AR500 Pepper Popper Target | 22″ Mini USPSA Popper

The 22" Mini Pepper Popper is a fall-down AR500 steel target built for USPSA stages, law enforcement qualification courses and backyard matches where a full-size popper is too much steel for the space. Hit it and it drops flat, giving both the shooter and the range officer an unmistakable visual and audible confirmation that the shot counted. Walk it up, repaint and go again.

The 22" pepper popper silhouette is CNC laser-cut from 3/8" AR500 steel for a clean edge and long service life. The 9.25" x 24" zinc-plated base includes four 1/2" stake holes so you can pin it to the ground and keep it upright in wind or on uneven terrain. The zinc plating on the base resists rust through seasons of outdoor range use while the target plate ships raw for easy repainting between sessions. All mounting hardware is included and the target ships ready to assemble.

Pair this popper with round gongs or static plates to build multi-target stages that demand faster transitions and honest distance accountability. At 22" it presents a scaled-down challenge that rewards the same shot placement skills used on full-size competition poppers. Not sure which thickness is right for your cartridge? Consult our Cartridge Guide.

What's Included

• (1) 22" pepper popper silhouette target, 3/8" AR500 steel, CNC laser-cut
• (1) 9.25" x 24" zinc-plated steel base with four 1/2" stake holes
• All mounting hardware included, ships ready to assemble
• Not included: Paint, stakes

Safety and Usage

Minimum shooting distances:

• Centerfire handgun: 10 yards minimum
• Centerfire rifle at or below 3,000 fps muzzle velocity: 100 yards minimum; increase distance if pitting is observed
• Maximum rated caliber: .308 Win / 6.5 Creedmoor

Always use quality eye and ear protection. Inspect the target and 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

How does this target reset?
This is a manual tip-up target. A solid hit drops it flat to the ground, giving you a clear visual and audible confirmation of the hit. To reset, walk downrange, tip it upright and continue. There is no spring mechanism. For a target that resets without walking downrange, see our Static Pepper Popper.

How is this different from the Static Pepper Popper?
The key difference is the reset method. The Static Pepper Popper uses a spring-loaded base that keeps the target upright after every hit, so you never walk downrange. This Mini Pepper Popper falls flat on impact and requires a manual tip-up to reset. The fall-down action gives you a stronger visual hit confirmation and is the standard format used in USPSA and IPSC competition stages.

Why choose a 22" popper over a full-size pepper popper?
The 22" profile is well suited for ranges where space is limited, for building multi-target arrays on a tighter budget or for adding a smaller hit zone to a stage that already includes full-size steel. It presents the same USPSA silhouette shape at a reduced scale, which can increase the difficulty of drills and better prepare you for varied target presentations in competition.

What calibers is this target rated for?
Centerfire handguns and centerfire rifles up to .308 Win and 6.5 Creedmoor at the distances listed above.

How do I keep the base stable on soft or uneven ground?
The zinc-plated base includes four 1/2" stake holes. Drive 3/8" stakes through those holes to pin the base firmly to the ground. This keeps the popper upright in wind and prevents the base from shifting on rocky or soft terrain.

Why is the base zinc plated while the target ships raw?
The base lives close to the ground where moisture exposure is highest, so zinc plating gives it meaningful corrosion resistance over years of outdoor use. The target face ships raw because paint is applied before every session anyway to track impacts. A painted base would just get chipped and would not offer the same protection as a plated finish.

Does it ship painted?
No. The target plate ships as bare steel. 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.