Shooting Steel

[whitetailbowhunter]

I was at the range today shooting my M&P9c at some steel targets and all of a sudden i feel a sharp pain under my armpit (expecting to look down and see a hole with blood pouring out). Lifted my arm and found a piece of lead stuck to my jacket. There is a big bruise now but didn't make it through

I am a novice when it comes to shooting steel and i love to do it when i go to an actual range instead of always shooting paper. Is this a Common thing to occur? If so, why do people do it?

 

[ZbornacSVT]

What kind of steel were you shooting?

 

[The Bubba Effect]

Was the target flat and smooth or cratered and lumpy?

 

[IndyGunworks]

was the target mounted solid and verticle, or loose and angled slightly backwards?

 

[ZbornacSVT]

was the target mounted solid and verticle, or loose and angled slightly backwards?

That is secondary to the type of steel. Proper steel and it doesn't matter much.

 

[jakemartens]

How close were you

 

[Que]

It happens sometimes, but I've never seen more than a shard. I keep doing it because it's fun and no better form of immediate feedback.

 

[MikeDVB]

This is why you wear safety glasses - it happens.

If you're concerned - frangible rounds won't 'bounce back'.

 

[812guns]

I would say with quality targets this wouldn't be an issue

 

[jrainw]

Junk target.
The only shrapnel I've ever got shooting good steel is from 5.56 from WAY too close. Lovemywoods has a great write up on how bullets come apart when they hit a good steel target.

 

[chezuki]

I've had some splash back hit me at FNS, but nothing remotely painful. Still thankful to be wearing eye-pro though.

 

[whitetailbowhunter]

it wasn't a fixed target. it was a circle piece of steel (looked smooth) and it was angled forward because when shot, it falls back and then it needs to be reset by pulling a rope. I was about 10 yards away.

I love shooting steel because i like how reactive it is immediately, but like i said, i'm just starting out and i didn't know if there was actually some kind of "danger" to it. I didn't figure so since so many people do, just wanted INGO's experience.

 

[ZbornacSVT]

Check this out. It's a GREAT read
https://www.indianagunowners.com/fo..._patterns_off_of_steel_targets_pic_heavy.html

 

[Litlratt]

Splash back happens. Always wear eye protection.

 

[Black Cloud]

Check this out. It's a GREAT read
https://www.indianagunowners.com/fo..._patterns_off_of_steel_targets_pic_heavy.html

Best info I've seen on steel target feedback. Thanks for that, and it looks like Bobcat Steel has done it's homework. Bravo!

 

[MikeDVB]

Check this out. It's a GREAT read
https://www.indianagunowners.com/fo..._patterns_off_of_steel_targets_pic_heavy.html

Awesome read and...... I hope when I find some property I can set up a small range of sorts... That looks amazing.

 

[nascarfantoo]

Check this out. It's a GREAT read
https://www.indianagunowners.com/fo..._patterns_off_of_steel_targets_pic_heavy.html

That is a great read. I am sure I turned in a couple papers in engineering school that had much less research put into them than his effort.

 

[CB45]

What's this got to do with shooting sports?

 

[whitetailbowhunter]

Check this out. It's a GREAT read
https://www.indianagunowners.com/fo..._patterns_off_of_steel_targets_pic_heavy.html

Great Read, this perfectly answered my question and taught me a lot i didn't know about steel shooting.

 

[rvb]

Splatter happens. Good [wrap-around] eye pro is important.

Even if you have a perfect target, hung loose and angled forward (you want it fwd w/ the top towards you, so more splatter goes to the ground than up), you may still get frag. A lot of it comes off the stands/mounts, too. For this reason I prefer wood stands as they absorbe a lot of the crap rather than bounce it back at you like angle iron can.

Always stay 8-10 yds away for pistol.

I usually catch a couple small frags/year. Some bounce off, some may stick in the skin a little. That's attending matches where not only am I shooting, but dozens of folks around me, too... on targets that are sometimes needing replaced (pitted/bowed) w/ steel stands. I don't know that I've caught frags off my practice targets..... but I've been carefull not to abuse/pit them, hang them properly, and use wood stands.....

Tough it out and have fun! (and put some bandaids in the range bag).

-rvb