Is it wise to shoot steel with a .308 round?

[Beck_Hickok]

I have read that one is not supposed to shoot steel with a .308
Could someone with more experience please advise me on this subject? Thanks.

 

[SheepDog]

I don't know where you heard it but they make steel targets for all the high powered rifles.
AR-500 gongs and silhouettes are commonly available for high powered rifles. It is important to have the targets sloped toward you at the top to put the fragments into the ground. It is also important to keep a minimum range from steel to prevent injury from bullet fragments and rebound.

 

[Beck_Hickok]

I don't know where you heard it but they make steel targets for all the high powered rifles.
AR-500 gongs and silhouettes are commonly available for high powered rifles. It is important to have the targets sloped toward you at the top to put the fragments into the ground. It is also important to keep a minimum range from steel to prevent injury from bullet fragments and rebound.

Thank you. I don't recall which Youtube video I saw about that. I will keep the recommended distance from the targets.

 

[284winner]

Thank you. I don't recall which Youtube video I saw about that. I will keep the recommended distance from the targets.

Steel plates that are hanging by chain or that swing when they are hit by a high power rifle WILL angle away at the bottom allowing the fragmented bullet to deflect into the ground Everytime. Shooting at steel isn't a good idea with any firearm if the steel is heavy and solid as it would fragment and ricochet unreliably in any direction. Steel plates have been used by rifle shooters for decades as safe targets to shoot bullets at providing it's a safe range environment.

 

[Dgd6mm]

Thank you. I don't recall which Youtube video I saw about that. I will keep the recommended distance from the targets.

If you don't mind me saying, that's how it all gets started. Someone stating something about something they do not know anything about. Beck you stick to your plan and listen to those of us that have steel shooting experience and you'll be fine.

Don Dunlap

 

[Beck_Hickok]

If you don't mind me saying, that's how it all gets started. Someone stating something about something they do not know anything about. Beck you stick to your plan and listen to those of us that have steel shooting experience and you'll be fine.

Don Dunlap

Thank you. Much appreciated

 

[Brians356]

A rifle target is likely to be far enough away to be reasonably safe. E.g. a hanging steel plate at 100 yards.

Of more concern is shooting steel with handguns from relatively short range. I am a victim, technically and legally speaking, of a gunshot wound from splash-back off a steel plate mounted solidly on a post only 30 yards away. Happily I was wearing polycarbonate-lensed wrap-around sunglasses, but a fragment penetrated the skin on my forehead. I wasn't shooting, I was standing behind the guy who was firing a 9mm pistol. Lesson learned, and cheaply enough.
-

 

[SheepDog]

At the local range we have two "Falling Plate" bays. The falling plates are on a hinged stand and rest at about 20 degrees forward of vertical. We have a minimum and maximum range for shooting the plates. Minimum distance is seven yards (21 feet) and the maximum is 25 yards to maintain protection in the adjacent bays. (inside the side wall protection zone)

 

[243winxb]

Posk marks can send bullet fragments back at you.

I use this at 100 yards minimum. No closer.

 

[4xforfun]

In my experiences bullets tend to explode on the hardened ar500 type steel targets....they simply disintegrate. Shooting MILD steel that is thick enough to prevent full penetration is a BIG NO NO. I too have been hit...by a 150 grain 7mm out of a 7mm RM at 100 yards. The bullet simply turned itself inside out and hit me in the side. Put a deep dent in the target and came strait back. It took about .1 second from bang to WTF!!! I too, was a bystander, and only about 10 years old. That was the FIRST shot of the day. It also turned into the last shot...ever, at thick, mild steel.

I have nearly 20 targets out now from about 300 to a mile.....shooting every thing from .223's to the 338 EDGE. The LAST thing I worry about is ricochet now that I use the AR500 steel!!

I also shoot the ar500 with my 9mm's, 38's, 357's, and 45's as close as 20 feet. Hollow points and FMJ's....no problems. Again....all targets are hanging by chains.

Good luck and have fun,

Tod

 

[4xforfun]

Posk marks can send bullet fragments back at you.

I use this at 100 yards minimum. No closer.

I WOULD NOT shoot at this target!!!

Just sayin,

Tod

 

[Clavius-Walker]

I think one should only shoot steel with calibers that end in an odd number, not even.

 

[LHSmith]

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/?s=ricochet&submit=Search

 

[people]

I think one should only shoot steel with calibers that end in an odd number, not even.

This is the best thing I have read in a long time

 

[LHSmith]

Maybe it's just me, but I always associated shooting steel targets with horseshoes and hand grenades. I prefer regulation paper targets that give me feedback on POA changes needed to hit the "X". Not a fan of Hail Mary competition. FWIW, I don't use any steel ( except for nails and screws) in the construction of two (private club) pistol and rifle ranges I have built and designed. In doing so, I have more maintenance (replacing shot-up wood target supports) but these days of heightened liability concerns NO club can afford the chance of a ricochet injuring someone on club property or even a round impacting a neighbors property.

 

[Richard Jones]

Getting ready to coat all of my steel with polyurea. Almost no splatter.

 

[Dgd6mm]

Love shooting AR500.

Don Dunlap

 

[Mr Underbridge]

We have incredibly thick mild steel plates on one of my ranges here. Sometimes when you use a spotting scope and see a slow moving bullet hit the plate you can see it go sideways or backwards. The bullet just deforms a bit and goes on elsewhere.
If you use AR500 steel target you are much safer, here have a look:

so TLDR version : Shoot at AR500 steel

 

[boltman13]

I have a rubber/plastic self sealing 8" round orange target I use at 300 yds. It won't make that nice ringing sound you get with steel, but you can see it swing and it is way easier to carry and set up. My range has some 24"X24" steel armour plate at about the same distance, but hitting it is just too easy, but the sound is a real treat.

 

[Ksmirk]

Been shooting steel plates for more years than I care to mention and 90% was with a 308, the rule on steel is don't shoot it closer than 200 yards AND don't use mild steel! it gets pitted and when this happens the fragments go who knows where! I've caught a few splashes from back when I shot 3G and USPSA, a little blood and some digging with a pocket knife to remove. I've just always used the 200 yard rule and so far knock on wood I've yet to catch any frags. Mild steel is ok when the range gets a touch further say 800 out as most bullets have slowed they will loose a mess of energy to get back to you. Just my thoughts and take them for what ya paid for them Later,

Kirk