with reference to fig1 - 4 , a shooting target 100 constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is a life - like , reactive shooting target that simulates “ bleeding ” when hit with a projectile for a more realistic shooting experience to help with improving marksmanship . the shooting target 100 includes a shooting target mannequin body 110 with an outer skin / shell 120 , a backing 130 , an interior cavity 140 , one or more fluid ( e . g ., paint ) carriers 150 , and filler 160 . the outer skin / shell 120 is on a front face 170 of the shooting target 100 and is a plastic material . in an exemplary , embodiment , the outer skin / shell 120 is made of 0 . 035 - 0 . 125 ″ thick pvc , petg , styrene , paper , or gelatin product . in one or more embodiments , the outer skin / shell 120 is made in the shape of , but not limited to , a human form , an animal profile , a round shape , a square shape , and / or a flat shape / target . in one or more embodiments , the skin 120 is , but not limited to , thermoformed , injection molded , and / or is a flat sheet cut to size . the one or more paint carriers 150 are placed in the interior cavity 140 , along ( and in contact with ) an inner surface 180 of the outer skin / shell 120 . in one or more embodiments , the one or more paint carriers 150 are a shape including , but not limited to , square , rectangular , round , and / or oval . in one or more embodiments of the paint carrier ( s ) 150 , the paint carrier ( s ) 150 include colored paint in a plastic packet ( e . g ., akin to a ketchup packet ). because the one or more paint carriers 150 are disposed in the interior cavity 140 , along ( and in contact with ) an inner surface 180 of the outer skin / shell 120 , when the projectile penetrates the target 100 ( projectile penetrates outer skin / shell 120 and paint carrier ( s ) 150 ), the colored paint , which may have the appearance of blood , will spin out onto the front of the skin 120 . the one or more paint carriers 150 ( e . g ., paint capsules , paint packets ) lie behind the outer skin 120 in a suitcase - type holding fixture to hold everything together . in an exemplary embodiment , the filler 160 is two - part ( a + b ) spray - on foam that is applied behind the one or more paint carriers 150 . two - part closed - cell spray - in / on foam , in a 0 . 40 - 1 . 50 lb density , is applied behind the one or more paint carriers 150 ( e . g ., similar to packaging foam used in industrial applications ). the foam encases the paint carriers 150 ( e . g ., paint capsules , paint packets ) while adhering the skin 120 to everything . the foam provides two main functions : a ) holds the paint carriers 150 firmly against outer skin / shell 120 , pushing the paint out of the front of the target 100 , and b ) holds the backing 130 and skin 120 all together onto the target 100 , acting as a glue . the backing 130 is applied to a back / rear of the target 100 during foam expansion and curing . the backing 130 is made of a light - weight material , allowing the bullet to pass easily there through . the backing 130 is made from , but not by way of limitation , paper , plastic , cardboard , and or wood . the backing 130 holds the filler 160 ( e . g ., foam ) securely to the front of the target 100 creating a seal for the back . in use , when a projectile ( e . g ., shot by a firearm , bb gun , airsoft gun , bow ) penetrates the target 100 , the outer skin 120 receives and is penetrated by the projectile to form a hole in the outer skin 120 . an adjacent paint carrier 150 is penetrated by the projectile to form a hole in the carrier 150 corresponding to and adjacent the hole in the outer skin , causing paint to flow out of the holes on drip down the front face 170 of the target 100 . the colored paint preferably has the appearance of blood oozing out of the holes and down the front face 170 of the target 100 . the filler 160 is penetrated by the projectile to form a hole in the filler 160 . further , the backing 130 is penetrated by the projectile to form a hole in the backing 130 and exit a rear side of the target 100 . an exemplary method of manufacturing the bleeding mannequin tactical target 100 will now be described . a life size , life - like dimensional mannequin body 110 is made from a front skin 120 including a semi - rigid 0 . 25 - 0 . 055 ″ clear pvc , petg or similar clear plastic ; then painted on the inside or outside to look life - like . one or more paint carriers 150 in the form of a layer of small balls filled with paint ( i . e ., paint balls ) are layered in the interior cavity 140 , along ( and in contact with ) the inner surface 180 of the outer skin / shell 120 . then , the interior cavity 140 is back - filled with filler 160 in the form of 1 lb . biodegradable 2 - part foam . the rear / back of the target 100 is sealed with backing 130 . the bleeding mannequin tactical target 100 is then placed on the ground , a base , hung on a board , or otherwise uprighted . while various embodiments of the present invention have been described above , it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only , and not of limitation . likewise , the various diagrams may depict an example architectural or other configuration for the disclosure , which is done to aid in understanding the features and functionality that can be included in the disclosure . the invention is not restricted to the illustrated example architectures or configurations , but the desired features can be implemented using a variety of alternative architectures and configurations . indeed , it will be apparent to one of skill in the art how alternative functional , logical or physical partitioning and configurations can be implemented to implement the desired features of the present disclosure . although the disclosure is described above in terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations , it should be understood that the various features , aspects and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to the particular embodiment with which they are described , but instead can be applied , alone or in various combinations , to one or more of the other embodiments of the disclosure , whether or not such embodiments are described and whether or not such features are presented as being a part of a described embodiment . thus , the breadth and scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by any of the above - described exemplary embodiments . terms and phrases used in this document , and variations thereof , unless otherwise expressly stated , should be construed as open ended as opposed to limiting . as examples of the foregoing : the term “ including ” should be read as meaning “ including , without limitation ” or the like ; the term “ example ” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item in discussion , not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof ; the terms “ a ” or “ an ” should be read as meaning “ at least one ,” “ one or more ” or the like ; and adjectives such as “ conventional ,” “ traditional ,” “ normal ,” “ standard ,” “ known ” and terms of similar meaning should not be construed as limiting the item described to a given time period or to an item available as of a given time , but instead should be read to encompass conventional , traditional , normal , or standard technologies that may be available or known now or at any time in the future . likewise , where this document refers to technologies that would be apparent or known to one of ordinary skill in the art , such technologies encompass those apparent or known to the skilled artisan now or at any time in the future . the presence of broadening words and phrases such as “ one or more ,” “ at least ,” “ but not limited to ” or other like phrases in some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or required in instances where such broadening phrases may be absent . while illustrative embodiments of the invention are disclosed herein , it will be appreciated that numerous modifications and other embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art . features of the embodiments described herein , can be combined , separated , interchanged , and / or rearranged to generate other embodiments . therefore , it will be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and embodiments that come within the spirit and scope of the present invention .