What is Plinking?
With so much jargon in shooting sports, it can get overwhelming and confusing. In this blog post we look at one term you might come across quite often is “plinking.” But what does plinking really mean, and why has it garnered such affection among shooting enthusiasts? Today we are going to define this term and explore how the practice can benefit shooters of all types.
Defining “Plinking”
Plinking derives its name from the pleasant "plink" sound made when a bullet strikes tin cans or other metallic objects. In essence, it refers to informal target shooting at non-specific targets such as soda cans, water bottles, and the like. It’s a recreational practice where precision is not the utmost goal, giving room for shooters to enjoy a relaxed shooting environment. It can also be used casually to mean going shooting with friends. Put plainly, plinking is shooting for the sake of recreation and having fun at the end of the day.
The Charm of Plinking
What makes plinking a favorite pastime for many is its unstructured nature. It is casual and allows for a stress-free environment where one can hone their shooting skills without the pressure of formal competition. Whether you are in your backyard, the desert, the woods, or in an open field, plinking provides an easy-going yet rewarding way to engage with the sport.
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Getting Started with Plinking
If you’re eager to start plinking, here are a few things to keep in mind:
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Safety First: Always adhere to gun safety rules. Ensure you are shooting in a safe direction and into an appropriate backstop. One should also ensure that targets, while informal, are safe to shoot at and do not have the potential to harm bystanders or risk fires. Discourage horseplay and ensure shooters are wearing eye and ear protection. While plinking is ultimately informal, safety should not take a backseat.
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Choice of Firearm: While you can plink with virtually any firearm, most prefer .22 caliber firearms due to their lower recoil and noise. Others will employ handguns and shotguns for plinking due to their prolific nature and easily accessible ammo. One can plink with any gun they own and certainly do not need to go buy a new one just to go plinking. At the end of the day, plink with whatever you want to and have fun.
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Ammunition: Ideally, one will employ affordable ammunition for plinking. Given the relaxed nature of plinking, you do not need high-grade ammo. This is to say that one does not need to buy boxes of Federal Gold Medal match for simple plinking. Cheap, bulk ammo quantities shine in plinking applications as one can acquire heaps of ammo without breaking the bank. Put plainly, one will be able to shoot more often and for longer with cheap ammo.
What Calibers are Good for Plinking?
Of course, one can effectively plink with any type of firearm. Of course,
ammunition cost and availability may make this harder with some calibers than others. For example, it is much easier to plink with
5.56 than it is to plink with
.50 BMG or
.45-70 Govt. Ideally, one will plink with calibers one can find
bulk ammunition quantities for in the form of cheap loadings. These loadings will often be found in the form of full metal jacket (FMJ) or lead round nose (LRN) ammunition. In the grand scheme of things, these loadings cost significantly less than their premium counterparts, allowing shooters to save on
cheap ammo for plinking.
Good Calibers for Plinking:
These aforementioned calibers and more can be found easily in
bulk ammo forms and tend to be common among a wide variety of shooters.
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Skill Improvement
Plinking allows you to work on your shooting skills, helping you get familiar with your firearm and enhancing your marksmanship in a low-pressure setting. Some shooters may prefer to practice their fundamentals and build familiarity with their firearm in a low-stress environment. This is particularly important for new shooters who may be overwhelmed by a cacophony of gunfire at a public range. An informal setting allows for one to develop their skills at their own pace. There is also nothing stopping an individual from engaging in some targeted practice while plinking. One can easily take a bit of time to seriously focus on certain skills such as working a trigger, holster work, or transition drills.
A Social Affair
Plinking is a great way to spend quality time with family and friends, sharing the joy of shooting with loved ones while fostering safe firearm handling practices. Additionally, one can use plinking as a means to introduce new shooters to the hobby in a non-intimidating fashion. Plinking to shooting is what a pickup game for basketball is. To organize a plinking session with friends, one simply needs to coordinate with others and get their firearms and
ammunition together. In short, plinking allows one to get together with friends for a social affair which involves firearms and fun.
Conclusion
Plinking proves that shooting doesn’t always have to be about precision and competition. It embodies the spirit of relaxation and joy, bringing a smile to the faces of shooters of all types. No matter how seasoned a shooter is, they will always get enjoyment out of plinking. We here at True Shot Ammo carry a wide range of
ammo for sale great for plinking. Our wide range of
ammunition for sale encompasses popular calibers and gauges like
9mm,
5.56,
12 gauge, and
.22 LR to name a few. Whether you are wanting to
buy bulk ammo for plinking or want to stock up on something else, we have you covered. As always, happy shooting.
