3-gun with an AK-47/74?

[jmorris]

Was it actually steel core or was it just magnetic?

The only thing a heavy duty set of cutters would cut through was the “empty” tip of the bullet. The core was steel and quite hard, given the inability to cut the given diameter. I thought about giving a set of bolt cutters a try but didn’t want to ruin them. I was surprised to see no damage myself but we didn’t try at any range closer than 300 yds, I didn’t want to risk it coming back.

 

[Zak Smith]

I've let a bunch of people shoot M855 at my AR500 plates at 100 yards and there is no particular damage notable over what M193 will incur at 25 yards. I don't think we've had someone shoot steel-core AK-74 ammo at them - I can't remember. However, this is sort of incidental to the issue of following the rules of a match one wants to attend: the staff has rules for a reason.

 

[jmorris]

Zak makes a good point. Even if the steel doesn't get hurt doesn't mean people won't. 25 yards is too close for me shooting a rifle at steel and 300 yards was as close as I wanted to be shooting steel core.

 

[Justin]

We tend not to put steel targets any closer than 125 yards for rifle shooting.

 

[Tirod]

Reading through all this makes it apparent some aren't being up front about the reasons to limit steel core use. It's about shooter safety, first and foremost. Richochets are a highly uncontrollable situation, no one wants a shooter hit, and the worst case situation is someone would be killed. In a competition with dozens of individuals watching within range, the odds go up.

Damage to the targets is obviously less than what is spoken about, but in the long run, hundreds of shooters over time will destroy a plate target. It will only increase the risk of ricochets.

"Safety First" is the main reason, and should be the first reason given. "Shot up targets" sounds like an excuse to avoid looking less than macho. I call BS on that. It's not about the targets, it's about shooter safety, which is far more important. Man up and say so. It's safety first.

Anyone who wants bullets flying back can find the nearest recruiter. On a range, it's a game, not life and death. Don't make it that way.

 

[jmorris]

Tirod, we get it. You just didn't make it to the last 4 posts.

 

[Zak Smith]

It's well known than cratered steel is dangerous. The match directors who have weighed in on this thread will consider a piece of steel "done" if it has any craters that could cause ricochets. Nobody's ignoring safety - it is a given backdrop to the discussion.

 

[jon_in_wv]

I've never shot 3 gun but I have shot steel plates at 200y with my converted Saiga. It hits the plates fine but if the plates were any farther away I would feel a lot better about using an AR or other rifle with a little more precision.

 

[-v-]

To answer the question, I find an AK quite feasible for 3-gun. Most of the targets are large enough that you can calmly put shots in the "A" zone in 3gun. Reloads do take literally 1 second longer than an AR, but 1 second won't make that much a difference 99.99999% of the time.

 

[frankge]

Going to a rifle match tonight with my AK, no steel so Im shooting Brown Bear.