What Is the B-27 Target? The Complete Law Enforcement Guide
If you've ever been to a law enforcement qualification course, a police academy, or a serious pistol range, you've almost certainly seen the B-27 target. It's the most widely used law enforcement qualification silhouette in the United States — a staple of duty training and qualification that has been trusted by departments nationwide for decades.
But what exactly is the B-27 target? Where did it come from? What do the scoring zones mean? And why do so many agencies, ranges, and serious shooters choose it over hundreds of other target formats? This guide covers everything you need to know about the B-27 — from its history and specifications to its many variants and how to choose the right one for your training program.
What Is the B-27 Target?
The B-27 is an officially licensed NRA silhouette target measuring 24" x 45" — printed on NRA approved paper that creates a clean, precise bullet hole for accurate, dispute-free scoring. The silhouette depicts a human upper body outline with clearly defined scoring zones that correspond to the NRA silhouette scoring system scored 10-7.
The B-27 was developed as a standardized law enforcement qualification target — giving agencies, academies, and ranges a common format for measuring and documenting officer marksmanship proficiency. Its widespread adoption over the decades has made it the de facto standard for law enforcement pistol qualification across the United States.
At Alco Target Company in Duarte, California, we have been printing B-27 targets since 1964 — the same year our founder, Long Beach Police Officer Al Evanson, established the company specifically to serve the law enforcement training community. Every B-27 we produce is printed on NRA licensed paper to exact specifications.
B-27 Target Specifications
Physical Dimensions
The standard B-27 target measures 24" wide by 45" tall — making it a full-size silhouette designed for use at 50-yard qualification distances. This full-size format is what departments use for standard duty qualification courses that require officers to demonstrate proficiency at longer distances.
Scoring Zones
The B-27 uses the NRA Silhouette scoring system with zones scored 10-7:
- 10 ring — the innermost scoring zone, center mass. The highest value shot placement.
- 9 ring — surrounding the 10 ring, still excellent center mass placement.
- 8 ring — outer center mass zone.
- 7 ring — the outermost scored zone on the silhouette — still a qualifying hit.
- Silhouette — hits on the silhouette outside the scoring rings count as hits but score lower depending on qualification course requirements.
Paper Stock
The B-27 is printed on NRA approved paper — a specific paper stock that creates a clean, round bullet hole with minimal tearing. This is critical for accurate scoring in qualification courses where the exact location of a hit needs to be clearly readable and dispute-free. Standard paper tears and deforms around bullet holes making accurate scoring difficult — especially in high-volume qualification sessions where targets take dozens of rounds.
Material
Standard B-27 targets are printed on paper. The B-27 CDB variant is printed on heavy-duty cardboard for ranges that need a more durable target that holds up through repeated qualification courses and high-round-count training sessions.
The History of the B-27 Target
The B-27 target has its roots in the standardization of law enforcement firearms training that began in earnest in the mid-20th century. As police departments across the country began developing formal firearms qualification programs, the need for a standardized target format became clear — one that could be used consistently across different ranges, agencies, and qualification courses.
The NRA played a central role in developing and licensing the B-27 format as part of its law enforcement training and qualification programs. The "B" designation refers to the NRA's bullseye and silhouette target classification system, and the "27" identifies the specific silhouette format within that system.
Over the following decades the B-27 became the standard by which law enforcement marksmanship was measured. Its adoption by major agencies and academies created a self-reinforcing cycle — more agencies used it because other agencies used it, building the institutional knowledge and qualification standards that made it the universal law enforcement qualification target it is today.
The Complete B-27 Target Family
Over the years the B-27 has spawned a large family of related formats to meet the specific needs of different agencies, distances, and training programs. Here's a complete overview of every B-27 variant available at Alco Target:
Full Size Formats
- B-27 — The standard full-size 24"x45" NRA sanctioned qualification silhouette. The original and most widely used format.
- B-27FS — Full size extended format at 35"x45" — larger than the standard B-27 for new shooter training and extended distance work.
- B-27 CDB — The B-27 format on heavy-duty cardboard at 24"x45" — trusted by CDCR, police departments, and security training agencies. Sold in bundles of 25.
- B-27 TR — California Combat Team Score 5-3 Silhouette at 24"x45" — the standard for California law enforcement agencies running team combat qualification courses.
Reduced Distance Formats
- B-27E — Reduced version of the full-size B-27 scaled to 22½"x35" — for ranges without full 50-yard distance.
- B-27/75 — 25-yard reduction scaled to 21"x35" — part of the RED DOT Police Training Program.
- B-27/50 — 50-foot reduction scaled to 18"x30" — for indoor ranges and short-distance qualification. NRA Silhouette score 10-7.
- B-27/TR50 — 50-foot reduction of the B-27 TR California Combat silhouette at 18"x30".
- B-29 — Official NRA 50-foot reduction of the B-27 at 12"x21" — the most compact B-27 format for indoor ranges.
- B-34 — 25-foot reduction of the 50-yard B-27 at 14"x24".
Color Variants
- B-27EG — 50-yard NRA silhouette in green at 22½"x35" — part of the RED DOT Police Training Program.
- B-27EO — 50-yard NRA silhouette in orange at 22.5"x35" — high-visibility colorway for outdoor ranges.
- B-27EB — 50-yard NRA silhouette in blue at 22½"x35" — high-contrast colorway for varied lighting conditions.
- B-27R — Reversed full-size silhouette at 24"x45" — challenges shooters who have memorized the standard format.
Department Specific Formats
- B-27 SMPD — Official Training Silhouette of the Santa Monica Police Department at 22.5"x35".
- B-27 TR — California Combat Team Score format used by California law enforcement agencies.
Repair Centers
- B-27 RC — Repair center paster for B-27 and B-27A silhouettes at 18.5"x12" — 100 pack.
- B-27 TRC — Repair center for B-27 TR California Combat targets at 18.5"x12" — 100 pack.
- B-27C — RED DOT Police Training Program repair center at 18.5"x12" — 100 pack.
How to Use the B-27 Target for Law Enforcement Qualification
The B-27 is designed for use at 50-yard pistol qualification distances — the standard distance used in many law enforcement duty qualification courses. Here's how most qualification courses structure their use of the B-27:
Standard 50-Yard Qualification
Officers fire strings of fire from multiple distances — typically 3, 7, 15, 25, and 50 yards — with the B-27 set at 50 yards. The NRA Silhouette scoring system (10-7) is used to calculate total score, with minimum qualifying scores set by department policy.
Reduced Distance Qualification
For ranges without full 50-yard capability, reduced B-27 formats like the B-27/75 (25-yard reduction) and B-27/50 (50-foot reduction) allow agencies to run the same qualification course with proportionally accurate scoring at shorter distances. The target size scales down proportionally so the scoring challenge remains consistent.
Training Applications
Beyond formal qualification, the B-27 is widely used for:
- Routine duty practice and skills maintenance between formal qualification cycles
- New recruit training at police academies — the B-27 is often the first qualification silhouette recruits train on
- Advanced marksmanship training using reduced formats at close range for precise center-mass accuracy work
- California Combat Team qualification using the B-27 TR format
- Multi-distance courses of fire that challenge officers across the full range of duty distances
Choosing the Right B-27 Format for Your Training Program
With over a dozen B-27 variants available, choosing the right format comes down to three factors: distance, purpose, and volume.
By Distance
- Full 50-yard range → B-27 (24"x45") — the standard format
- 25-yard range → B-27/75 (21"x35") — proportional scoring at half the distance
- Indoor or 50-foot range → B-27/50 (18"x30") or B-29 (12"x21")
- Close-range precision work → B-34 (14"x24") — 25-foot reduction
By Purpose
- Standard duty qualification → B-27 (24"x45")
- California Combat Team qualification → B-27 TR (24"x45")
- High-visibility training → B-27EO orange or B-27EG green
- Advanced training — reverse orientation challenge → B-27R
- High-volume ranges needing durable targets → B-27 CDB cardboard
- CDCR qualification → B-27 CDB
By Volume
All B-27 paper targets are sold in packs of 100. The B-27 CDB cardboard target is sold in bundles of 25. For high-volume agencies and ranges running regular qualification courses, Alco Target offers wholesale and bulk pricing — call 626-358-4814 to discuss volume pricing for your department or range.
Why Agencies and Ranges Choose Alco Target for B-27 Targets
Alco Target has been the trusted B-27 supplier for law enforcement agencies throughout Southern California and beyond for over 60 years. Here's why agencies keep coming back:
- Made in the USA — every B-27 is printed at our Duarte, California facility
- NRA Licensed — all B-27 targets are officially licensed and printed to exact specifications on NRA approved paper
- Consistent quality — trusted by LAPD, Beverly Hills PD, Santa Monica PD, and dozens of other Southern California agencies for decades
- Full family coverage — every B-27 variant including full size, reduced formats, color variants, department-specific formats, and repair centers
- Wholesale pricing — bulk and case quantity pricing available for agencies and ranges
- Fast shipping — most orders ship same day or next business day from Duarte, California
- Custom targets — department-specific B-27 variants to your agency's exact specifications
Shop B-27 Targets at Alco Target
Whether you're stocking up for a qualification course, building a training program, or looking for the right B-27 variant for your specific range and distance — Alco Target has everything you need.
✅ B-27FS — Full Size Extended 35"x45"
✅ B-27 CDB — Cardboard Format for CDCR and High-Volume Ranges
✅ B-27 TR — California Combat Team Score 5-3
✅ B-27E, EO, EG, EB — Reduced and Color Variants
✅ B-27/75, B-27/50, B-29, B-34 — Short Distance Formats
✅ B-27 RC, TRC, C — Repair Centers
✅ Wholesale and bulk pricing available
Shop the complete B-27 family online at alcotarget.com or call 626-358-4814 to speak with our team about wholesale pricing, custom target options, and freight delivery for large orders.
About Alco Target Company
Alco Target Company is a family-owned shooting target manufacturer based in Duarte, California. Founded in 1964 by Long Beach Police Officer Al Evanson and purchased in 1985 by Wayne Semain, Alco Target has been producing professional-grade paper, cardboard, and steel shooting targets for over 60 years. We are an officially licensed NRA, USPSA, IPSC, and IDPA target supplier serving law enforcement agencies, military training programs, shooting ranges, and competitive shooters nationwide.