What is plinking?

[Dan Guy]

So, lately I've been pondering something. What exactly is plinking? I see references to it all the time. "It's good for plinking." But what is it? I don't shoot for the pure pleasure of it anymore. Haven't for years. Do I love shooting. Hell yes I do. But I have a plan every time I go to the range. Some training sessions are more intense than others. But every trip is serious. Every trigger squeeze is thoughtful and intentional. I have an M&P 15-22 for training my children on and getting some work in without burning through my stores of 5.56. The last time I went to the range (not for work anyway) I brought some empty beer cans to shoot. I set them up at a distance that would make each shot challenging. I also set them up at an interval that would make me really drive the gun from target to target. After setting them up and knocking them down a few times, I started using them like the little reactive target spheres/cubes that bounce when you shoot them. I would shoot a can and try to hit it again as quickly as possible with the intent to keep it moving. So was I plinking? I was using all the fundamentals. I was challenging myself. Is the definition of plinking in the intent? If I was just screwing around would I have been plinking? Let's hear your thoughts.

(This was also posted to the FB page)

 

[JD Williams]

I think plinking may be defined as shooting with no identifiable training goal. That is not to say that you can't get a lot out of plinking. The intent of the act of shooting is what makes the difference maybe.

 

[LSP972]

Bouncing beer cans around pretty much describes plinking as I have always thought of the activity. I did much of that in my youth. Wish I could do it again, but I have no place to, as none of the ranges I frequent would allow it. I do, however, substitute fired shotgun hulls at the indoor range, on Sunday mornings when my grandsons and I have the place to ourselves. #1 shoots a rifle that his other grandfather gave him, and #2 just graduated from a CZ 452 Scout to my Ruger 10/22 Compact. So naturally I had to buy myself a new .22 rifle. Its a fabulous way to spend time with those two heathens.

I hear you re being serious regarding your training/range time. But shooting just for the pure fun of it is good for your soul. As I gradually slide over into the red-dot-sight-on-a-carry-pistol camp, I am beginning to end my range/practice sessions with 50 or so rounds through my M-41 target .22 pistol, which is set up for bullseye (i.e., one-handed) shooting. I'm shooting at B-2s and B-3s, so that's not plinking, per se. But being stern all the time and shooting only my "real guns", with clenched jaw and steely-eyed glare… well, that gets a bit old.

FWIW, both boy are being trained in their defensive handguns as well as the plinking sessions with .22 rifle. You can indeed mix these activities. In fact, the older one has been to a Tom Givens class, and I'm taking him to a carbine class at the end of this month.

When you make something too much like work, it begins to lose its appeal. Sounds to me like you're headed in that direction a little bit, perhaps…

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[Akfirecop]

I'm with the previous two posters.

Plinking is....well. Plinking.

I think sometimes we get too wrapped around our own axles about "training" and "value" and "goals" with our shooting.

All of that is very important, don't get me wrong. But. It's not always "fun" or "recreation" or "sport"---its work.

There's a guy on the YouTubes called Hickok45 or something similar--that guy does videos and gives his opinion on a variety of general gun stuff. But one thing I have noticed in the few videos I have watched is the pure joy he gets when shooting. The smile and laughter when he is plinking is just wonderful.

Now, when you hear someone say a gun is a "good plinking gun"--they're talking about a recreational/non professional use--as in its a fun range toy, but don't rely your life on it.

I haven't plinked in years. Shooting is work. And while I appreciate that, I think it has become less fun as a result.

Just my opinion.

 

[Atlas]

"I haven't plinked in years. Shooting is work. And while I appreciate that, I think it has become less fun as a result." In the words of my father ( or someone he stole it from ) The army could take the fun out of fornicating. All to often I have the thought process of , YAY range day! why the fuck am I here? like here with these assholes who can't count to potato? Oh my god seriously who the fuck learned you to shoot? followed by a weekend at the Ranch with, haha I bet I can hang a beer can from that tree and cut the rope... Thats plinking. buddies just shooting cause its fun. not because your job/life depend on how you're shooting.

 

[regdudedrtyjob]

Good observations. I guess to me it boils down to if you aren't shooting just to have fun, you aren't plinking.

 

[Monk]

To me plinking is non worked related/non defensive gun related shooting.

As a kid I loved to go out with my Dad and a few boxes of 22's and shoot cans and he would stop by a discount store and buy a bag of cheap army men/cowboys and indian figures and we would use those to float in a stream and shoot and to use as a small challenging target for a young shooter.

Plinking is for the pure joy and fun of shooting.