Spent some time on the range recently with a company called Oakwood Controls and its new target system that uses sophisticated acoustic detectors to pinpoint shots on steel [Editor's Note: We received a correction from Oakwood Controls noting that the system does not work with steel targets. As they explain — Our system doesn't detect shots on steel, it locates bullets using their own acoustic shockwave. Our target facings use either cardboard, coroplast or rubber - but never steel as the frag could damage our electronics] at long ranges.

This photo shows the H-Bar using a military standard cardboard target.

Craig Porterfield, the company's business development manager, explained that the system allows shooters to see their hits well beyond 1,000 yards on a computer screen that charts their hits and even scores their shots. The system makes it easy for ranges to help shooters sight in scopes or engage in competitions without having to call the range cold and check targets or use a spotting scope.

The system even tracks misses, something that's tough to do with paper and spotting scope.

The H-Bar and a smaller T-Bar system has embedded acoustic sensors below and to the sides of the target that can detect a hit on the steel to a 5mm precision. The system transmits the placement via wifi back to any computer running the Oakwood Controls software and lays out all the information a precision shooter could want to get tight groups. The results can be emailed or posted for contests or a shooters records.

The system isn't cheap — at $5,000 for the H-Bar it's mostly suited to range operations or competitive clubs. But once it's set up, there's no need to change targets, consult with a spotter or call the range cold, helping cut the time needed to get the shots where they need to go.