Shooting steel targets

Mags · September 6, 2010, 12:33 PM

I'm considering some steel reactive targets for my shooting training. What would be the minimum distance to shoot at these targets with normal handgun loads.

Scattergun Bob · September 6, 2010, 02:03 PM

NO LESS than 10 yards!

Jo6pak · September 6, 2010, 02:07 PM

Agree with Bob on that one. Maybe a little further for high-power rifle rounds.
Also, tilt the top of the plate/target a little foward to further reduce ricochette possiblity. 10-15 degrees may make all the difference.

Al Thompson · September 6, 2010, 02:22 PM

Bob's got it - 10 yards for handguns and 50 for rifles. Shotguns also need a good amount of distance, not sure how much though..

Slopemeno · September 6, 2010, 03:03 PM

I've shot pistol and shotgun as close as 25'. You WILL get hit by splatter- eye protection with good side coverage like Oakleys is mandatory. Even at 50' I've been hit hard by pieces of bullet. As the targets get more cratered it gets worse. Fun though- really fun. Buy a Pact timer and have at it.

Mags · September 6, 2010, 03:04 PM

Its going to be on my home range and I only have about 20-25' to my back stop. Is that too close? it would be pistol and .22 only

Scattergun Bob · September 6, 2010, 09:42 PM

Don't be deceived by the "lack" of power of 22 rim fire. It's small power charge makes it a very good candidate for rebound. Take every precaution mentioned above, do some testing and LIVE by my first post.

I run a indoor action pistol league 47 weeks out of the year, last night I took a good stiff rebound to the shin, even the best prepared range can "BITE" you on occasion.

Best of luck, Bob

Bones · September 7, 2010, 02:42 AM

If you'll be shooting steel with a shotgun, a load with 1 or 11/8 oz of small (#8 or 9) shot 25 feet will be fine

I assume you will be using eye protection..

TDR911 · September 7, 2010, 05:59 AM

I have seen a .22 come back across the firing line 3 different times. Low velocity rounds that hit a crater just right will rebound.

Mags · September 7, 2010, 06:41 AM

Which are better for steel, FMJ or hollow points?

Double Naught Spy · September 7, 2010, 07:20 AM

Neither is better, though hollowpoint may be more apt to fragment. This may or may not be good. Generally speaking, ricochet issues are with splatter and jackets, not with whole bullets.

20-25' is too close even with a .22 unless the target is angled away from the shooter and bystanders. At noted above, it can be tilted down or angled to the side. Which sufficient angle, you can actually shoot at steel targets from fairly close because the round WILL ricochet away from you, usually as splatter.

demigod · September 7, 2010, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Its going to be on my home range and I only have about 20-25' to my back stop. Is that too close? it would be pistol and .22 only

Just wear eye protection. I shoot steel every weekend and can't ever remember getting hit with any fragments. I still wear eye pro for sure.

Slopemeno · September 7, 2010, 09:18 AM

Just shoot plain lead bullets. I've been tagged really hard by pieces of bullet jacket before.

jmorris · September 7, 2010, 09:42 AM

Quote:

I have seen a .22 come back across the firing line 3 different times. Low velocity rounds that hit a crater just right will rebound.

Excellent point, don’t ever shoot at steel that is not perfectly flat to avoid things coming back at you. AR400 will take most any handgun and AR500 for rifles. 10 yards is as close as you want to get with pistols and 100 yds is a good place to start with rifles.

demigod · September 7, 2010, 10:44 AM

Don't shoot a gong like this inside of 10 yards.

jmorris · September 7, 2010, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Don't shoot a gong like this inside of 10 yards.

That one should pepper everyone around pretty good.

Good steel doesn't cost too much. I get AR500 from here http://handgunsports.com/ and make my own stands or reset devices.

demigod · September 7, 2010, 11:04 AM

Actually I shoot that target with rifle at 50 and a 100 all the time, and have NEVER had a single issue.

I got these AR450 gongs for FREE. I keep one side clean for pistol shooting, but beyond 50 yards.... we've run 10s of thousands of rounds on these over the last 6 or 7 years and have never had any spawl issues.

Mags · September 7, 2010, 04:38 PM

I was looking at the Evil Roy target. I believe you can get it in either AR500 or 550. The target is angled down tp push any richochet into the ground.
http://www.shopactiontarget.com/pt-p...target-hd.html

September 6, 2010, 12:33 PM	#1
Mags Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2007 Location: NH Posts: 149	Shooting steel targets I'm considering some steel reactive targets for my shooting training. What would be the minimum distance to shoot at these targets with normal handgun loads.

September 6, 2010, 02:03 PM	#2
Scattergun Bob Senior Member Join Date: February 29, 2008 Location: Nine Mile Falls, Washington Posts: 1,186	NO LESS than 10 yards! __________________ First, with the most, WINS! Regards, Scattergun Bob

September 6, 2010, 02:07 PM	#3
Jo6pak Senior Member Join Date: August 5, 2010 Location: West Coast...of WI Posts: 1,663	Agree with Bob on that one. Maybe a little further for high-power rifle rounds. Also, tilt the top of the plate/target a little foward to further reduce ricochette possiblity. 10-15 degrees may make all the difference. __________________ NRA Life Member, SAF contributor.

September 6, 2010, 02:22 PM	#4
Al Thompson Staff Alumnus Join Date: May 2, 1999 Location: South Carolina Posts: 3,611	Bob's got it - 10 yards for handguns and 50 for rifles. Shotguns also need a good amount of distance, not sure how much though.. __________________ http://www.scfirearms.org/

September 6, 2010, 09:42 PM	#7
Scattergun Bob Senior Member Join Date: February 29, 2008 Location: Nine Mile Falls, Washington Posts: 1,186	Mags Don't be deceived by the "lack" of power of 22 rim fire. It's small power charge makes it a very good candidate for rebound. Take every precaution mentioned above, do some testing and LIVE by my first post. I run a indoor action pistol league 47 weeks out of the year, last night I took a good stiff rebound to the shin, even the best prepared range can "BITE" you on occasion. Best of luck, Bob __________________ First, with the most, WINS! Regards, Scattergun Bob

September 6, 2010, 03:03 PM	#5
Slopemeno Senior Member Join Date: January 19, 2007 Posts: 2,663	I've shot pistol and shotgun as close as 25'. You WILL get hit by splatter- eye protection with good side coverage like Oakleys is mandatory. Even at 50' I've been hit hard by pieces of bullet. As the targets get more cratered it gets worse. Fun though- really fun. Buy a Pact timer and have at it.

September 6, 2010, 03:04 PM	#6
Mags Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2007 Location: NH Posts: 149	Its going to be on my home range and I only have about 20-25' to my back stop. Is that too close? it would be pistol and .22 only

September 7, 2010, 02:42 AM	#8
Bones Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2010 Posts: 122	If you'll be shooting steel with a shotgun, a load with 1 or 11/8 oz of small (#8 or 9) shot 25 feet will be fine I assume you will be using eye protection.. __________________ READY on the "LEFT!"....READY on the "RIGHT!"...PULL!

September 7, 2010, 05:59 AM	#9
TDR911 Member Join Date: April 29, 2008 Location: Punta Gorda Florida Posts: 43	I have seen a .22 come back across the firing line 3 different times. Low velocity rounds that hit a crater just right will rebound. __________________ He who " Hesitates " has LOST. www.TDR911.com

September 7, 2010, 06:41 AM	#10
Mags Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2007 Location: NH Posts: 149	Which are better for steel, FMJ or hollow points?

September 7, 2010, 07:20 AM	#11
Double Naught Spy Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2001 Location: Forestburg, Montague Cnty, TX Posts: 12,717	Neither is better, though hollowpoint may be more apt to fragment. This may or may not be good. Generally speaking, ricochet issues are with splatter and jackets, not with whole bullets. 20-25' is too close even with a .22 unless the target is angled away from the shooter and bystanders. At noted above, it can be tilted down or angled to the side. Which sufficient angle, you can actually shoot at steel targets from fairly close because the round WILL ricochet away from you, usually as splatter. __________________ "If you look through your scope and see your shoe, aim higher." -- said to me by my 11 year old daughter before going out for hogs 8/13/2011 My Hunting Videos https://www.youtube.com/user/HornHillRange

September 7, 2010, 09:18 AM	#13
Slopemeno Senior Member Join Date: January 19, 2007 Posts: 2,663	Just shoot plain lead bullets. I've been tagged really hard by pieces of bullet jacket before.

September 7, 2010, 10:44 AM	#15
demigod Junior member Join Date: March 13, 2008 Location: AZ Posts: 1,129	Don't shoot a gong like this inside of 10 yards.

September 7, 2010, 11:04 AM	#17
demigod Junior member Join Date: March 13, 2008 Location: AZ Posts: 1,129	Actually I shoot that target with rifle at 50 and a 100 all the time, and have NEVER had a single issue. I got these AR450 gongs for FREE. I keep one side clean for pistol shooting, but beyond 50 yards.... we've run 10s of thousands of rounds on these over the last 6 or 7 years and have never had any spawl issues.

September 7, 2010, 04:38 PM	#18
Mags Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2007 Location: NH Posts: 149	I was looking at the Evil Roy target. I believe you can get it in either AR500 or 550. The target is angled down tp push any richochet into the ground. http://www.shopactiontarget.com/pt-p...target-hd.html