Shooting steel plates??????

[Jeffery8mm]

I am seeking info on the safety of shooting steel plates. I have never done this. I have a 357 and 44 mag that I would like to shoot 1/2" thick plates. Actually I have a source on old railroad tie plates. What the spikes go in to hold the rail.
What bullet is best to shoot steel with? I assume a soft swaged lead would do. I am concerned about ricochet.
Thanks in advance

Jeff

 

[_N4Z_]

I shoot steel alot, 25 to 300 yards.

For 25 thru 100 yards I use my own 3/4" thk 6 x 12 oblong of very high strength steel, which I hang from frame with chain and bolts. This thing has been hit with 7.62x54r steel core, 270win, 243, .308, 7.62x39, 44mag, 357mag, 12ga. slugs, 00buck, etc. It is stout, the steel core stuff is the only thing that can leave a mark, and it's minimal at best.

Ricochet is something I've not been too concerned about in the past. Our range is well constructed and far far away from civilization and it is usually pretty deserted. At 50 thru 300 yards I've not had any issue, but on our 25 yard lane there was a suprise for me a couple weeks back.

So I'm using my bring along oblong gong on the 25 yrd pistol lane the other day, plinking away with some fmj .38 special when all of the sudden I feel a tap on my shoulder like a really big bug just landed on it. !!! One of my shots smacked that steel, went up in the air, and landed 25 yards straight back on my shoulder! A nice jagged chunk of flattened lead, laying on my shoulder, right next to my face!

Glad it didn't hit me in the face, safety glasses or not.

I've not really changed anything I do because of it, but know that odd things can, and will happen.

Wear your safety equipment.

 

[earplug]

I have shot steel plate competion with a down loaded 44 Mag and a 45 ACP.
As you shooting at a tie plate with several angles and holes, anything could happen depending on where your bullet hits.
Our shooting sponser has been hit by several pieces of lead over the past couple of years. Hits have drawn blood at least once that I know of.
I have recieved very minor hits from bullets fragments.
All I can recommend is quality eye protection and flat steel that is angled away from people.
I have not shot Cowboy action stuff but they seem to shoot alot of low velocity soft lead bullets at steel targets.
I believe you railroad tie plate is not safe for lead bullet pistol use at less then 25 yards.
I have a nifty scar from a 30/06 shot at a steel target.
Bent, multi angled targets will bounce bullets in strange ways.

 

[Harley Quinn]

Some go so far as to shoot the frangable rounds at the steel, they go puff.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Load up some light .38 Special target rounds with either a 148gr LWC or a 158gr LRN bullet and have a go at it. 3.2gr W231 or 2.5gr Clays makes a good target round that would be suitable for plinking steel plates.

 

[PzGren]

Lead bullets are usually pretty safe if you keep 12 yards in between the plates and your handgun.
Make sure that you have good eye protection because lead splatter can come back.

 

[TAB]

SASS has rules are a pretty good guide line( atleast IMO)... lead bullets, less then 1000 fps and min 7 yds away.

 

[358minus1]

Shooting steel plates

My club has a steel plate match for handguns. The plates are about 1/4-3/8 inch thick. We shoot from 7, 15, 20, and 25 yards (indoor range). People shoot everything from 44Mag/45ACP to 38Spl (anything less than 38Spl doesn't reliably knock the plates down) and bullets range from all lead reloads to FMJ factory loads. There is definitely "splatter" richochets. We've never had an intact bullet come back, but flakes of lead and copper coming back with enough force to draw blood can definitely happen, even from 25 yards. Most of us dress with long pants (jeans) and some even wear long sleeves in the summertime. Eye protection with full side shields is a must!!

 

[Jeffery8mm]

Thanks so much for the usefull info!! I will take all safety precautions suggested.
Thanks
Jeff

 

[SASS#23149]

You'd be amazed how far lead splatter will fly after hitting a steel target.50 yards and then some!!
Of course by then damage to humans is pretty minimal,but at the firing line I"ve been hit by chunks that sure smarted a bit..even drew blood.
These were all lead bullets at Cowboy matches,varying degrees of hardness and velocity.

there's a movie on the web of fella shooting a .50 bmg waaaaaaaaaaaay out there and the slug comes back and destroys his ear muffs WHICH WERE ON HIS HEAD.

YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!