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July 17, 2026
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The BSA Rifle Shooting and Shotgun Shooting merit badges introduce young people to marksmanship fundamentals: safe firearm handling, proper stance, breath control, and consistent trigger work. Running those programs well requires the right equipment. That starts with the right targets.
This guide covers which targets meet Scout BSA range requirements, how to set up a qualification session for a troop, and how to order efficiently for merit badge weekends or summer camp programs.
National Target Company has held NRA License No. 1 since 1964—the first license ever issued for target manufacturing—and we’ve been supplying junior shooting programs for just as long.
We put this guide together because troop leaders and council range coordinators ask the same questions every year: which targets are required for the merit badge, how many do we need, and what’s the difference between a BB gun target and a smallbore target. The answers are straightforward once you know what to look for, and getting them right means Scouts spend range time shooting, not troubleshooting paperwork.
Cub Scouts shoot BB guns or air rifles under the Shooting Sports program. BB guns are fired at 15 feet; pellet rifles at 33 feet.
At this stage, the focus is purely on safe handling and basic sight alignment—not official scoring. Simple bullseye targets work well here, and the NRA AR-5/10 air rifle target is a solid choice: it features twelve 1 3/16″ bulls on a single 10.5″ × 12″ sheet, giving young shooters multiple aiming points per session without burning through paper.
The Rifle Shooting merit badge (Boy Scout rank and above) uses .22 LR smallbore rimfire rifles at 50 feet. This is where official NRA targets enter the picture. The Scout BSA’s range requirements align directly with NRA smallbore rimfire specifications, so targets used in junior rifle leagues are appropriate for merit badge qualification as well.
Key distinction: BB gun programs don’t require official scoring targets. Smallbore rimfire rifle programs do. Using the correct NRA-spec target from the start makes scoring straightforward and prepares Scouts for competitive shooting if they choose to continue.
The TQ-1/1 is the NRA’s designated qualification target for .22 LR junior smallbore rimfire rifle at 50 feet. At 7″ × 9″, it’s compact and economical.
Each sheet has a single 1½” black bull—the same bull size used on full adult competition targets—so Scouts are training to the same standard they’ll encounter in NRA-sanctioned junior programs. For the Rifle Shooting merit badge, each shot on a TQ-1 target must score a minimum of 7.
Pack size: 100 sheets utilizing light NRA target paper. At roughly $0.17 per sheet, it’s one of the most cost-effective official targets available. For a troop of 12 Scouts each firing 5 record strings, a single 100-pack covers multiple sessions.
The A-17 is the official NRA target for 50-foot four-position smallbore rimfire competition. It features 11 bulls per sheet—one sighting bull and 10 record bulls—on a 10½” × 12″ heavyweight NRA target paper.
If your troop has Scouts pursuing competitive rifle programs or Scoutmasters running Scouts BSA Range & Target Activities, the A-17 mirrors exactly what sanctioned matches use. Minimum score per shot for the Rifle Shooting merit badge on an A-17 target is 7.
Pack size: 100 sheets. Priced at approximately $0.13–$0.16 per sheet from authorized dealers.
The AR-5/10 is the official NRA 10-meter air rifle target. Twelve 1 3/16″ bulls per 10.5″ × 12″ heavy NRA target paper. The heavier stock punches cleanly with pellets and holds up through a full range session without tearing. A solid choice for Cub Scout BB programs or any Scout unit running an air rifle component alongside their smallbore program.
A standard Rifle Shooting merit badge qualification requires Scouts to fire multiple strings at record targets. Plan for at least 5–8 target sheets per Scout for a full merit badge day (including sighting shots and any required re-shoots). For a troop of 15 Scouts, a single 100-pack of TQ1/1 targets is sufficient for one qualification day with targets to spare.
All Scouts BSA shooting sports programs require both a certified NRA rifle instructor and a certified Range Safety Officer to be present. Targets should be mounted at proper height—bull centered at approximate eye level for standing position, lower for prone.
Use a firm backer; the lightweight paper of the TQ-1/1 performs best stapled to cardboard or foam board.
The Rifle Shooting merit badge requires Scouts to fire five groups of five shots and meet a minimum per-shot score based on the target used—a score of 7 on both the A-17 and TQ-1/1. Score each record string immediately after the relay. Bullet holes in lightweight paper remain crisp and easy to read.
Tip for Scoutmasters: Pre-label each target with the Scout’s name and relay number before the session starts. It speeds up scoring and keeps documentation clean for merit badge sign-off.
National Target ships directly from our Maryland facility, so lead times are predictable. For summer camp programs or council-wide shooting sports events, order at least 2–3 weeks in advance. Packs of 100 are the standard unit; larger events may benefit from 500-sheet bulk options on selected targets.
All three targets are manufactured to NRA specifications and shipped directly from our facility. No third-party fulfillment, no quality variance.
Shooting sports give Scouts skills that transfer well beyond the range—patience, focus, breath control, and the discipline of safe firearm handling. Running a quality program starts with the right materials—whether you’re preparing for the Rifle Shooting or Shotgun Shooting merit badge.
National Target has been supplying official NRA targets since 1964, holding NRA License No. 1. Every target we manufacture meets the same exacting specifications used in sanctioned matches nationwide.
Questions about which targets meet your council’s specific requirements? Contact us at nationaltarget.com — we’re glad to help you put together the right order for your program.