Shooting Steel Safely

[Snozzberries]

My local range has a strict no-steel targets policy. I'd like to see it changed, because shooting steel is a blast.

I'm hoping to setup a Know-Your-Limits .22lr target at perhaps 110 yards. Does anybody have experience with how far the splatter will travel, when shot with a .22lr? How large of a space-safe would we need to have?

Image of the KYL target:

 

[LuvDog]

I shoot a KYL 22lr target at less than 20 yards and have never had any splatter problems back at a shooter and I haven’t seen any evidence of splatter going far or wide beyond the area.

 

[No.343]

I don't have the answer to your question, but I have some information from centerfire pistols. USPSA determined that the minimum distance allowed between the shooter and a pepper popper is eight yards, if I remember correctly.

 

[0.1 Aggregate]

I shot IHMSA SB silhouette for years, and don’t remember anytime someone was hit with splash back from the 25 yard targets. Had there been a safety issue that stage of competition would have been eliminated years ago.




.

 

[Snozzberries]

Thanks everybody. How about side-to-side? Our range is pretty narrow, with other ranges next to it, and low walls between ranges. People will be walking out next to this target.

 

[338 dude]

Wow I would think if the range is wide enough for people to walk down range next to a live fire range it would not make a difference whether steel or paper targets ( berms)?

 

[LuvDog]

Assuming you hit the spinner, any splatter is down because of how easily they swing. I've had a USPSA carboard target to the side of my KYL and haven't noticed any damage to it when shooting.

 

[bsekf]

Splash back is usually caused by a deeply pocked steel target. IMHO, if the steel targets are smooth, the splash back will be minimal.

We had a shooter hit in the forehead with splash back from 25 yards. The steel target was deeply pocked. It barely broke the skin, but could have injured an eye. Local Ranger dealer sold a bunch of glasses after the incident. And the club instituted a strict eye protection policy and no steel under 50 yards.

Problem with steel clangers is the shooters.

 

[Bill K]

At 110 yrs you don't have to worry about 22 rf splatter. Your swinging target or stationary one's at a downward angle would deflect any safely.
Even at 10-15 yrd cowboy shoots are safe with lead bullets and the large caliber handguns.

 

[XTR]

I've always read/heard 25 yds for 22rimfires and pistols and 100 yds for center fires for steel (I've heard of shorter distances with pistols and lead bullets but I'm not sure I want to shoot poppers at 10 yds).

Center fires have some other concerns if someone is running high velocity. Somewhere around 3200FPS you can start damaging targets, even with cup and core bullets. Probably less than that with FMJs.

 

[KMart]

Problem with steel clangers is the shooters.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This.

 

[Snozzberries]

Wow I would think if the range is wide enough for people to walk down range next to a live fire range it would not make a difference whether steel or paper targets ( berms)?

Let me include a picture here. If shooters are shooting at steel downrange, will it splater to the side and hit people walking at the other range?

 

[338 dude]

Let me include a picture here. If shooters are shooting at steel downrange, will it splater to the side and hit people walking at the other range?(edit)
And you would need much dirt just a short berm at the target and a few feet forward it wouldn’t have to go all the way

I doubt it but I guess if they were shooting at the farthest right target and someone’s walking in the furthest left edge of the lane next to it it is slightly possible but with the trees etc. I guess it could happen a dirt berm between would be better

 

[KMart]

Snozzberries​

Is this range a privately owned business?

Is this range provided by a local government agency

Is this range a club ran by its membership?

 

[Snozzberries]

Snozzberries​

Is this range a privately owned business?

Is this range provided by a local government agency

Is this range a club ran by its membership?

It's run by the membership, board of directors.
I plan to engage them to change the rules.

 

[243winxb]

https://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/ricochet-or-deflection-risk-off-steel-targets.3987237/


Someone will shoot your 22 lr targets with a high powdered rifle. Game over. Any steel with a pock marks, will send bullets back at you.

Note lead/brass splatter in wood legs.

We allowed a club member to install a dualing tree at 25 yards, for heavy pistol cartridges. Worked well, till it was shot by rifles. The pock marks were really bad.
One day i come to the range. Guy shooting 9mm at about 10 feet from steel. Very dangerous.

Tree removed next day. No more steel.

Starting a Fire on the range is possible. And yes, we did have a range fire in the 50 yard berm. No idea how or why?

My target was unsafe @ 100 yards. Sent to scrap yard.

 

[moondog]

If there isn't an earth berm 2ft above my head between lanes, I would NEVER walk down range.

 

[LuvDog]

Is it just trees between the ranges now? No dirt berm or other barrier?

 

[powderbrake]

Let me include a picture here. If shooters are shooting at steel downrange, will it splater to the side and hit people walking at the other range?

YES, more than likely.

If there is a berm between the two ranges and it is high enough, it will protect the second range.

My son had some demo units at the Bianchi Cup a couple years ago. They were special plate racks with electronic controls and air reset with a separate target in the center of the plate, and a timed lock on the plates. (You were to hit the center, but NOT the plate) He constructed 4X8 sheets to place at the end of the racks to protect the adjacent range from splatter. All handgun rounds, no rifles were used.

Look at the last two pictures, that red wall was not high enough to completely prevent splatter from reaching the next range.

Steel targets are safe, all you need to do is guard against splatter going where you dont want it. and NEVER shoot at a dented or cratered or mild steel target.

 

[mike a]

Shooting steel is not for Accurate Shooters!!!