shooting steel plates

[autotech6506]

hey guys I'm a member at Westshore sportsmen and I was walking around checking out the ranges that I haven't been to before. One of the ranges just had a bunch of hanging steel plates and there was a "safe distance" line that was about 15 feet from them. Can I shoot jacketed bullets (.38and .45acp) at them safely? i've always been told to be careful about richochets and this range set of some red flags to me? what do you guys think?

[chalmitch]

15 feet is a bit close, step back to 8-10 yards and wear eye/ear protection.

Best regards,
chalmitch

[autotech6506]

thanks for the quick reply. The line is probably back at 10 yards. It's just been a while since I have seen it. Gonna go clang some plates tonite then.

[CHEMICAL]

Originally Posted by autotech6506

hey guys I'm a member at Westshore sportsmen and I was walking around checking out the ranges that I haven't been to before. One of the ranges just had a bunch of hanging steel plates and there was a "safe distance" line that was about 15 feet from them. Can I shoot jacketed bullets (.38and .45acp) at them safely? i've always been told to be careful about richochets and this range set of some red flags to me? what do you guys think?

i have personally experimented with this and have found that when the bullet hit the plate, as long as the plate could move upon impact, that the bullet simply stopped dead and fell. a friend and i were shooting an old oil tank that had a heavy steel door on the side. we opened it and placed a pallet against the back of the tank, about 6 inches from the back of the door.

every single shot looked like a bird hitting a window. it hit the door and fell straight down, while the door simply swung 6 inches back, hit the pallet, and returned. hope this helps. i would say simply feel it out.however, i would not suggest disobeying the range's "safe distance" rule. good luck.

edit to clarify: while i said the steel door was heavy, it was still thin enough to sustain indentation from the rounds, therefore absorbing some of the energy, if it were so thick as to not be marked it may very well have ricocheted.

[tlgpa]

Originally Posted by chalmitch

15 feet is a bit close, step back to 8-10 yards and wear eye/ear protection.

8 yards is 16ft. <--- nevermind, calculator (brain) is on the fritz.
Sorry, had to point that out.

http://www.actiontarget.com/pdf/pt_S...urce_Guide.pdf
3. Always stand at least 10 yards from the target when using handgun calibers.

[ROCK-IT3]

Originally Posted by tlgpa

8 yards is 16ft.
Sorry, had to point that out.

8 yards = 8 x 3ft. = 24 ft., not 16 ft.
And I'm really sorry I had to point that out

[tlgpa]

Originally Posted by ROCK-IT3

8 yards = 8 x 3ft. = 24 ft., not 16 ft.
And I'm really sorry I had to point that out

LMFAO. Sorry, I'm ready for the weekend. What can I say?

[ReconLdr]

Originally Posted by ROCK-IT3

8 yards = 8 x 3ft. = 24 ft., not 16 ft.
And I'm really sorry I had to point that out

Beat me to it....

[hzox221]

Depending on the size and weight of the steel, don't shoot powder puff loads, especially of it is static steel. A real slow bullet may keep enough mass to come back at you. Most 40, 9mm or supers will either flatten or explode on impact. Slow moving 45 and 44's may keep some of their mass.

8 meters should be the norm, don't be surprised about some splatter though. As mentioned before wear eye and ear protection.

[autotech6506]

well i'm back. I did not get any ricochets back. I just found a new favorite range on the grounds. its much more satisfying hearing a ding than seeing a hole in paper.