Shooting Steel

[Mr. Denton]

So I did a search via Tapatalk and didn't really get the simple answers to the simple questions I have, so here goes...

My wife and I are avid shooters. Pistols, rifles, shotguns and the occasional tequila shot (not while shooting of course).

We are looking to get into shooting steel targets. Mostly handguns, 22lr, 380, 38spl, 9mm, 40s&w, 45acp. I have rifles ranging from .22lr to .308 and even 45/70's. Shotguns too.

What are the minimum distances for the pistols and shotguns (#7 1/2 or #8 shot) to train for HD drills? I'm thinking I want to use static stands so I can get the target height as real as possible.

The rifles I know will be out 100+yrds.

Thanks for any info given.




Blown Gas Flats to Rope...
In loving memory of
Chris "Church Mouse" Blevens

[UBFRAGD]

I don't have any answers for you but I do have some anecdotal. When I shoot at steel plates that can move/bounce the shrap seems to lose most of it's energy. I don't mind shooting 25 yrds at steel hung on chains with 556, I use the steel plates that are used as trench covers on streets cut down to size. At the range we are allowed to get pretty close to steel with pistols. A lot of the pistol targets for sale are of a harder steel for durability and some of these are mounted with a slight angle to deflect shrap down.

The most blowback shrap I've encountered is with birdshot, surprisingly. Could be paint chips for all I know. That's where I'd be careful at first.

[BigBamBoo]

For pistol on steel 7 yards is about as close as close as I would set up. Shotty with bird shot, 10 yards or so. Rifle 25 yards.

[L84CABO]

I wouldn't shoot closer than 10 yards personally for pistol. And that assumes your target is angled toward the ground. 15 yards is as close as I'd come in with birdshot. Would prefer 20 or 25 though.

[Paperchasin]

My steel target is angled facing downwards, deflecting the bullet into the ground

[dpop24]

I shoot my steel targets up to about 10 yards. I've shot 5.56 and .308 at 50 yards but stopped as the range I go to recommended no closer than 100. All targets are AR500 and have a natural downward angle when hung with the chains mounted on the backside of the target. For shotties, make sure it's lead, not steel and 15-20 yards is plenty close.

You'll get the occasional whistler that sounds like its right over your head, but the steel has absorbed most of the energy and made it harmless. It's still a bit unnerving though.

[bruce381]

angle target down min 7-8 yards pistol stuff will fly bac have goor eyes on you will be peppered rifel I do not know but 100 yards sound good

[ElDub1950]

10 yards is a typical recommendation for pistol. Personally I wouldn't worry about 7 yards either. 10 is probably fine for birdshot too. Can't comment on rifle distances.

Assuming of course you have target quality (AR500?), flat, steel to shoot at and it's properly setup. With junk iron or heavily pitted steel, all bets are off

[nvgeologist]

12 yards with pistol or shotgun, for bounce back worries. Even with good angle, weird stuff happens. 100 yards for rifle, and that's mostly for damage to the steel.

Closer than 12 yards gives a pretty high risk of catching lead or jacket splatter, proper PPE is required, and expect to get some zingers.

Be damn sure you don't use steel shot if you're shooting at steel, or steel core pistol/rifle ammo. Greatly increases the bounce risk.

I was testing a new static pistol target mount yesterday and caught some lead that stung pretty good at seven yards. I've got frangible I'll use closer in, but I try to stick to my own recommendations for the most part.

[BigBamBoo]

Guess you should not go shoot steel matches or USPSA....we set up stages with steel targets at 7 yards all the time. No angling. But by all means, set up your steel at ranges that make you feel safe.

[Mr. Denton]

I ordered a couple static targets and stands from Bobcat Steel. Nothing big, a few basics to try them out. Any experience with their product?


Blown Gas Flats to Rope...
In loving memory of
Chris "Church Mouse" Blevens

[TeddyBallgame]

so, what would be an acceptable degree of angle?

5% 10% 20% angled?

most i see have little noticeable angle, although they will move on impact, usually held by chains

[Leethe4th]

Why don't you just come out and shoot a Steel Challenge match? Or local action steel match, plenty of clubs run steel only, and generally let you shoot them with anything but a center fire rifle. That would be more suited to 3 gun competition.

[SuperSet]

[Mitch]

Guess you should not go shoot steel matches or USPSA....we set up stages with steel targets at 7 yards all the time. No angling. But by all means, set up your steel at ranges that make you feel safe.

Back when I used to shoot in a Bianchi style competition, we had a string of knock-over steel plates at 7 yards. Invariably we would feel fragments hitting our faces during that first string.

We never shot at static plates.