Projectable resin target and method

Abstract

A breakable shooting target formed from a composition comprising: a binder component, a binder modifier, a viscosity modifier, and a filler. Carbon black or other pigments can be added for color. The binder can be selected from one or more natural fatty acids. The binder modifier can be selected from one or more metal oxides. The viscosity modifier can be selected from one or more plant based or other natural resins. The filler component can be selected from various powders, such as powdered limestone, other sources of calcium carbonate, talc and so forth.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A breakable shooting target, formed from a composition comprising:
 a binder component, selected from one or more natural fatty acids;   a binder modifier component, selected from one or more metal oxides;   a viscosity modifier component, selected from one or more plant-based resins; and   a filler component;   the composition molded into a disk shape and cast in a state of sufficient strength and brittleness, that the target can be launched from a target launching trap, fly through the air in a reproducible path, and when hit with multiple shot shell pellets fired from a shotgun, the target will shatter into multiple pieces.   
     
     
         2 . The target of  claim 1 , wherein the viscosity modifier component comprises rosin ester, resin ester, or glycerol ester of rosin. 
     
     
         3 . The target of  claim 1 , wherein the viscosity modifier component comprises pine resin. 
     
     
         4 . The target of  claim 1 , wherein the binder component comprises stearic acid. 
     
     
         5 . The target of  claim 1 , wherein the binder modifier component comprises calcium oxide. 
     
     
         6 . The target of  claim 1 , wherein the filler is selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, talc, gypsum, clay, silicate, aluminate, or sulphate. 
     
     
         7 . The target of  claim 1 , wherein the filler comprises calcium carbonate. 
     
     
         8 . The target of  claim 2 , wherein the rosin ester, resin ester, or glycerol ester of rosin comprises about 3-10% of the composition. 
     
     
         9 . The target of  claim 2 , wherein the pine resin comprises about 4-9% of the composition. 
     
     
         10 . The target of  claim 8 , comprising stearic acid at about 8-14% of the composition. 
     
     
         11 . The target of  claim 9 , comprising stearic acid at about 9-11% of the composition. 
     
     
         12 . The target of  claim 10 , comprising calcium oxide at about 0.7-1.2% of the composition. 
     
     
         13 . The target of  claim 11 , comprising calcium oxide at about 0.75-0.916% of the composition. 
     
     
         14 . The target of  claim 12 , wherein the filler comprises calcium carbonate in an amount of about 70-85%. 
     
     
         15 . The target of  claim 1 , wherein the composition has an LD50 of about 15,000 mg/kg or greater. 
     
     
         16 . The target of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is substantially free of pitch. 
     
     
         17 . The target of  claim 16 , cast in a state of sufficient strength and brittleness, that when shot at with a 12 gauge shotgun by shooters standing at least 25 yards behind the launching trap, at least 90% of hit targets will break, counting an unbroken target hit by less than 3 pellets as a miss. 
     
     
         18 . The target of  claim 17 , cast in a state of sufficient resistance to heat, that the target will maintain its shape and dimensions, without deformation, after being exposed to 140° F. for at least 5 hours. 
     
     
         19 . A target suitable for shooting sports, comprising pine resin, stearic acid, calcium oxide, and filler, cast into a disk of sufficient brittleness, that when launched from a trap into the air and shot at with shot shell pellets from a 12 gauge shotgun fired at least 25 yards behind the trap, no less than 90% of hit targets will break, counting targets hit by 0, 1, or 2 pellets as a miss. 
     
     
         20 . The target of  claim 19 , comprising calcium oxide and stearic acid, having an LD50 of about 15,000 mg/kg or greater, and being substantially free of pitch. 
     
     
         21 . The target of  claim 20 , cast in a state of sufficient resistance to heat, that the target will maintain its shape and dimensions after being exposed to 130° F. for at least 7 days, without observable deformation. 
     
     
         22 . The target of  claim 21 , cast in a state of sufficient resistance to heat, that the target will maintain its shape and dimensions after being exposed to 150° F. for at least 30 days, without observable deformation. 
     
     
         23 . The target of  claim 20 , wherein the stearic acid has a polymorphic structure.