Do all traps steel targets?

[Mr.RoDiN]

Has anyone ever used one of these? I was thinking of purchasing the heavy duty one, for 9mm - 30.06.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat602007-cat601043&id=0024207226756a&navCount=58&podId=0024207&parentId=cat601043&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=IH&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601043&hasJS=true

Are they durable. More than durability, I am concerned about safety. One of the reviews state a .223 hitting a shooter? http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...oductid=226756
What do you guys think?

[cush]

If you're worried about safety look at this site:

http://www.justshootmeproducts.com/

I don't have any yet but plan on buying some soon.
Nothing is perfect, notice what they say about their Big Bore Target: "The Big Bore target was developed for use with Safari calibers. The added thickness ensures greater reaction, velocity reduction and longer target life. Can be used with all rifle calibers .308 and larger. Warning: Not To Be Used with Cowboy Loads or calibers with a velocity of less than 2,400 FPS, as bullet stack may occur, resulting in ricochets."
-cush

[Cazach]

I was given the 9MM-30.06 version as a gift several years ago. I have drilled it with .40, .45, .223. 308 and 30.06 with no problems.

It is not a magic bullet magnet and some common sense (and appropriate distances) need to be applied.

Construction seems stout enough to the do the job, but anything will fail with enough hits to unintended areas.

[BDH]

Mr.RoDiN

As many times as I've seen shooters injured by steel splashback, I'm surprised they don't sell these with lots of warnings. Too many shooters, even experienced shooters, place them too close or use ammo not meant for the target (AP or steel cores). Or, in one instance I observed, the plates were too thick and too close...for shotgun slugs. Sucking chest wound on that one.

If you want to shoot steel, do it safely and not with cheaply made targets.
Follow the link to Law Enforcement Targets and click on Steel Targets and Poppers and you will see professionally constructed targets with a WARNING on usage.
Have fun, but be safe.
JMHO
Bruce

http://letargets.com/html/steel.html

[M. Sage]

Wow, that LE targets site's warning might be a little too CYA. 100 yards from the steel when you use a rifle?

[SnWnMe]

I have the 38 to 44 Mag.

Just this weekend I was shooting it with 45, 38, 357 and 10mm @ 10 yards. For safety I was shooting it from a side angle. Anyhoo, the only thing that put a slightly scooped dent in it was a jacketed 125gr 357 Remington. All my lead handloads, including 1,100 fps 175gr 10mm, did not damage it.

And yes, it did come with plenty of warnings. The minimum distance stated was 25 yards. But that's no fun for IPSC practice now is it?