How to Choose and How to Shoot a Texas Star Target

If you want to test your target acquisition speed, recoil control, and precision under pressure, few reactive steel targets match the classic Texas Star. As the spinning, multi-paddle targets drop off one by one, the weight distribution shifts dynamically, causing the star to accelerate, slow down, or reverse direction mid-string.

Whether you are preparing for an SCSA Steel Challenge match, setting up law enforcement qualification drills, or simply challenging your shooting buddies, mastering the Texas Star requires the right gear and a solid strategy.

Key Features to Look For in a Texas Star

Not all Texas Stars are built the same. Cheaply manufactured stars suffer from weak undersized bearings, wobbly center hubs, and thin steel that pits or shatters under heavy use. When investing in a professional-grade rig—such as the Bash Target Supply Texas Star—look for these critical engineering advantages:

• 100% Certified AR500 Steel Construction: Both the frame and the target paddles must be manufactured from certified AR500 ballistic steel to withstand thousands of rounds without cratering or pitting.  Ideally, you want a Texas Star that handles both centerfire rifle and handgun calibers.

• Dual Pillow Bearings: Smooth rotation is everything. Dual pillow block bearings eliminate wobble, ensure consistent free-spinning action, and handle the heavy radial loads of high-velocity impacts far better than basic bushing setups.  Single bearing systems end up failing as the shaft is constantly at an angle in the bearings.

• Fully Hot-Dip Galvanized Finish: Standard painted targets rust quickly when left outdoors. A hot-dip galvanized finish coats every square inch of the steel in a rugged, corrosion-resistant shield that handles rain, snow, and mud year-round.  A quality Texas Star is not light and will be left outdoors, invest in a corrosion resistant product.

• Reliable Paddle Release Mechanism: A precision-engineered gravity retention system keeps paddles locked securely until struck, dropping cleanly without jamming or hanging up mid-rotation.  An adjustable paddle retention system is critical to allow you to shoot a light caliber such as .22 all the way up to the pounding energy a .308 WIN delivers and every caliber in between.  

• Fast Paddle Reset: Designed to make reloading and resetting quick and painless so you spend your range time shooting instead of wrenching.  Balancing six heavy paddles and a Texas Star that wants to rotate can be a challenge when the paddle reset mechanism is difficult.  Choose a simple and reliable paddle retention mechanism that you can perform by yourself, with one hand.

Handgun Rated vs. Rifle Rated Texas Stars: Which Should You Choose?

When purchasing a Texas Star, one of the most important decisions is selecting the correct steel thickness and rating for your firearms, you want to select a Texas Star that handles all calibers:

Handgun-Rated Texas Stars

• Best For: Standard centerfire pistol calibers (9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP) and rimfire training.

• Advantages: Lighter overall weight makes the star responsive and easier to transport and assemble at the range.

• The Catch: They are not rated for high-powered rifle rounds or even magnum hand gun rounds.  They will not last even against the repetitive pounding of .45 ACP. Striking a handgun-rated star with a .223/5.56 or .308 rifle will destroy the main structure of most Texas Stars on the market and will permanently pit, warp, and destroy the AR500 paddles.

Rifle-Rated Texas Stars

• Best For: Advanced tactical training, multi-gun competitions, and high-velocity rifle drills (.223, 5.56, .308 at proper safe distances).

• Advantages: Thicker, heavy-duty AR500 steel paddles and reinforced arms easily absorb the punishing kinetic energy of rifle calibers without structural degradation.

• The Catch: The heavier plates alter the rotational momentum, requiring disciplined shot placement and superior recoil management to control the star's spin.  With the extra weight in play, once the star goes out of balance it will spin fast.

How to Shoot a Texas Star: Strategy and Tactics

Because a Texas Star changes weight distribution with every hit, shooting it randomly will cause the wheel to spin wildly out of control. Use these expert tactics to clear the star efficiently:

1. Shoot the Top First (Stabilize the Center)

Never start by shooting the bottom or side paddles. If you knock off a bottom paddle first, the star becomes heavily top-heavy and will violently swing or accelerate. Always target the highest paddles first to keep the center of gravity on the bottom and keep the rotation manageable.  Ideally, you take the top first, then the 10:00 and 2:00.  

2. Let the Star Come to You

When a paddle drops, the star will naturally rotate. Instead of chasing a fast-moving target across your field of view, pick an imaginary "window" in the rotation cycle, hold your sights steady on that sweet spot, and let the next paddle rotate directly into your crosshairs.  This will not give you the fastest time.  As you improve your skill you will want to move with the star rotation.

3. Maintain Smooth Split Times

Rushing your shots leads to missed paddles and erratic spinning. Establish a smooth, rhythmic cadence. Break your shots cleanly, manage your breathing, and track the rotation like a moving clay pigeon.

Pro Training Upgrades

1. Spin the Star Before Shooting

Once you have mastered shooting the paddles in a sequence to maintain the weight balance to minimize spin, you need to challenge yourself.  Before shooting, give the Texas Star a good spin.  Now it is all about target acquisition and rotating with the star to clear paddles.  

2. Color Code the Paddles

Spray paint each Texas Star paddle a distinct color.  Then have a partner call out a color to shoot next.  This causes your brain to have to acquire instruction, process the information and then identify the target before firing.

3. Pair with a Dueling Tree

Spray paint each Texas Star paddle a distinct color.  Next spray paint each Dueling Tree paddle the same six colors.  To start the drill have all the dueling tree paddles flipped to the same side, all paddles will be showing white color to the shooter.  The shooter then shoots a dueling paddle to reveal the color of the paddle to be shot next on the Texas Star.  This causes your brain to have to acquire instruction, process the information and then identify the target before firing while your body is sighting targets laterally back and forth.

These are super fun and challenging drills, enjoy !

Upgrade Your Range Today

Ready to bring the ultimate test of speed and precision to your shooting bay? Explore our heavy-duty, fully hot-dip galvanized Bash Target Supply Texas Star built with dual pillow bearings and certified AR500 steel for a lifetime of reliable performance.  Bring your .22, handguns, centerfire rifles, the Bash Texas Star handles them all.