Safe to shoot at 100+ yards? Steel target

[SanDiego619]

Hello, is this safe to shoot at 100+ yards with 5.56 or .308?

Google says bullets could fly back at me out of the pits, but I see people shooting plates that are way worse than this.

[ARDude]

I shoot 5.56/223, 30-06, at Angeles Range at 100 yard steel. No problems.

[SanDiego619]

I shoot 5.56/223, 30-06, at Angeles Range at 100 yard steel. No problems.

Wherever I read about shooting steel it says NEVER SHOOT PITTED OR DENTED STEEL!!!

That is why I am asking. The plate above is regular steel, not AR500, so it got big craters in it.

My AR500 stuff doesn't get any craters.

[Bastard]

if you are worried about it angle it down

[QuinnBayArea]

Angle it down a bit, should be fine at 100 yards

[SanDiego619]

Ok. Is angling up ok? I usually just put it on a hill leaning back against dirt or a rock.

Oh and I am not too worried about it, just enough to ask if I should be worried shooting pitted steel.

[Bastard]

NO! do not angle it up... you want it so anything that hits it is going to be deflected down

[SanDiego619]

I don't think a whole bullet could ricochet, pretty sure it would fragment into little bits even if it went right into one of the holes.

[baih777]

I shoot 5.56/223, 30-06, at Angeles Range at 100 yard steel. No problems.

Steel at Angeles starts at 200yds.

[sonofeugene]

Ok. Is angling up ok? I usually just put it on a hill leaning back against dirt or a rock.

Oh and I am not too worried about it, just enough to ask if I should be worried shooting pitted steel.

I would say no as you don't want to send that round off into the distance somewhere.

[DDRH]

Angle it down and set it up at 200+ yds to be safe. Get new steel if the pits bother you. I would not shoot pitted steel at 100yds with a rifle.

Also what kind of steel? Some folks shoots things like brake rotors etc...which may be a bad idea. You don't know what kinda steel and odd angles may ricochet back at you.

[SanDiego619]

Angle it down and set it up at 200+ yds to be safe. Get new steel if the pits bother you. I would not shoot pitted steel at 100yds with a rifle.

Also what kind of steel? Some folks shoots things like brake rotors etc...which may be a bad idea. You don't know what kinda steel and odd angles may ricochet back at you.

I just got it from a metal supply place, it is 1/2" hot rolled steel plate. It is deeply pitted, there are lumps on the back. I guess I should have spent the money on AR500 instead of trying to cheap out

[SanDiego619]

I would not shoot pitted steel at 100yds with a rifle.

Sorry, one more question, why is that exactly? Because the whole bullet could ricochet back at you?

[wynn]

Steel at Angeles starts at 200yds.

[DDRH]

Yes, shrapnel, bullet jackets can fly back at you even at 100 yards. Also, the pits, if the bullet hits right there the angles from the pits could send jacket fragments back. Swinging target will help absorb some of that kinetic energy but angle it downwards so the fragments will better hit the dirt. You'll notice a "impact line" just in front of the target.

Shooting pistol at steel even 15-25 yards, i still find little jacket fragments near the shooting line (we use poppers). Rifle bullets fly 3x faster.

Buy the AR500 steel, it's worth it. and if you take care of it, will last a lifetime.