[jprj]

Any one using stationary or static steel targets? How do you ensure safety in terms of ricochet?

I knew of one indoor shooting range and they are using plane steel as back stop. It is very short in terms of distance to the shooter and yet, I have not heard of any incident of ricochet.

[jimbullet]

My understanding is that as a rule of thumb, shooting steel should be at least 7 to 10 meters away from target. That is for outdoor ranges. Not sure about indoor.


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[horge]

Originally Posted by jimbullet

My understanding is that as a rule of thumb, shooting steel should be at least 7 to 10 meters away from target. That is for outdoor ranges. Not sure about indoor.

I know at least 3 shooters who were hit by backsplatter
off a steel target (9mm and .45ACP) from 10-15 meters
off, all outdoors. I've been noggined by a .380ACP frag
from about 8: it raised a small bump right at the hairline.
I wasn't the shooter.

It's often said (TM) that a flat metal surface produces
smaller-particle backsplatter. It's pockmarked or else
dimpled surfaces that allow the freak occurrence of a
large piece coming right back at'cha.

Measures to limit the risk include targets that hang at a
slightly downward-facing angle (easy if you add weights
forward of the swingplate's lower edge to shift it's center
of gravity). Same goes for backstops: angle them facing
somewhat downward, so that any ricochets are directed
downward (preferably into water insead of sand, so that
the generation of lead-dust is minimzed)

If the support frame for a target swingplate is made out
of steel tubular, rotating the tubular so that the corners
(rather than the flats) face the shooter, helps.

Etc., etc...

[jimbullet]

Agree should face slightly downwards so as to avoid ricochet back an instead goes down.


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[isuzu]

Look at Tiger Mc Kee's steel targets. From Gun Talk Television (and YouTube):

Gun Talk Television - The 1911, Pt 4 - YouTube

Gun Talk Television - The 1911, Pt 4 - YouTube

[jprj]

We actually followed the SCSA specs before and weve got feedbacks of debris going back. Will try your advise Sir, will angle to face down. I think youre all right. Thank you sir.

[jimbullet]

The steel plates are all angled downward by default or at least that is what I know. Even poppers. Though I believe the material is no longer pure steel but is of a certain metalloy. Steel was ready banned in ipsc due to ricochets.


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[horge]

The quick retrofit to existing hanging steel targets is, again, the
addition of outward-projecting weights to the lower face, but if you
can build targets from scratch, you could use large angle bar, running
along the top of the target-plate. See the (crappy) quickie-sketch
below, which looks at the target-plate as if from the side:



In the conventional plate to the left, its center of gravity makes it
hang straight down.

In the plate with a sectional angle/bend on top (seen at right) its
center of gravity's natural desire to line up vertically with the top
hinge causes the plate to face slightly downward. Of course, you
could just simply pay/charge $$$ extra for frangible ammo, lol.

[Shark1007]

In 9mm, Federal makes a LE frangible 98 grain 1240 fps round that's especially a training round. Might just be the trick!

[isuzu]

Originally Posted by Shark1007

In 9mm, Federal makes a LE frangible 98 grain 1240 fps round that's especially a training round. Might just be the trick!

No such type of ammo in that part of the world.

[horge]

No 'Federal' frangible available here, AFAIK...
but Twin Pines, same outfit behind Rock Island Armory 1911,
marketed a 'Tactical Edge' line of ammo, which IIRC included
frangibles (I can't vouch for quality, if still available)... along
with other pretty weird bullet types.

Again IIRC, they weren't marketing the frangible as a target
round, but an uber-lethal, blood-sausage-making killer bullet,
lol. 'Twas all some time back, so maybe someone can confirm?

[jimbullet]

Reloaded lead ammo is likely used still as this is cheap. Or at least the Teflon coated bullet.


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[glock_collector]

Steel=splashback, you will always have it, learn to manage and do the best to control it. Wear eye protection at all times(everybody in the area) and keep a trama kit handy. I fab and shoot alot of steel. Some of the splash is nasty, most just minor cuts. Be safe my friend.