Steel targets and ricochets

D

Dr. Strangelove

New member
Just a friendly reminder to everyone who shoots steel out there to always wear proper eye protection.

I caught a jacket or bullet fragment in the neck this pm, looked horrible but was merely a flesh wound, my shirt was all soaked in blood. It did get me thinking, I was wearing regular prescription glasses, had that fragment been higher, it could have come in behind the lens and hit me in the eye, from the angle it hit me.

Two things I learned - wear full wrap around safety glasses when shooting steel, and don't stand beside someone shooting steel. I was off to the side about twenty feet, even with the shooter and not even shooting when I got hit. We were 11 yards from the targets, our clubs minumum distance.


Everyone was doing everything right, the targets in in great condition and well designed, things just happen sometimes. Moral of the story: Wear proper full safety glasses when shooting steel!
 
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Well said.

I would add to that the following: The worst injuries I have sustained so far at the range involve flying brass which is present, no matter what the target is, any time semi-autos are present. I've had one piece of brass leave a bad burn on my arm and another cut my forehead. I've also ruined a pair of safety glasses when a flying empty cut a crescent on the lens of my safety glasses directly in front of my right eye.

Shooting glasses are a must at the range whether you're shooting or not and regardless of the targets employed.

I recommend them for gun cleaning and gunsmithing as well. Firearms contain compressed springs and that means that flying parts or springs are a reality when dealing with firearm disassembly/reassembly.

Wear your safety glasses when disassembling/reassembling or shooting firearms.

By the way, prescription safety glasses can be quite inexpensive if you go with a basic pair.
 
Excellent post and real hazard !!

Many folks have learned the hard way, including myself, that steel targets can bite you. At one of our ranges, they are strictly prohibited. At another, handgun range they are allowed but have to be placed no less that 24" from the face of the back stop and the shooting position to ba a minimum of 25yds. In all cases, these are swingers. ... ;)


Might add that Buckskinners love to shoot at these, becaue they like the sound of the steel. Again they can hurt ..... :mad:


Be Safe !!!
 
Some where in one of my junk drawers I have an old pair of shooting glasses with a piece of lead stuck in the lense.

No Sir, wont catch me shooting at steel (or anything else) with out eye protection.

I'm old but I still like to set in the shade and watch the young ladies stroll by, don't to ruin that.
 
The rules apply to any range...

So no matter what you are shooting at... steel plates to just a regular range...

The safety rules apply both for your firearm and what gear you wear...

I have had richocets both from steel plates (10 yards) and also just at a regular indoor range (25 yards) that had not re done their berm so over time it built up a "core" - had the shooter's 45ACP come right back and hit me in the thigh. It didn't break the skin but it I knew it hit me. :eek:
 
Proper sizing and placement of the shrouds when shooting steel is helpful too. Shooting glasses and ear protection are required when shooting anything in our sport (IPSC).
 
Shooting Glasses

I completely agree with the OP regarding Steel. I agree with all the posters. My only $.02 is make sure your safety glasses are rated for the job. There are different ratings. ANSI Z87.1-2010 and MIL-PRF-31013, clause 3.5.1.1 set down "Ballistic" impact standards. I use Revision Eyeware Sawflys.
http://www.revisioneyewear.com/sawfly.html
 
sort of on topic, not pistols, but there's a video out there of a guy shooting the .50cal Browning at a steel target at what looks to be at least a couple hundred yards away, possibly more. He's at a portable shooting bench.
When he shoots, there is perhaps a second or so delay, and you can hear a whistling sound, and see the bullet skip off the ground about 20 feet in front of him, and then it takes his ear muffs off his head. :eek: Looks like it hits the left side of the muff. He jumps up, finds he's pretty much unhurt, and says "we're not doing THAT anymore" .. or something to that effect.
Another couple inches to the right, and they could have buried his safety glasses with him. I hope he went and bought a handful of lottery tickets that afternoon, cause his luck isn't going to EVER be quite that good again, I'm sure.
Shooting steel is fun, for the "ring", but is HIGHLY unpredictable/dangerous.
 
Even though the use of protective glasses is important there are other factors involved.
Not mentioned, but the most important factor in safety when using steel targets is how they are mounted.
I once manufactured metallic sillouhette targets and did extensive testing.
#1 consideration for safety is that they MUST be allowed to swing or fall easily. If standing the bases must be only heavy and big enough to hold the target up. It must be able to fall when hit. This directs the splatter mostly (safely) upwards or sideways.
If swinging, chains should be fastened at the top of the target so it can swing backwards directing the splatter downwards.
Other targest, like dueling plates, must be able to swing easily sideways.
Targets improperly mounted account for most splatter that can come directly back to the shooter. I have a scar on my elbow that reminds of that truth and was part of my learning experience.
Steel that is too soft and can cavitate on bullet impact can, and will, also direct splatter back at the shooter. Hard steels or smaller calibers must be used on softer steel.
 
Swingers will ricochet as well

Personally I like swingers and I always keep in mind that there are still parts that will give you ricochets. That is why I always try to place them close to the berm and keep them a safe distance from me. ...... ;)

One time at a public range, there were a couple of younger guys next to me that were shooting a steel target that I had never see. It had a stationary torso front silhouette of a peson and a center swinging steel rectangle. It was placed about 20ft. in front of them. Every so often I kept feeling something hit my leg. The hit was light so I did not notice it right off. Told them about it and then I moved to the next bench. :rolleyes:

Yes, placement is crucial in the use of steel targets. :)


Be Safe !!!
 
I have always been warned to only shoot un-jacketed ammo at steel. Our local CAS club permits only LRN and lead wadcutters.

Lead splatters for the most part; copper can form larger, jagged bits of shrapnel more easily.
 
Dr. Strangelove: I agree with you one-hundred percent. However, I think that eye protection should be worn away form the firing line also. I was shooting at a San Diego gun club one afternoon and I walked to the parking lot the chat with a friend. The parking lot was about fifty yards from the firing line and the dirt back stop was at fifty yards down range. While I was talking a .45 hard ball bullet ricocheted from the butts and hit the car door next to me hard enough to put a visable dent in the door. This much power on a hundred yard ricochet could have put out an eye.

Semper Fi.

Gunnery sergeant
Clifford L. Hughes
USMC Retired
 
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And one never knows when one of the dreaded Daisy Red Ryders will show up (grin).

Safety glasses are good to have, regardless. Along with good situational awareness.
 
I have had my fair share of close calls with brass hitting me. I took my Ar to the range had a coated steel case hit the divider and hit me in the dis of the glasses and was so hot when it hit it actually stuck for half a second before hitting my shoulder. I love safety glasses when I shoot. When I'm out with my friends everyone even with regular glasses wears them. only time I don't wear glasses is when in at a reenactment,and being left handed shooting a percussion I know I should but it doesn't look right.
 
Everyone was doing everything right, the targets in in great condition and well designed, things just happen sometimes. Moral of the story: Wear proper full safety glasses when shooting steel! quoted from above--

WEAR GLASSES ALL THE TIME-- steel, paper or clay!!!
 
If the steel is angled back at the bottom bullets will be deflected downward. No guarantees tho.
 
I never have and never will fire a weapon at a steel or metal target. The only exception would be my desire to kill what was within the metal object. This very simply defies all the teachings about firearm safety that was imparted to me by my father. Firing at metal targets is foolish to say the least with richochet being not only possible but downright probable . And yes I am aware that there is a whole sport involved with firing at metal targets again in my eyes absolutely foolish . Just my two cents............LOUD
 
Your Two Cents has Value !!

Firing at metal targets is foolish to say the least with richochet being not only possible but downright probable .
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Perhaps this is exactly why one of our public ranges, prohibits their use. No matter how they are made, or placed, you will get some richochets. You might be able to minimize them but not prevent them and just one may be the one that gets you. If you take them for granted, they will bite you. .. :eek:

Be Safe !!!
 
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