July 11, 2013, 11:23 AM | #1 |
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Shooting Steel
Not quite sure this is the appropriate forum but what distance is recommended for hand gun shooting of steel targets? I've seen YouTube videos where it looks like people are ~10 yards from their target. Is there no ricochet possible or are the targets angled to a certain degree? Also, I mean this to apply to all calibers not just .22lr pistols.
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July 11, 2013, 01:12 PM | #2 |
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Use the search function on this question. It's been discussed multiple times at great length. Lots of useful (and some useless) info on this subject. I believe this was posted on here within the last couple of weeks. Good luck and be careful shooting steel. It can be very safe or very dangerous depending on the targets being used. Not so much on the distance.
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July 11, 2013, 02:06 PM | #3 |
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Gotcha. I just wasn't entering words correctly. Disregard. Found allll of them.
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July 11, 2013, 03:30 PM | #4 |
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I set up steel at 25 yards minimum.
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July 11, 2013, 04:46 PM | #5 |
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Re: Shooting Steel
A good safety net is no less than 10 yards for pistols, and 100 yards for centerfire rifles.
At 10 yards you will still catch some splash, but as long as you are wearing eye pro you'll be just fine. For .22 lr rifles I use the same 10 yard minimum. |
July 11, 2013, 04:46 PM | #6 |
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ALWAYS wear eye protection!
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July 11, 2013, 07:50 PM | #7 |
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The only time I want steel, . . . is when I want instant feedback without resorting to a spotting scope.
Steel, . . . especially a "gong" will give you that. AND, . . . for me, . . . at least 100 yd from the target. May God bless, Dwight
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July 11, 2013, 08:10 PM | #8 |
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I've been shooting action targets company steel falling plates &dueling tree with "45acp lead semi wad cutters at 10 yards. What about jacketed ball ammo like federal white box 45 cap, is it safe?
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July 11, 2013, 08:30 PM | #9 |
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Steel in fun, moving to Competition
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July 11, 2013, 08:37 PM | #10 | |
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Re: Shooting Steel
Quote:
FMJ is just fine. |
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July 11, 2013, 10:50 PM | #11 |
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10 yards for pistol is the minimum for USPSA matches.
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July 12, 2013, 05:34 AM | #12 | |
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Quote:
Steel in USPSA or Steel Challenge will move some when hit, either fall or swing. Having undamaged steel is important. If it is pockmarked, then ricochets happen. Pockmarks happen when steel is hit with bullets not suitable for targets (e.g., shotgun slugs on pistol steel). Pistol, even major power factor 9 or 38 super from an open gun, will not be a problem. But targets have to be placed knowing where the bullet splatter will fall. |
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July 12, 2013, 01:07 PM | #13 |
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Isn't the steel supposed to be set at a minimum of 10 yards from where it is expected to be engaged, and if you engage it at less than 23 feet you are disqualified?
I've been shooting USPSA and IDPA for fifteen years, and we always set the steel at least ten yards from where it is (expected to be) engaged. We have specially hardened plates that we engage with rifles at 50 yards, and have had no issues, but a self-imposed limit of 100 wouldn't get any complaints from me. |
July 13, 2013, 10:36 AM | #14 | |
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From 2.1.3:
Quote:
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July 15, 2013, 10:54 AM | #15 |
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Shooting jacketed hollow points at steel is bad, the jackets separate from the core and come flying back at the shooters like mini buzz saws.
This is especially true when shooting them out of 38 super raceguns with loads making major power factor. Many shooters at the American Handgunner World Shootoffs suffered cuts from these mini buzz saws, some of the cuts were pretty bad, so those running the match outlawed JHP bullets altogether. The minimum distance of the steel at the match was 12 yards. Best Regards Bob Hunter www.huntecustoms.com |
July 15, 2013, 01:02 PM | #16 | |
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Quote:
For years, IDPA has had no minimum distance for steel, but they now have a minimum of ten yards. |
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July 19, 2013, 06:30 AM | #17 | |
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Quote:
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July 21, 2013, 10:26 AM | #18 |
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I'm just trying to figure out how they settled on a number like 26 feet? Every match I shot for many years never had the steel set no closer than 30 feet, so why shorten the distance by four feet? I thought it may be a nice, round number in metric terms.
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