Mix & Match
The Storage Unit Ambiguous Encounter Shooting Target depicts a tense public self-defense scenario inside a storage facility corridor where a lone male subject stands in a familiar, everyday posture while holding a small handheld object that is not immediately identifiable as a weapon.
At first glance, the scene appears routine and non-threatening. The subject’s stance is relaxed, the environment is quiet, and there are no obvious indicators of imminent violence. This forces the shooter to slow down, observe carefully, and confirm whether a lethal threat actually exists before deciding to engage.
This target is designed... ...
The Storage Unit Ambiguous Encounter Shooting Target depicts a tense public self-defense scenario inside a storage facility corridor where a lone male subject stands in a familiar, everyday posture while holding a small handheld object that is not immediately identifiable as a weapon.
At first glance, the scene appears routine and non-threatening. The subject’s stance is relaxed, the environment is quiet, and there are no obvious indicators of imminent violence. This forces the shooter to slow down, observe carefully, and confirm whether a lethal threat actually exists before deciding to engage.
This target is designed to train restraint, visual discipline, and judgment under uncertainty in everyday public environments where premature or assumption-based decisions can have severe consequences.
Public self-defense encounters often unfold in ordinary places where people expect safety and familiarity. Storage facilities are a prime example—quiet, repetitive environments where cognitive bias can lead shooters to assume benign intent.
This target was created to replicate that ambiguity.
The shooter must evaluate:
Rather than reacting to location or expectation, the shooter must rely on deliberate threat confirmation before choosing a course of action.
The purpose of this target is to reinforce disciplined decision-making when a situation feels safe but remains unresolved.
This target is intentionally designed to be paired with PUB-SELFDEF-021 – Storage Unit Armed Confrontation Shooting Target, which depicts the same environment and subject positioning but with a clearly presented firearm.
When used together, the two targets create a high-value contrast drill:
Running these targets back-to-back or in randomized order forces shooters to break pattern recognition, overcome expectation bias, and evaluate each encounter independently rather than reacting based on location familiarity.
This pairing reinforces a critical real-world principle: the environment may remain constant, but the correct response may change entirely.
Instructors can use the paired targets to assess:
Together, PUB-SELFDEF-021 and PUB-SELFDEF-022 form a complete decision-making set focused on accountability, restraint, and correct threat identification in everyday public spaces.
Most shooting targets simplify encounters by clearly displaying a weapon or exaggerated aggression. This target removes that clarity.
The subject’s neutral posture and non-obvious object placement force shooters to confront how often real-world decisions must be made without certainty. The quiet storage facility setting strips away distractions, exposing cognitive shortcuts, premature conclusions, and decision errors that traditional silhouettes never reveal.
Because the scenario is subtle but repeatable, it supports consistent training while continuously challenging judgment and restraint.
This target is most effective when shooters are required to verbally justify their decision before and after engagement.
If you want more reps on the same type of scenario, pair this target with Storage Unit Armed Confrontation Shooting Target, Seated Injury Deception – Concealed Handgun Public Encounter Shooting Target, and Wheelchair Ambiguous Threat – Concealed Handgun Public Encounter Shooting Target.
Browse more targets in Public & Everyday Self Defense to keep your practice realistic and repeatable.
To round out your skill set, add targets from Home Defense, CQB & Hostage Scenarios so you can apply the same fundamentals in a different environment and decision profile.
