TexasCHLforum.com

RossA wrote:I have never understood shooting steel plates, except maybe if they are a couple of hundred yards downrange. I ain't no scientist, but ricochets seem inevitable.

The steel and their suspension systems need to be properly designed and built. For some courses of fire, steel is a necessity. Paper targets don't move when they're hit. An example is the Farnam advanced course. Can't pass it unless you can accurately and quickly react to moving steel.

And, yes, I've had three instances of "shrapnel" cuts, all to my arms. Eyes and Ears folks, always.

RossA wrote:I have never understood shooting steel plates, except maybe if they are a couple of hundred yards downrange. I ain't no scientist, but ricochets seem inevitable.

Shoot at them all the time, from well within 100 yards. If they're set up right it shouldn't be a problem. For one thing, they shouldn't have rigid mounts.

I've had fragments of my own rounds come straight back and say hello. Rather surprised me since I was firing cast lead .44 spcl through paper (at 7 yards) down a 25yd pistol range that had steel baffles as the backstop. It was a good day to be wearing long sleeves and jeans (in addition to the normal eyes/ears). I'm guessing that the rounds were impacting the edge of a baffle just right to be deflected back instead of into the backstop system.

RossA wrote:I have never understood shooting steel plates, except maybe if they are a couple of hundred yards downrange. I ain't no scientist, but ricochets seem inevitable.

It is satisfying to get instant feedback when you hit the target.

I can understand the feedback and reactive targets, but not at the expense of being shot by my own rounds. Maybe I'm a safety geek. Is that a bad thing around guns?

Glad that you're ok!
I've had few close calls but thankfully never a direct hit, yet

Hickock45 blasts away at steel targets relatively close. I wonder what his secret is.

Again, good to hear you're fine.

parabelum wrote:Glad that you're ok!
I've had few close calls but thankfully never a direct hit, yet

Hickock45 blasts away at steel targets relatively close. I wonder what his secret is.

Again, good to hear you're fine.

His secret is that he is shooting downhill, so his bullets are striking the steel at a considerable downward angle.......which means that bullet splatter and ricochets are directed directly down into the dirt. And the more distant targets which go up a hill are far enough away that it's a non-issue.

RossA wrote:I have never understood shooting steel plates, except maybe if they are a couple of hundred yards downrange. I ain't no scientist, but ricochets seem inevitable.

Steel matches are super fun. There is a minimum distance to set them up AND, steel plates are tilted down so any ricochet is directed downward toward the ground and not the shooter or anyone else at the firing line.

The Annoyed Man wrote:

parabelum wrote:Glad that you're ok!
I've had few close calls but thankfully never a direct hit, yet

Hickock45 blasts away at steel targets relatively close. I wonder what his secret is.

Again, good to hear you're fine.

His secret is that he is shooting downhill, so his bullets are striking the steel at a considerable downward angle.......which means that bullet splatter and ricochets are directed directly down into the dirt. And the more distant targets which go up a hill are far enough away that it's a non-issue.

hickok45.jpg

Now I feel silly, didn't think about that at all. That makes absolute sense.
I was thinking about putting together a steel target setup at my place, but I was always little iffy on it. Now I know exactly a place to set it up.

Thanks!

Personally, I don't hang around steel targets. I caught most of a .45 round with my face a long time ago from a 25 yard knock-down plate (or maybe the supporting structure). It numbed my entire face with the impact. I thought I'd been seriously injured until I examined the impact site in a truck mirror.

Even if you angle the plates, the edges of the plates still present an opportunity for chaotically unpredictable splash back.

Shooting steel is all kinds of fun. I understand. Just my thoughts on safety.

Oh, and the round in the face? Just superficial cuts. I'm still the handsome devil my wife married.