Steel targets and round balls ?

[kyron4]

I have several AR500 steel targets, what's a minimum safe distance to shoot with lead round balls from a 50 cal. flintlock pistol to a 36 cal Navy revolver ? Also the backstop is made of treated 2x6's, will round balls bounce off of those ? -Thanks

 

[TDM]

Safest way is to have your steel targets hanging with a backwards tilt and/or make your shots from an offset angle, from the left or right, doesn’t take much to make a safe deflection angle. Your shots will not bounce off a 2x6 unless your using an incredibly low powder charge.

 

[Colonial Boy]

Revolving targets are safe and a cheaper alternative is to mount your target on a spring loaded arm, shots will automatically deflect and the target return to place.

 

[Eutycus]

Are the 2×6s pine? Not that if really matters, like it was previously stated, the ball will not bounce unless you have a low powder charge.

 

[kyron4]

Are the 2×6s pine? Not that if really matters, like it was previously stated, the ball will not bounce unless you have a low powder charge.

Yes, pine 2x6's.

I run 25 gr. of 2F in the 50 and 20 gr. 3F in the 36. Cast pure lead round balls for both.

10 yards is the closest I shoot steel with modern pistols with jacketed bullets and never had any issues.

 

[French Colonial]

I have never seen soft lead do anything but splatter, maybe others have different experiences, but I doubt they bounce off.

 

[FiremanBrad]

I’ve shot steel a lot at 10-15 steps with my ‘60’s. Always shot them at a slight angle with no problem.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Yes, pine 2x6's.

I run 25 gr. of 2F in the 50 and 20 gr. 3F in the 36. Cast pure lead round balls for both.

10 yards is the closest I shoot steel with modern pistols with jacketed bullets and never had any issues.

You have answered your own question.

Modern ammo from many handguns is impacting the steel at similar velocities as lead round ball from a rifle will impact. The slugs are often copper jacketed, over a hard lead alloy. Yet bits and pieces of the bullets sometimes fly, perhaps not at the shooter which would be a 180 degree vector changed, BUT could bounce away with more than a 90 vector change, even as much as 135 degrees. PLUS depending on any minor cratering the steel has prior to the impact of the lead ball, and you will find sometimes some odd reactions as to where the lead flies. Finally, depending on how flat the deflected pieces become, they may drop quickly but if they fly "edge on" to the direction of travel, they might go surprisingly far... like an inefficient frisbee. So any bystanders are likely more at risk than you.

AR500 has the advantage of not only being so tough it should last a lifetime and more when being shot at with soft lead projectiles at black powder speeds, but also it has little chance of being cratered at all as it might be from modern, rifle ammo.

LD

 

[BrianL]

Strange as it may seem, I used to get a lot more cratering from a soft lead 54 cal ball than from a cast 30-30 or 308 bullet. That was on older hanging steel plate that didn't deflect as quickly due to the weight. Have upgraded to AR500 but just saying, there is a lot of ommph from a round ball at 50 yards.

 

[jdw276]

Strange as it may seem, I used to get a lot more cratering from a soft lead 54 cal ball than from a cast 30-30 or 308 bullet. That was on older hanging steel plate that didn't deflect as quickly due to the weight. Have upgraded to AR500 but just saying, there is a lot of ommph from a round ball at 50 yards.

Part of loyalist Dave and other replies and the no cratering is the thickness of the AR 500. 1/4" will crater and cup. 3/8-1/2" will not. We have all three thicknesses at my range. 3/8" will crater, chip, dent with bore hunting loads. 1/4" is more for 22lr.....1/2" solid......

 

[ChuckJonesWagon]

Here's an interesting, and very true story that occurred about two years ago.

My daughter was at one of her husbands cousin's place for a family gathering. The cousin acquired a new 45acp 1911. He had a target range setup in his back yard (lot's of acreage there) with metal squares etc at various ranges.

So, before everyone arrived, the cousins had his mother, and his 92YO grandmother sitting out back. Perhaps a few more, but all were aware he was going to shoot his new "item" at the 50 yard metal square.

He proceeded and I don't know what number shot it was, but the projectile came straight back and hit the 92YO right below her eye on her cheekbone. Yeah.....scary.

Fortunately the projectile had lost most of its speed and energy. It did not penetrate Granny. It broke the skin and left her with a bar-room fight of a shiner on her cheek. And very fortunate it didn't hit a few inches higher directly at her eye.

A good lesson to know that safety glasses are always a good idea even if you hate wearing them. And placing steel targets at angles to deflect projectiles left\right\down (not up) is not just a good idea.....but a great idea.

 

[brazosland]

MSD on AR500 with modern guns is 7 yards off the muzzle.

Frags are always a possibility, but they lose enough enough velocity that they won’t hurt you…unless they hit your eye. Eye pro when shooting steel is mandatory.

Also, avoid shooting dimpled steel at close distance (15 to 20 with pistol and 50 yards with rifle). The dimples cause the bullet to not fragment consistently and you will get big pieces coming back for you.

The type of rifle bullet makes a big difference in MSD also.

I ran two matches a month for 12 years. I’m now on the range with my cadet shooting team and we expend upwards of 60,000 rounds a year…almost all on steel. I’ve seen it all.

 

[sheriff john]

Taught LE pistol & shotgun over a 25 year stretch & used steel targets extensively - pepper poppers, falling plates, gongs, silhouettes, etc. Most frequent problems were with dimpled targets and those shot at that would not move. None were shot closer than 25 yards. Had a 12 gauge slug do a complete 180 at the 50 yard line, bounce back to hit a deputy in the chest. Bullet proof vest caught the slug which had expended nearly all of it's energy. Steel does odd stuff.

Splatter sometimes has more power than one would think. Always insist on eye protection for everyone, even gawkers. Have fun !!