Shooting steel

[Samtech79]

Just a reminder for safety glasses. I love shooting steel and am not discouraging anyone. Last year I was watching someone shoot a stage at a local match. Got hit in the side of the head from splatter from another bay. Had to have the piece removed a few days later after it got infected.

So, remember to wear your glasses.

That's no joke either! I got a 45 jacket that's still stuck in my head. I can tell you first hand that being shot in face, even by ricochet, is a truely horible experance.
Angle off your target if possible and don't get to close.
The target that got me had a design flaw that, with testing, proved that it would in fact kick back rounds... A little angle and flexibility and that won't happen.
Aside from the stern warning; shooting steel is very fun and just a very positive hit indication.

[SigUser]

what is a safe distance for shooting steel targets (ar500 and standard steel plates)? will steel or fmj rounds ricochet further?

[Intimid8tor]

what is a safe distance for shooting steel targets (ar500 and standard steel plates)? will steel or fmj rounds ricochet further?

It depends on what you are shooting it with. For center fire rifles I would have it out 70 yards or more. For pistols it can be pretty close. A lot has to do with set up and ensuring there is nothing on the face of the plate that can create a reflecting angle. Ideally you want the splatter to go down or to the side into a berm.

[littleandres]

how do you guys transport your steel targets to the range?

it unscrews in about 2min....

[SDgarrick]

Love the knocking sound. great for practical accuracy at long range.

[Drnoleak]

What are the best colors to paint my newly purchased steel targets?

[BrokerB]

I do red or white or orange. .whatever is cheapest for sale.

[BrokerB]

I have had copper jackets bounce back and hit me fro 60 foot pistol shots. Make sure steel moves very easy or is angled down a few degrees.

[dut]

What are the best colors to paint my newly purchased steel targets?

We use fluorescent yellow/orange and we have to respray every other trip because the sun fades it. Reminds me, I'll be going on a little hike this afternoon (going to the ranch) to do this. Hotness in Temecula =

[bigdawg86]

How much did this stand end up costing?

I built one out of 3/4" black steel and it still ran me almost 100 bucks. I built mine larger to accommodate one big 12" + gong or two in the 6"-10" range. It wasn't cheap but I can always add to it since its just threaded fittings.

[L84CABO]

how do you guys transport your steel targets to the range?

Horseback

Seriously though...get this...or two...or three...or three and the 45 degree 50 yard rifle target...and one of the torso targets

http://store.actiontarget.com/evil-roy-practice-target.html

[Vlad 11]

I do red or white or orange. .whatever is cheapest for sale.

Yup, ive found when we shoot steel in the desert even the florescent yellow and green are hard to pick up past 200yds.

My fave is the red-orange rustoleum florescent, spray it on top of a white base, really pops out at long distance



We bring a wheelbarrow, makes it a lot easier to set up a bunch of targets way out there

[kdruff2]

Steel reactive targets are the way to go. Nothing like playing the"pipes" when you're on target and moving through them quickly. Doo ree mee faa soo laa dee....

[Findout]

I have a ton of piece of various steel and aluminum scrap that I am always picking up randomly. Hell, I was buying a car from someone one time and noticed a pile of scrap steel plates of various sizes and thicknesses in his backyard. I asked him what he was going to do with them, and long story short he just gave them to me.

Free steel and other metal plates are all around you all the time, just gotta keep those eyes open

I'm sure I'll get lectured on how my random steel/aluminum scrap isn't super Godzilla-hardened shooting steel , but I have so much steel and get so much all the time that I'll never run out. Besides, a piece of 3/4" steel plate will take a lot of 7.62x54Rs before it's useless.

I like to use old aluminum baking sheets and such as pistol targets, in part to eliminate any possibility of ricochets, but also because they make a louder TONK! than steel. That and I like shooting them rapidly and listening to the pitch change with each hit

I also buy up old pots and pans, baking sheets, etc from garage sales all the time. Airbake cooking sheets are great for sighting in rifles, because they always have nice clean round holes in them when you hit them. Paint it white and lean it against a hill and each hole you put in it will be nice and dark - excellent contrast so you can see it from super long distances. The best part is you can buy a couple dozen good pieces for like $5 if you go out early enough. That and the reaction on people's faces when you tell them you're going to use their formerly cherished cooking implements as shooting targets

[voiceofreason]

paper for marksmanship & basics

steel for multiple targets, shooting on the move, time, and any skills or assessment that don't require specific feedback on accuracy

learned that if you want to work on accuracy, to put the targets farther out

more advanced shooters can run the same course as a beginner, just 10-25 yards back further.