Cracking the Code: How to Conquer the Texas Star

Those ladies that went to Spring Fling this year experienced it for themselves! Here's a quick post on a strategy for shooting the dreaded Texas Star!

If you’ve ever stood at the firing line and come face-to-face with a Texas Star, you know the feeling. It’s one of the most intimidating targets in competitive shooting (USPSA, IDPA, or Steel Challenge). Five steel plates, one rotating hub, and a whole lot of potential for frustration.

Shoot one plate, and the gravity shifts. The whole apparatus begins to swing, dip, and spin. If you don't have a plan, you’ll find yourself "chasing" plates and burning through ammunition.

Here is the definitive guide to shooting the Texas Star without losing your cool.

1. The Golden Rule: Start at the Top

The secret to a stationary star is balance. The moment you remove a plate, the star becomes "unbalanced" and starts to move. To minimize the initial chaos, always shoot the top plate first.

• Why? Shooting the top plate keeps the center of gravity low and centered for a split second longer.

• The Trap: If you shoot a side plate first, the star will immediately lurch aggressively to one side.

2. Work Your Way Down (The "V" Pattern)

Once the top plate is gone, the star will begin to move. Your goal is to take out the remaining plates in a way that manages that momentum.

• The Strategy: After the top plate, move to the next highest plates on either side.

• The Flow: Top $\rightarrow$ Top Right $\rightarrow$ Top Left $\rightarrow$ Bottom Right $\rightarrow$ Bottom Left (or vice versa).

• The Benefit: By working from the top down, you are essentially "bleeding" the energy out of the rotation rather than fighting a wild pendulum.

3. Let the Plates Come to You

The biggest mistake shooters make is "chasing" a plate. If the star is spinning fast, don't try to track a moving target with your sights. You’ll likely miss, which adds more time and more movement.

Pro Tip: Use an "Ambush" Point.Pick a spot in the air (usually at the 12 o’clock or 6 o’clock position). Prep your trigger, and the moment a plate enters your sights, break the shot. It is much easier to time a moving object passing through a stationary point than it is to track a moving object perfectly.

4. Visual Focus and Trigger Control

Because the Texas Star adds the element of movement, your fundamentals need to be rock solid.

• Front Sight Focus: If you are using iron sights, you must see that front post clearly against the steel. If you're using a Red Dot, stay target-focused but ensure the dot is stabilized before the break.

• Don't Rush: One "clean" shot is always faster than three "panic" shots. If you miss and the star starts spinning wildly, stop. Take a breath, let the star slow down, and resume your ambush.

The Bottom Line

The Texas Star isn't just a test of marksmanship; it's a test of patience and physics. If you keep your head, start at the top, and ambush the plates as they rotate, you’ll clear the star in five shots and leave the gallery wondering how you made it look so easy.

What's the hardest steel target you've had to face—the Star, the Polish Plate Rack, or the dreaded Spinner?