Teaches:
target transitions, accuracy.

Requires:
outdoor range.

Principle:
Reactive targets are excellent training tools--they are area rather than point targets, and they give immediate feedback on your accuracy. For beginners, reactive targets quickly illustrate that hitting your target carefully is more efficient than firing quick misses.

The drawback is that beginners who can't call their shots won't be able to tell where their misses are going.

Drill:
The solution is to control the distance the shooter is from the targets. Shooting steel is unsafe under 10 yards because of backsplatter, but most other reactive targets (bowling pins, balloons, blocks of wood, tin cans, etc) can be brought into close range. The targets should be just far enough that it takes a careful shot to hit each one. Twelve feet is a good place to start.

The best drill for refining your draw involves an array of reactive targets. Draw and shoot one target; drop to low ready, assess, scan, reholster. Repeat until out of targets, then reset and reload. Intensive repetition will ingrain a smooth, accurate presentation. The same drill can be adapted for reloading and for two-shot target-to-target transitions.

Reactive targets are also useful for working on the double-action to single-action transition on DA/SA semi-autos. Many shooters get a flyer in their first shot-pair, and don't know whether it's the first or second shot that's missing. By setting up two close targets, you can tell which is which, and work on smoothing it out.

Arrays of reactive targets are great for simple competitions. See who can knock down five bowling pins the fastest, or who can draw and hit a swinging potato soonest. Simple things for simple minds.