Range Question, any issue with doing this?

[wcd]

My steel targets are on chains and wires, they are about a foot away from the base of the berm, and about 3 to 8 inches above ground level.

For the most part I will be using them for 380, 9mm and 45 acp. I would like to be at about 7 yards and plan on practicing from a draw. Should this be relatively safe? The backstop is plenty wide and tall I would say its about 20 feet across by about 12 feet tall.

 

[Fullmag]

Don't know what distance they shoot steel matches at but I'd say that's awful close. Dangerously close in fact my buddy got hit by 22 at 25 yards with a railroad ties as the back stop. The bullet cut his forehead causeing a fair amount of bleeding. I'd say 25 yards minimum.

Are the steel plates home made or purchased? Because the homemade ones are also dangerous with bullet rebounding straight back and not shattering.

 

[wcd]

Don't know what distance they shoot steel matches at but I'd say that's awful close. Dangerously close in fact my buddy got hit by 22 at 25 yards with a railroad ties as the back stop. The bullet cut his forehead causeing a fair amount of bleeding. I'd say 25 yards minimum.

Are the steel plates home made or purchased? Because the homemade ones are also dangerous with bullet rebounding straight back and not shattering.

They were purchased from Bullseye metals. And are supposed to be suitable for Hand gun calibers.

 

[Cameramonkey]

I wouldn't that close with FMJ. Frangible should be ok, and MAYBE cast lead or plated.

If possible reload with reduced loads to limit the exposure.

But any time you are shooting steel the risk of splatter is real. Always wear good eyepro.

 

[sparky32]

I have around 15 pieces of ar500 steel from Bobcat set up on my range from pistol to rifle. I do a minimum of 10 yards and stretch to 25 in some cases. I have shot them from a pretty close distance before but I don't make a habit of it.

What was said above about splatter is normal on occasion. I've been hit with some little pieces pretty good before but nothing major just scratches from lead pieces. WEAR YOUR EYE PROTECTION!!!

 

[wcd]

I wouldn't that close with FMJ. Frangible should be ok, and MAYBE cast lead or plated.

If possible reload with reduced loads to limit the exposure.

But any time you are shooting steel the risk of splatter is real. Always wear good eyepro.

So maybe 30 feet? I wear glasses so perhaps I will wear safety goggles over them just to be on the safe side.

 

[Cameramonkey]

Ive shot steel as close as 10' but it was always mounted at a good downward angle. (with lead or plated bullets) Not sure about doing it that close with swingers. swingers are POSSIBLE to get a bad bounce if you shoot it while the plate is moving wildly.

If in doubt and you want to practice that close, Just stick to paper. Worse accident I have doing that is a papercut while hanging it. targets and/or pasters are cheap compared to ER visits, etc.

 

[Fullmag]

So maybe 30 feet? I wear glasses so perhaps I will wear safety goggles over them just to be on the safe side.

Good idea. Where I work we use safety glasses and people still get debris in their eyes.

 

[ACC]

I regularly shoot steel at 10yrds. It only because it is static mounted on a down angle. I used to shoot swinging steel at 10yds but was getting too much splatter when shooting fast and catching the steel in the upswing.

 

[ACC]

And always with eye pro. Always.

 

[numbaonecoltsfan]

I was told 23' is the minimum safe distance for steel. For what that's Worth. That may be only handgun though. Faster rounds will come back faster.

 

[natdscott]

I've shot steel closer.

I don't anymore.


-Nate

 

[Spike Jones 5 2002]

I took a firearms class at Kodiak range in South Bend, In.
they used steel targets. There was a lot of spatter even with frangible bullets.
We were shooting from 10 to 30 feet.
they had one range Dedicated to steel targets.
They shut it down, NO reason given.

I do not have the information on hand.
There is a resealable rubber targets.
they take a lot of abuse.

 

[KLB]

I took a firearms class at Kodiak range in South Bend, In.
they used steel targets. There was a lot of spatter even with frangible bullets.
We were shooting from 10 to 30 feet.
they had one range Dedicated to steel targets.
They shut it down, NO reason given.

I do not have the information on hand.
There is a resealable rubber targets.
they take a lot of abuse.

I imagine it had something to do with this
https://www.indianagunowners.com/fo...20-idiot-who-damaged-kodiak-firing-range.html

 

[KLB]

My steel targets are on chains and wires, they are about a foot away from the base of the berm, and about 3 to 8 inches above ground level.

For the most part I will be using them for 380, 9mm and 45 acp. I would like to be at about 7 yards and plan on practicing from a draw. Should this be relatively safe? The backstop is plenty wide and tall I would say its about 20 feet across by about 12 feet tall.


View attachment 58478 View attachment 58477

I too would be leery of shooting steel that close with those swinging targets.

I shoot my steel at 21' regularly, and have yet to get hit by splatter. My torsos are mounted on poles though and the splatter goes down. I also make sure not to shoot it with anything high velocity that will dimple it and cause splatter to go in other directions.

 

[cedartop]

FWIW minimum distance to shoot at steel in USPSA matches is 23 feet. That would not be with swinging targets like those though.

 

[gabrigger]

I shoot steel gongs, etc. on my home range from 7 yds (21 ft.) on a regular basis. I occasionally will get a little lead splatter. The steel gongs hang by chains and have a slight forward pitch to them. That tends to direct the splatter towards the ground. Eye protection is mandatory and long pants instead of shorts are a good idea, in case a jacket comes back toward you ,etc. I won't allow anyone to shoot closer than 7 yds. I shoot lead, plated, and jacketed at them. YMMV.

 

[Cameramonkey]

I shoot steel gongs, etc. on my home range from 7 yds (21 ft.) on a regular basis. I occasionally will get a little lead splatter. The steel gongs hang by chains and have a slight forward pitch to them. That tends to direct the splatter towards the ground. Eye protection is mandatory and long pants instead of shorts are a good idea, in case a jacket comes back toward you ,etc. I won't allow anyone to shoot closer than 7 yds. I shoot lead, plated, and jacketed at them. YMMV.

Having seen the scary sharp jacket frags on the ground around the steel I shoot. (nobody is supposed to use FMJ there) I would switch to plated. I personally wont shoot FMJ on anything closer than 25'

 

[gglass]

Since you asked... Here is a picture of me after being hit with a very large bullet fragment at my local club.

Why did this happen? Because, two yokels decided that it would be a good idea to setup a steel dueling tree at the 7-yard line in the lane next to me. I was just about to go ask them to put the tree further downrange when, Whack! I got stung by a huge lead and copper bee.



Boy, was I glad that I had my ANSI Z87.1 Spec Oakleys on that day!

 

[Fullmag]

Now that it has been mentioned close up or Pistol steel plates I've mostly seen are mounted on stakes and the chain gongs are at distances. While the static mounted plates angling downwards. Makes sense.