Safe to shoot at 100+ yards? Steel target

[mnichols]

I guess I should have spent the money on AR500 instead of trying to cheap out

Yes

[baih777]

Have not been to that side in 4 or 5 years. Now I remember why.

[audiophil2]

I shoot steel as close as 7 yards. Never had an issue. My plates are severely damaged.

I would not recommend shooting so close or shooting damage plates under 200 yards but in the last 10 years with I'm guessing over 600,000 rounds I have had maybe 3 incidents. All of them had something in common. The shooter was not hit. The person standing far off to the side was hit and only with a shard of copper. The lead disintegrates on impact. You might get copper shards which will bounce back with only enough force to cut. We have more cactus related injuries than shooting injuries.

Manufacturers will tell you to replace immediately. With new plates sold by them of course. Had this discussion with my buddy that shoots with me weekly. It is hard to justify buying new plates when we have observed almost zero negative issues over 10 years. All I have done is ban slugs and shot on the plates. From my observations, the closer and faster you shoot a plate the less likely there will be issues. The speed and proximity completely destroys the lead and copper. Slugs are slow and massive so they retain their structure. We don't shoot .45 but I would put that in the same concern.

Keep in mind I am hitting plates with machine guns. The plates rock up/down/side to side with dozens of hits in a few seconds. Many misses but with some of my guns I can get 50 out of 100 hits on a plate in 5 seconds. That plate is going everywhere and still no serious incidents.

[SanDiego619]

I shoot steel as close as 7 yards. Never had an issue. My plates are severely damaged.

I would not recommend shooting so close or shooting damage plates under 200 yards but in the last 10 years with I'm guessing over 600,000 rounds I have had maybe 3 incidents. All of them had something in common. The shooter was not hit. The person standing far off to the side was hit and only with a shard of copper. The lead disintegrates on impact. You might get copper shards which will bounce back with only enough force to cut. We have more cactus related injuries than shooting injuries.

Manufacturers will tell you to replace immediately. With new plates sold by them of course. Had this discussion with my buddy that shoots with me weekly. It is hard to justify buying new plates when we have observed almost zero negative issues over 10 years. All I have done is ban slugs and shot on the plates. From my observations, the closer and faster you shoot a plate the less likely there will be issues. The speed and proximity completely destroys the lead and copper. Slugs are slow and massive so they retain their structure. We don't shoot .45 but I would put that in the same concern.

Keep in mind I am hitting plates with machine guns. The plates rock up/down/side to side with dozens of hits in a few seconds. Many misses but with some of my guns I can get 50 out of 100 hits on a plate in 5 seconds. That plate is going everywhere and still no serious incidents.

That is my thinking. The bullet just blows up into bits. I've had stuff cut my arms. If that's the worst of it, no problem. I am convinced that shooting high speed rounds like 5.56 .308 or my AK47 isn't going to ricochet a whole bullet back and kill me. I don't have any steel core ammo, but that might give me pause.

I think as long as the plate is angled sufficiently even with deep divots there is no way something could come right back at me and kill me.

[SnWnMe]

It seems like you don't accept the answers your being given. Just stop it! Don't shoot steel that isn't designed for shooting. The answer to all your questions is yes. Yes things can come back and hit you, yes things can go through your glasses, yes you could be killed in an extreme alignment of circumstances. Get AR steel, don't shoot it closer than rated and angle it down......

My thoughts too. OP will do what he wants to do.

[golfish]

That is my thinking. The bullet just blows up into bits.

I use 2x4s to make stands for all of my AR500 targets. After a few range trips the wood looks like it been peppered with bird shot. It's been my experience that the 5.56/.223/.308 bullets fragment like crazy. I'm not saying that there is no ricochet, I'm just saying that I haven't experienced it from my AR500 targets.

[audiophil2]

the copper shards are razor sharp. possible to hit an artery that could make oyu bleed out i suppose. it's all about risk/reward. I worry more about guys muzzling me. reason i shoot with very few people.

[SanDiego619]

My thoughts too. OP will do what he wants to do.

Sorry guys, I don't mean that. I am listening to what everyone says and balancing it out. Thank you for all the posts! I know for sure I won't shoot slugs or steel cored ammo at steel. It sounds like from 100 yards, a copper jacketed bullet will fragment and even in pitted soft steel the whole bullet is not going to come back at me, it will break up. And from 100 yards fragments are unlikely to make it back to me.

[SanDiego619]

I use 2x4s to make stands for all of my AR500 targets. After a few range trips the wood looks like it been peppered with bird shot. It's been my experience that the 5.56/.223/.308 bullets fragment like crazy. I'm not saying that there is no ricochet, I'm just saying that I haven't experienced it from my AR500 targets.

I feel totally fine with AR500, they are great!

Here are my stands, I think this is after only three trips. I guess I hit one of the bolts last time...

[hermosabeach]

I’ve been hit by Ricochet bullets at 100 yards

When in doubt- get new steel. It relatively cheap


Or get a decent angle grinder & some 40 and 80 grit flap discs
Eye pro
Mask- lead dust is a concern on old steel
Listen to some tunes and grind it smooth


If it is softer steel and pitting at 100 yards- the fix is better steel.

If you grind the dents out, don’t overheat the steel. A bucket of water and a cup will cool it as you rest.

[hermosabeach]

Lots of vendors - Ive received great targets from JC steel

https://jcsteeltargets.configio.com/ShoppingCart.aspx?com=productlist&cid=386&srch=t

[SanDiego619]

Dang. Do you mean a whole bullet? Was it enough force to injure you?

What were you shooting when it ricocheted? Did the whole bullet come back or just a casing?

Well, maybe I should just buy an AR500 plate. I guess my life is worth $100 or so

[SanDiego619]

Lots of vendors - Ive received great targets from JC steel

https://jcsteeltargets.configio.com/...cid=386&srch=t

Hot digity, that's not bad. I can get a 12x12 square of 3/8 for 53 bucks. I guess I'll do that. That is nearly the same price as my rolled steel 12x12 plate. I didn't think the rolled plate would be as soft as it was. My AR500 plates take .308 rounds like nothing, I really like them. But they are also hanging so that makes it safer.

[golfish]

I feel totally fine with AR500, they are great!

Here are my stands, I think this is after only three trips. I guess I hit one of the bolts last time...

That's it. I've used a few different types of materials to make the stands but I always go back to 2x4s. Easy to replace, strong and cheap.

I used to use steel chain to hang the targets but I've found that 3" wide old firehose has worked the best.

[SanDiego619]

That's it. I've used a few different types of materials to make the stands but I always go back to 2x4s. Easy to replace, strong and cheap.

I used to use steel chain to hang the targets but I've found that 3" wide old firehose has worked the best.

I had the same experience. 2x4 is cheap and easy to replace. I used chains but they always broke, so I use thick rubber straps now. I doubt those will ever break. If I need more I might look for firehose but the straps were pretty cheap. They are almost like tire tread.