Texas Star Shooting Target | 5-Target AR500 Steel Reactive Target

The Texas Star is the crown jewel of reactive steel training. Five 8" paddles of 3/8" AR500 steel mount to CNC laser-cut arms on a precision-machined shaft that rides on dual sealed flange bearings. Strike the first paddle and the whole star comes alive, rotating freely and forcing you to track a moving target, manage your timing and execute clean transitions until every plate is down. There is no more honest test of pistol skill on a static range.

What separates this Texas Star from every other version on the market is the proprietary Quick-Tune Spring System. A simple adjustment dials in plate-release tension across the full range of common pistol cartridges, from soft-shooting 9mm to stout .45 ACP and PCC loads. Most Texas Stars are one-size-fits-all. This one is tuned to your ammunition. The single-piece shaft and dual sealed bearings deliver smooth, uninterrupted rotation that cheaper hub-and-bolt designs cannot match, and the modular design means you can snap on the optional 10 Target Adapter Package to add five more arms and paddles when you are ready for a harder challenge.

The base upright is a steel tube with a 1/4" AR400 front cover. The legs are hot-rolled steel. The system breaks down quickly for transport and the heaviest piece, the hub and leg section, is manageable for a two-person pack-out. All assembly hardware is included with clear illustrated instructions. Want to see the Texas Star in action? Visit our YouTube channel.

What's Included

• (5) 8" paddle targets, 3/8" AR500, CNC laser-cut
• (5) Arms, 3/8" AR500, CNC laser-cut
• (1) Precision-machined hub and shaft with dual sealed flange bearings
• (1) Steel tube base upright with 1/4" AR400 front cover
• (1) Hot-rolled steel leg set
• Proprietary Quick-Tune Spring System
• All assembly hardware and illustrated instructions
• Not included: Paint

Safety and Usage

Minimum shooting distances and ratings:

• Centerfire handgun: 10 yards minimum
• Maximum rated muzzle velocity: 1,500 fps
• Maximum rated impact energy: 500 ft-lbs
• Rifle use is not recommended

Always use quality eye and ear protection. Inspect all paddles, arms, the hub and the base before every session. Replace any component that shows cratering, severe pitting or structural damage. Repaint regularly to track impacts and monitor surface health.

FAQs

What makes the Texas Star such an effective training tool?
A static target sits still and waits for you. The Texas Star does not. Once the first paddle is struck, the star rotates freely and each subsequent paddle is in a different position than the last. That forces you to adjust your sight picture on every shot, manage your trigger timing against a moving target and recover quickly between transitions. It exposes weaknesses in your shooting that a stationary target never will.

What is the Quick-Tune Spring System?
The Quick-Tune Spring System lets you adjust the tension required to release each paddle. Back off the tension for lighter 9mm loads to ensure clean, consistent flips, or increase it for heavier .45 ACP and PCC cartridges to maintain proper reactivity. Most Texas Stars have no adjustment at all, meaning performance degrades as you change ammunition. This system keeps the target performing correctly regardless of what you are shooting.

What calibers is this target rated for?
Centerfire handguns at 10 yards minimum, with a maximum rated muzzle velocity of 1,500 fps and maximum rated impact energy of 500 ft-lbs. This covers the full range of common pistol cartridges including 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP, .357 Magnum and PCC loads within those limits. Rifle use is not recommended.

Why is rifle use not recommended?
The Texas Star is engineered for pistol-velocity impact energy. Rifle rounds deliver significantly more energy than the 500 ft-lbs and 1,500 fps ratings of this system. Shooting it with rifle cartridges risks damaging the paddles, arms, bearings and hub and creates unsafe splash conditions regardless of distance.

What is the 10 Target Adapter Package?
The optional 10 Target Adapter Package adds five more arms and paddles to the existing hub, taking the target count from five to ten. It snaps onto the same hub without additional tools or modifications. When five paddles no longer challenge you the way they used to, the adapter keeps the difficulty level honest.

How smooth is the rotation?
The single-piece precision-machined shaft rides on dual sealed flange bearings. That combination eliminates the wobble and resistance that hub-and-bolt designs develop over time. The star rotates freely and consistently session after session, which matters for moving-target training where predictable motion is part of the drill.

How difficult is assembly and transport?
The system comes with all hardware and illustrated instructions. It breaks down quickly for transport and the heaviest single piece, the hub and leg section, is manageable for two people. Setup and pack-out take minutes at the range.

Does it ship painted?
No. The targets ship as bare steel so you can apply your preferred color. White and bright orange provide the best downrange visibility.

Is this product made in the United States?
Yes. Our targets are manufactured in the United States.

Do you warranty your products?
Yes. We stand behind our products.

Personal and Recreational Use

• Target plates: covered against manufacturing and material defects for 90 days from date of delivery
• Welds: covered for 1 year from date of delivery
• Coverage includes weld integrity, materials and workmanship

Commercial and Range Use

• All components: covered against manufacturing and material defects for 90 days from date of purchase
• Coverage includes weld integrity, materials and workmanship
• Normal wear, pitting, cratering and target face degradation from high-volume or high-impact use are not covered

To qualify for warranty coverage, targets must be used and maintained in accordance with ShootSteel safety and distance guidelines, including:

• No steel-core, armor-piercing or tracer ammunition
• Minimum recommended distances observed at all times
• Targets mounted to ShootSteel specifications

ShootSteel reserves the right to request photos or inspection of any claimed item prior to approval. Misuse and abuse are not covered. Use targets per the safety guidelines on our website and in the included instruction sheet. Need a copy? Email us.

To start a warranty claim, contact customerservice@shootsteel.com with your order number and photos.