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Steel Targets for Handguns

bsekf

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
Jul 1, 2019
100
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We are trying to capitalize on the handgun training our Police Department does with Ladies. We are thinking about 3/8" AR500 man silhouette targets for our Ladies to practice on. How close to the firing line can you put those steel targets without fear of bounce back? Would be using 22rf, 38 and 9mm fmj. No magnums or rifle rounds.
 
Personally I wouldn’t go less than 7 yds. Helps if the plate hangs down with the bottom slightly tilted to the rear, but the main issue is going to be if somebody hits the hanger itself -ricochets can happen then.

The closest steel plate in Steel Challenge (SCSA) is 7 yds for rimfire and centerfire pistol. USPSA has in their rules a minimum distance of 23 feet (which is somewhat at odds with SCSA, but SCSA was its own organization before USPSA purchased it.
 
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Reactions: MadDuner
Use thru-hardened AR500 steel, not less expensive / durable surface hardened steel.

Invest in a Rogers pneumatic laptop computer portable target system. You can set the head plate target exposure time from 0.5 sec to whatever longer.

Using polymer based ammunition you can safely train at contact distances to replicate perhaps real-world encounters. See target notes for distance and ammunition type / muzzle velocities when NOT using frangible ammunition.

I authored the Manual for the Rogers target system, below a few out takes of recommended AR500 steel body-head plate setups.

You can get the head plate to be full value centered on the body or as a hostage partial head plate exposure setup (shown).

Lighter head plates are available for use with .22LR and .380 ammo.
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Reactions: DoctorBen
Downward target angle of 20 + degrees and keep the distance no closer than 5 yards. Also remember, you're asking a serious question in a public forum...
 
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Reactions: Gustav7
Definitely angled down.. If you're teaching a brand new shooter, I prefer to just use a clean USPSA target at 3 yds. Once they figure out grip and understand the recoil a little better, move them to 7-10yds on steel.