Steel Targets and pistols

[operatorj]

What in your opinion is the closest distance that you can safly shoot at a AR500 steel target with a pistol (9mm,45ACP etc.) and what angle would I need to put it at if it is mounted to a stand. Also would coating it with thick rubber help any. I plan on hagging some from chains but I woud like to make a portable one on some sort of a stand. Any advice would be great.

 

[rkgsmith]

Re: Steel Targets and pistols

I'll go no closer than 10 yards unless using frangible ammo. Even if you hang it from chains there is still a chance for splash to come off the bolts. An angle of about 15 degrees would be enough, our salute targets sit about that angle and the splash is straight down. Another suggestion is hanging it from rubber. I found conveyer belt in an old barn and have literally hit it 1000 times with a 308 with very little damage, it almost self seals.

The rubber attached to the plate helps, we used to shoot poppers at the NRA indoor 3 gun matches with 223s at 50yards. The rubber was 1" thick and bolted to the poppers, but it kept the splash down a lot.

 

[Alpine 338]

Re: Steel Targets and pistols

I have shot steel with both 9mm and 45ACP. I've heard you should be no closer then 15-meters for safety, but at my last USPSA match standing behind a shooter engaging a steel popper at around 20-yards, I had a bullet fragment hit me in the face, nothing serious, just noticeable or slight sting. Only harm it could of caused is if it would have hit me in the eye... thus the requirement for eye protection. I think anything from flat (90 deg) to you, or a slight angle to get the bullet splatter to drop or go to the side is Ok. If it's a 45 deg angle or less you're asking for trouble.

 

[operatorj]

Re: Steel Targets and pistols

Thanks for all the info. I will hafta do some testing this weekend.

 

[k2peaker]

Re: Steel Targets and pistols

10 yards is a good measure but doesn't mean you still won't get hit by frags. Especially if you're shooting jacketed bullets.
I've been hit at IPSC matches (enough to draw blood) even though I was 20+ yards back (spectating at the time, not shooting or RO'ng). Never serious in my case. Two friends were hit with enough of a ragged jacket to cause a trip to a hospital to get the copper extracted, wound cleaned, dressed, etc.

That being said, everyone that I compete/practice with for IPSC/USPSA routinely shoot at steel at 10 yards (or farther). We see it as a reasonable risk/reward.

Keep in mind: the more pitted the steel becomes or plate surfaces bending after 1000s of hits, etc. the more frags become likely. Starting with AR500 steel in the first place is probably a wise choice. Most of the frags deflect in a rainbow pattern relative to the plane of the plate face. That's why proximal no-shoots and other targets get plastered with splatter at matches.

 

[TrooperBrian]

Re: Steel Targets and pistols

I've been using a steel swinger target at 25ft or more, probably a few thousand rounds into it with 115gr FMJ, not one unsafe problem. That being said, something just seems off with shooting steel at close range without frangibles. But I have yet to have a problem. *fingers crossed*

I'll try to dig up a picture.

 

[TrooperBrian]

Re: Steel Targets and pistols

That trench was cut by bullet fragments hitting the ground.

 

[Postal0311]

Re: Steel Targets and pistols

It depends on the type of target.

For steel hanging at an angle, sending all debris downwards, 10 yards.

However for some things like spinners, which the angle of the metal can be any which way, I prefer to be farther away, and to have much less exposed skin.

 

[operatorj]

Re: Steel Targets and pistols

Thanks again for all the help. I guess Ill just use my steel for 10 yrds and out and stick to paper for anything closer just to be on the safe side.

 

[Wicked Weapons]

Re: Steel Targets and pistols

Over the last few weekends I've put a total of 3500 rounds of Wolf bi-metal 9mm into AR400 steel targets at only 21 feet. Not a bit of frag back at me. My targets are rectangular (8"x16"), but appear square (8"x8") to the shooter - because they are angled down at 45 degrees. They are hard mounted in brackets on stands, no chains.

The "trench" cut into the ground (like in the above photo by TrooperBrian), is actually about two feet BEHIND my target stands. The 45 degree angle works.

 

[Quickdraw40]

Re: Steel Targets and pistols

It also is a function of how dinged up the targets are.

 

[laytonf]

Re: Steel Targets and pistols

We shoot steel as close as 7 yards, but only on non-hardened plates which are angled at about 10 degrees. Very rarely any splash.