reset?
About 20 seconds for one person to put all five plates back.
How hard is it to assemble?
Not hard at all. It's one 1/2" bolt and about 10 minutes with a 5/8" wrench.
Which plate should I shoot first?
Many shooters take the top plate first, since removing it barely upsets the balance. Then they work through the rest while keeping the spin under control.
Questions about setting up your star? Contact us and we'll help you get it running.