Fortis Targets, a developer of steel target systems and range planning resources, has shared guidance on how dueling tree targets fit into law enforcement training programs and what range coordinators should weigh before adding them to a course of fire. A dueling tree is a steel target stand built with a vertical center post and a set of round paddles mounted on a horizontal axle.
When a paddle is struck, it swings from one side of the post to the other. The design has been a fixture on civilian ranges for years, but its value for sworn officers comes down to something more practical than novelty. The target moves in response to a hit, which means an officer gets immediate feedback without having to walk downrange, pause a drill, or rely on a spotter to call the shot. Fortis Targets has found that this feedback loop matters most during repetition-heavy training, where stopping to check a paper target breaks rhythm and eats up range time that departments rarely have to spare.
There is also a reactive element that paper and static steel cannot replicate. Since the paddles swing across the post, the target presentation changes with every successful hit. An officer firing a string has to track a paddle that is no longer where it started, which builds the kind of visual processing and follow-through that translates to unpredictable conditions in the field. For agencies trying to move beyond stationary marksmanship and toward decision-based shooting.
Dueling tree targets also lend themselves to two-person and competitive drills. Two officers can work opposite sides of the same tree, each trying to drive every paddle onto the other side. The exercise introduces stress, time pressure, and a measure of friendly rivalry, all of which increase difficulty without adding complexity to the range setup. Stress inoculation is a recognized goal in modern firearms training, and Fortis Targets notes that a simple mechanical target can introduce it at a reasonable cost.
Durability is part of the appeal as well. A properly built dueling tree uses hardened steel paddles rated for the calibers an agency actually carries, and the swinging action helps disperse energy rather than concentrating it on a fixed face. Fortis Targets has pointed out that paddle hardness and thickness should match the duty ammunition, and that ranges should post minimum distances to manage splatter and reduce wear. Angle of presentation matters too. A tree that sits slightly downward deflects fragments toward the ground, which is a small adjustment that pays off in safety and target life over thousands of rounds.
None of this means a dueling tree replaces the rest of a training inventory. It works best as one station among several, used for specific skill blocks rather than full qualification courses. Departments building or refreshing a range layout often struggle to determine where reactive steel belongs and how much makes sense given their square footage, backstop, and round count. That planning step is where many good intentions stall.
Fortis Targets offers a tool called Range Builder, a visual configurator that lets a coordinator design a range setup before committing. The process starts by choosing a backdrop that matches the agency's environment, with options including desert, forest, a Midwest or Texas setting, and a night shoot. From there, AR500 steel targets are dragged and dropped onto the range, so a dueling tree can be placed alongside static plates and other reactive pieces and seen in context rather than imagined from a parts list.
The package and its pricing are generated in real time as targets are added, making it easier to see how a reactive station fits into the broader setup and to adjust the mix before a single piece ships. The targets themselves are made in the USA, and laying the whole range out as one package, rather than buying pieces in isolation, tends to produce a setup that officers actually rotate through.
Anyone weighing reactive steel for an agency program is encouraged to start with the training outcomes first and let the equipment follow. Fortis Targets continues to publish guidance for range coordinators, instructors, and department decision-makers who want practical information rather than a sales pitch, with the goal of helping ranges build training environments that hold up to real use and real round counts.
About Fortis Targets:
Based in Syracuse, Indiana, Fortis Targets, founded in 2012 as Target Solutions USA, crafts high-quality, American-made steel targets. The company uses American-sourced materials to build durable, reliable tools that support responsible firearms training. Fortis Target's mission is to empower shooters with targets that deliver clear feedback and withstand rigorous use, fostering skill and confidence.
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For more information about Fortis Targets, contact the company here:
Fortis Targets
Paul Giarrizzo
(574) 325-5246
paul.giarrizzo@fortissteelco.com
