Shooting Steel Targets

[PashooterRLL]

What would be a good load for shooting steel targets (Pa. Steel League, not knocking them down) using my Springfield xd40? Fast and back on target.

[demigod]

Any load. There's nothing magic about shooting steel. Whatever you have access to that shoots well in your gun.

[CrustyFN]

Just about anything should knock them down if they are set up correctly. I knock down the large poppers with 9mm no problem.

[g.willikers]

Since you say the targets are not knock down, just use the lightest loads, with the easiest to manage recoil, that will still work the gun.
The lightest bullets, the lowest velocity.
You'll have to either experiment or ask those who are doing this what they are using.
Brianenos.com has a section of his forum for steel matches that might have the info.
There's also a reloading section, divided up by caliber.
Since steel matches are one of the few competitions that usually include a .22 division, that's all I've ever used.
Sorry I couldn't be more specific in helping with the .40.

[Don P]

I'm shooting 155 grain lead at steel.

[45lcshooter]

I shoot anything at steel. All my reloaded stuff is all higher caliber stuff. Even the 10-22 i shoot at steel, the ones make for 22's, i dont want to be shooting a big thick steel plate with the 22, you would be dancing around dogdeing ricochets.

[demigod]

i dont want to be shooting a big thick steel plate with the 22, you would be dancing around dogdeing ricochets.

I'm trying to sort through that grammar train wreck.

I've never found rimfire to ricochet off of steel plates regardless of thickness. I mean... once the bullet splatters into oblivion, there's not much left to ricochet.