Handgun targets

Captplaid

 I've got I've got a nice piece of ar400 plate. What is a good distance to hang a target for handguns?

navc130

25 yds for defensive / practical shooting, 50 yds for hunting practice, 100 yds for see-if-I-can hit it shooting.

hillbille

close enough to hit.........

SCOUT5

Far enough away to keep from getting struck by splatter.   How far is that?

jimdeere

I planted two 12” and one eight inch steel gongs at twenty five yards and was wondering about the splatter. I found most of it on the ground right in front of the targets. Even jacketed bullets. 

NeoBlackdog

Minimum of 10 yards.  Any closer and you're gonna get a lot of splatter back on ya.   You'll still catch some even at 10 so good eye protection is a must. 

TRAP55

Hang them with pieces of canvas fire hose, or flatbed tie down straps. They take a lot of hits before you have to replace em, and cheap when you do.

Warbirds

The minimum distance for a legal steel target in USPSA is 12 yards and I have shot many steel matches with targets 15-25 yards and it is very common to have fragments come back at you.

As Neo Blackdog said- eye protection is a must.

I love shooting steel, actually just shot a “speed steel” match Thursday morning.

Bubba Jr.

Several years ago on a cold January day, I felt like shooting a pistol so I went out to my range. I didn't set up my target, just shot at my log backdrop. The only thing I didn't think about was the logs being frozen solid. The first shot went between the logs, no problem. The second shot hit the center of the side of the log and came right back and hit me in my right upper thigh right next to you know what. A .45 with probably less than half the energy still hurts, a lot.

Riomouse911

https://forums.gunbroker.com/discussion/comment/11220079#Comment_11220079

In a similar vein I use strips of multi-layered conveyor belt to hold my plates. Those will take many hits as well, plus they reset pretty quickly because they are pretty stiff and don’t let the plate swing a lot.

Stay safe.

drobs

FYI - 223 with cut a neat hole through an AR400 steel plate. Learned that 1st hand.

I've recently added 3 of these Allen AR500 plates to my range. Bought them at Walmart:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Allen-Company-10-Round-Steel-Plate-Shooting-Target-Ar500-Armor-Plate/975862872

They work just fine for 223 / 7.62x39.

Also picked up the hang & hook target hanger system that's been advertised on facebook.

https://sales.yankeethunder.com/optin-36027830

truthful

If you are the only one shooting on the range, 10 yards may be ok. But if there are other shooters also shooting steel, I have been hit by splatter from other shooters even at 25 yards.

Captplaid

That gives me a lot to think about. Don't like the idea of splatter with multiple peoples around. I think a month ago we had 6 adults and 4 youths. Plus a couple trucks.

drobs

Shot a cowboy action match Saturday. Targets are close, I'd guess 5 yards on the pistol gong. Maybe 10 on the rifle gongs.

You have others on both sides of the shooter on the range. I got hit by some splash back right in the forehead while waiting for my turn. Glad I had safety glasses on. Didn't cut me or leave a mark but figure CA shooters are all using non-jacketed lead bullets and bird shot.

nononsense

I've used these folks for steel in several sizes and shapes:

https://fieldandcaveoutfitters.com/pages/quick-reference-and-user-guide-for-3-8-thick-ar500-targets

This there reference guide for shooting steel:

Quick Reference and User Guide for Steel Targets

---

• NEVER shoot them at less than 30ft. Never ever. Not with anything.
• Hang them so they can swing freely upon impact.
• Always have a berm or bullet trap behind the target. You will miss occasionally.
• NEVER shoot a target in motion. Wait for them to stop swinging before engaging again. This is very important, especially at closer ranges.
• ALWAYS wear ear and eye protection - especially when shooting steel!
• YOU, the shooter, are solely responsible for your own safety and the safety of others and assume ALL risk & liability when shooting our targets.
• NEVER shoot any green tip penetrator (SS109, M855, etc) at any range at steel targets. It is designed to defeat them!
• SPEED KILLS - to ensure long life and surface integrity, keep velocity at impact below 2,800 FPS
• If the target gets pock marked or dished, turn it around and shoot the other side. 

The table below will help you determine minimum safe ranges & help ensure the longevity of the targets. These are basic guidelines/ rules of thumb that are subject to change based on many factors including: Your specific load, atmospheric conditions, elevation, how targets are mounted, angle of attack, etc.

Caliber and Minimum Range Recommendations

3/8" AR500 steel
Calculated at 500ft above sea level

Caliber	Projectile	Muzzle Velocity (FPS)	Minimum Range (in Yards, UNO)
.22 Rimfire	Any	Any	30ft
Centerfire Pistol Calibers	100% Lead or Plated Lead	Any	30ft
Centerfire Pistol Calibers	Jacketed bullets - ball, JHP, etc	Any	50ft
.17 Remington	25gr HP	4,040	175
.204 Ruger	32gr V-Max	4,225	275
.22-250	55gr Nos B-Tip	3,670	225
.223 Rem	55gr V-Max	3,240	115
.223 Rem	77gr SMK	2,750	100
.243 Win	55gr Nos B-Tip	3,800	265
6mmBR Norma	105gr Berger VLD	2,850	100
6 Dasher	105gr Berger VLD	3,000	120
.25-06	100gr Nos B-Tip	3,220	170
.260 Remington	142gr SMK	2,750	100
6.5x47 Lapua	130gr Berger VLD	2,875	150
6.5-284	140gr Berger VLD	2,950	275
.270 Win	130gr Nos B-Tip	3,060	125
28 Nosler	168gr Custom Comp	3,125	375
.280 Ackley Imp	140gr Nos B-Tip	3,150	240
.30-06 Spring.	155gr A-Max	2,900	165
.30-06 Spring.	180gr Nos Partition	2,700	175
.300 AAC BLK	Any	Any	100
.308 Win	155gr A-Max	2,850	140
.308 Win	175gr SMK	2,700	150
.308 Win	208gr A-Max	2,600	200
30-30 Win	Any	Any	100
.300 Win Mag	190gr SMK	2,950	350
.338 Lapua Mag	300gr SMK	2,800	600
.45-70 Gov't	300gr Trophy Bonded Bear Claw	1,850	100

 

1/2" AR550 steel
Calculated at 500ft above sea level

 

Caliber	Projectile	Muzzle Velocity (FPS)	Minimum Range (in Yards, UNO)
.22 Rimfire	Any	Any	30ft
Centerfire Pistol Calibers	100% Lead or Plated Lead	Any	30ft
Centerfire Pistol Calibers	Jacketed bullets - ball, JHP, etc	Any	50ft
.17 Remington	25gr HP	4,040	125
.204 Ruger	32gr V-Max	4,225	175
.22-250	55gr Nos B-Tip	3,670	150
.223 Rem	55gr V-Max	3,240	100
.223 Rem	77gr SMK	2,750	100
.243 Win	55gr Nos B-Tip	3,800	200
6mmBR Norma	105gr Berger VLD	2,850	100
6 Dasher	105gr Berger VLD	3,000	100
.25-06	100gr Nos B-Tip	3,220	100
.260 Remington	142gr SMK	2,750	100
6.5x47 Lapua	130gr Berger VLD	2,875	100
6.5-284	140gr Berger VLD	2,950	125
.270 Win	130gr Nos B-Tip	3,060	100
28 Nosler	168gr Custom Comp	3,125	150
.280 Ackley Imp	140gr Nos B-Tip	3,150	150
.30-06 Spring.	155gr A-Max	2,900	150
.30-06 Spring.	180gr Nos Partition	2,700	125
.300 AAC BLK	Any	Any	100
.308 Win	155gr A-Max	2,850	100
.308 Win	175gr SMK	2,700	100
.308 Win	208gr A-Max	2,600	100
30-30 Win	Any	Any	100
.300 Win Mag	190gr SMK	2,950	200
.338 Lapua Mag	300gr SMK	2,800	250
.45-70 Gov't	300gr Trophy Bonded Bear Claw	1,850	100

For the guys in the Northern tier states, I've used the tread material from snow mobiles. But be aware, it's heavy and slightly difficult to cut. Knives and scissors don't get it done!

Best.