Are metal targets safe? (22lr rifle and spinners)

**halo23pa** · April 5th, 2008, 09:55 AM

I picked up a set of spinning targets to shoot with my 22lr rifles. I have not shot any metal targets before. So my questions are...
What type of ammo? (subsonic, standard velocity, bullet type?)
Is 50 yards far enough away?

**Lycanthrope** · April 5th, 2008, 10:22 AM

Any standard velocity would be best.

Try to stay back 15 yards. That's far enough.

Lycanshootspistolsteelat15thrope

**normanvin** · April 5th, 2008, 05:52 PM

Originally Posted by tacticalG23

definately safe they do swivel/spin allowing the projectile to maintain course if not deflect it to the side by a few degrees they won't come right back at you if that's what you're wondering about. but be warned if the targets are made for .22lr only don't use any larger caliber on them, such as the time i thought my friends .22 spinning target might be able to handle 9mm, eh i had to buy him a new target.

plus 1.......

**PisnNapalm** · April 5th, 2008, 05:58 PM

Definitely nothing larger than .22lr bullet wise. I saw someone shoot theirs with 22winmag. It didn't last long. Even that was too much.

Stay back atleast 50 feet. 25 to 50 yards ought to be about right though.

Standard velocity or subsonics. I'd stay away from the hot loads such as CCI Stingers or Velocitors or any of the high/hyper velocity .22lr rounds.

**NWPA shooter** · April 5th, 2008, 06:32 PM

I shot at mine as close as 15 yards with hand guns....spins no problem.....This is where I got stupid. Tried a few shots with SKS I kept missing(no spin) opps right through,,,

lesson learned....

**Xringshooter** · April 5th, 2008, 07:31 PM

I use them a lot when training new/young shooters. Instant feedback and they love to see them go down or spin.

**bloomautomatic** · April 5th, 2008, 10:30 PM

Typically, if anything comes back to hit you, it's very small splatter. When I used to shoot steel silhouettes, the bullet fragments I'd find downrange would be little lead discs the size of a dime. .22's tend to flatten themselves out and lose a lot of energy. Also, some of the lead will vaporize, or that's what I read. when the target is free to move, that will also absorb a lot of energy.

vince

**halo23pa** · April 6th, 2008, 10:01 PM

Thanks for the replies.

**Archie Clement** · April 6th, 2008, 10:18 PM

I shoot heavy steel hanging targets with everything from .22 to pretty warm .45 ACP(no jacketed stuff). Just little flat discs lying on the ground under it. I shoot anywhere from 25 ft. to 50 yds.

**Jelanen** · April 7th, 2008, 10:47 AM

Uncle made one out of heavy steel from work...worked really good with shotgun slugs, but 22s barely made it twitch. Shot a couple SKS rounds (soft tip) rounds at it and nothing happened...thought I was missing..climbed the slope it was mounted on...clean through. We're talking quarter-inch steel. Didn't shoot anymore SKS rounds at it...