How your passive/powered thermal shooting targets works and why you need one.


Contrast is a must for your thermal shooting target. 

The better the contrast, the better the shooting target.

In the end, the better your training.  

When you look through your optic viewfinder, you will see a scene of contrasts. Depending on your device settings, the trees, buildings, people and your target will appear in a variety of contrasting colors.

Black Hot powered thermal shooting target
To optimize your training/target practice, you want the contrast of your thermal target to “stand out” because a dull contrast wastes your time and makes for a frustrating shoot. 

When you take aim, you want a target that “pops,” not a target difficult to see. 

So what creates the contrast on your thermal target?  

Understanding your thermal target contrast

A passive thermal target works with no additional power source.  All you need is the target and the sky. What occurs is the target reflects the heat energy or temperatures in the sky to create the contrast.  Just like a mirror reflects your face, the cooler sky temperature reflects or bounces off the thermal target.  

To clarify, all living things produce heat.  A human produces significant heat, a rock does not.

Therefore, there is a notable contrast in temperature between a human and a rock.  A passive thermal target masquerades as a rock by reflecting a cooler temperature from its environment.  

Therefore, the target appears cold in contrast to the warmer trees, buildings, etc… in its  background. The cold target ”pops out” from its warm surroundings for a distinct contrast. 

While the advantages of a passive, no power thermal target are appealing, the new powered thermal targets are even more luring.  


Catapult your training with a powered thermal shooting target


Although the passive thermal target is effective and fulfills a training requirement, the addition of power to the target takes the training to a whole new level.  

With 80% of the military and SWAT units deploying advanced weapon sights in their operations, the need for a durable, consistent thermal target to train on is imperative.  

A powered thermal target is the answer.  

Your powered thermal shooting target has advantages not found in a passive target. 

  1. The target works inside and outside. Your training options are endless. 
  2. Clouds and temperatures do not affect the target. The power maintains a consistent image to shoot. 
  3. The target is hot. The enemy is “hot.” Therefore, you train like you fight.
  4. Multiple shooters can shoot at the same target at the same time from multiple angles.

Fabroc® Powered Thermal Targets 


There are lots of DIY videos on the internet for building your own powered thermal powered shooting targettargets. The lists of items goes on and on, and while it may seem like you are spending a little bit of money to pull it together, your time is also valuable. Not to mention, the contrast and durability of a DIY are sincerely doubtful.  

IR.Tools recently partnered with Fabroc® heat technology to expand our thermal target inventory to include a powered thermal target option. Once you shoot a durable, high contrast IR.Tools Fabroc heated powered target, say goodbye to your DIY. 


Features and benefits of a Fabroc® shooting target: 

  1. Remarkably durable — built with a proprietary thin, rubber- like, nearly indestructible material.
  2. Super contrast — no flaring for consistent image.
  3. Extremely safe — no wires to short circuit or catch fire 
  4. Cost effective — image is visible for over 500 rounds. 
  5. Energy efficient — powers up on a 12-24v battery.
  6. Realistic hot image — exceptional image contrast. 
  7. Dual function —  target defaults into a passive target. 

This target travels anywhere, turns almost any backer into a thermal target and its amazing multi-hit capability is virtually impossible to destroy. 

White Hot or Black Hot Setting on Your Optics?

Regardless of the thermal target you choose to train with, passive or powered, understanding the settings or color palette on your device is critical to your training success.  

How do you know what settings to use? 

There really is no “correct” setting. Your choice of setting depends on the scene, temperatures, optic quality, target and your personal preference. The good news is, to rotate back and forth between the settings palette is an easy flip switch.  Once you are familiar with the optic settings, you will find what works best for your training scenario.  

White hot is the most common setting used for military, law enforcement and hunting. Users find white hot is best for the various temperatures found in white hot powered targetlandscapes and urban areas. 

In white hot, the warmer objects will appear white and the cooler objects dark. In this setting your passive target is black and the powered target is white.  

Running a close 2nd is the Black hot setting. This is the inverted version of white hot. Warmer objects will appear black and cooler objects will be white. In this setting your passive target is white and the powered target is black.  

Spend time with the Color Palette


Spend some time with the rest of the color palette. Sepia, Rainbow HC, Arctic, Ironbow, Outdoor Alert are all settings worth learning.  The more time you spend experimenting, the more confident you are when faced with taking a life-saving shot. 

Plan ahead for your best shooting experience

Before you head out, consider your goals, and evaluate which thermal target is best for you—Passive or Powered? 

If you’re overwhelmed, give me a call and I will guide you in your choice.  


Jacob will be glad to help also…, 952.594.9860 (Cell)

Contact Us

Stay safe and God Bless

 The Author

Tom Boyer profile picture
