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Nice. Though I have to say I feel that that is a wee bit close to be shooting steel

 Grey Templar wrote:
Nice. Though I have to say I feel that that is a wee bit close to be shooting steel

That was 25 yards. Started back at 50.

We get a lot closer with the pistol caliber weapons but typically no closer than 15 with 5.56, and that is for some specific drills.

Have not had any issues in several years of doing this.

EEEEP!! 25 yards on steel with rifles?

100 is the bare minimum to shoot steel safely with rifles. 50 with pistol calibers.

You do you but that is horrifically unsafe imo.

 Grey Templar wrote:
EEEEP!! 25 yards on steel with rifles?

100 is the bare minimum to shoot steel safely with rifles. 50 with pistol calibers.

You do you but that is horrifically unsafe imo.

I've had my share of disagreements with GT, but here we speak with one voice. You're too close.

50 yards for pistols is just silly, many of the targets have a 10 or 15 yard min for pistols.

All targets are hung in such a way that splatter is very unlikely to go towards the direction if the shooter. We get thick AR500/550 steel, and replace if they get pitted.

We've fired 10s of thousands of rounds without incident over the last few years.

 CptJake wrote:
50 yards for pistols is just silly, many of the targets have a 10 or 15 yard min for pistols.

All targets are hung in such a way that splatter is very unlikely to go towards the direction if the shooter. We get thick AR500/550 steel, and replace if they get pitted.

We've fired 10s of thousands of rounds without incident over the last few years.

I mean if you angle the steel to the point that it is more of a backstop, okay.

But without knowing that, 25 yards with an AR is a bit close.

I suppose pistols are fine a bit closer, 50 ft at the absolute closest, but rifles absolutely not within 100 yards/meters. You are risking shrapnel with anything other than steeply angled plates.

 Grey Templar wrote:
I suppose pistols are fine a bit closer, 50 ft at the absolute closest, but rifles absolutely not within 100 yards/meters. You are risking shrapnel with anything other than steeply angled plates.

You can go closer with pistols so long as they are soft lead (no jackets) and lighter calibers. I'm told the cowboy action guys do some of this for poker game scenarios and the like.

A couple of years back we were fine just plinking away with mouse guns, but then someone let off a 9mm FMJ and we had to close the range and offer some corrective instruction.

On a different note, I've noticed an across-the-board retreat for firearms prices. It truly is a buyer's market. I'm undertaking some home improvements and have been out of it for a while, but I'm pleased to see so many guns dropping in price. Ammo is way down as well, with .32 H&R Magnum having gone from about $1 per round to $0.74.