Posted: 6/24/2011 9:05:17 AM EDT
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New to reactive targets and looking at buying some auto reset poppers for the ease of not having to physically rest and can just keep shooting. My questions really are simple generic and often asked but I never seem to read solid answers.
Can I use fmj from .380 to .308 to high speed 5.45? I know its based on on the steel they are made out of but I gues the question is really if I buy one rated to .308 will hand gun rounds be unsafe to shoot at it - wont make it fall and or ricocet? and honestly how close is too close? I am very safety oriented with good backstops, hearing and eye protection but dont want to create a bad situation where first I'll either send metal back at me or worse, my wife. Plus anything else you can tell me, thanks! |
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Local USPSA club uses a 10 yd minimum for steel for handguns. I would say 100 for rifle. I would call MGM to see if it would work with pistols, or how many foot pounds of force would be needed to activate. That way you would know how far you could shoot it with any round. One thing I would improve on that target would have it tip back a little more so the orange flashes longer. Maybe it is enough I have never used it, but it is my biggest complaint of spring loaded targets is they reset too fast.
ETA speed it what kills steel, anything over 3000 fps at impact is going to dimple it. But with it falling like that it will reduce the damage done compared to a solidly mounted plate. 308 FMJ is g2g but 5.45 you will want to shoot it at 150+ yards. |
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dont know where i picked it up from but I thought most idpa and other sanctioned dudes require hollow points on steel? 10yards minimum would be plenty good for pistols so at least it would seem worth while for that.
yeah trying to find a reactive target i can safely shoot with 5.45 inside 100 yards is not going well. im not lazy but having to walk out 150 to reset after a string of all of 4 shots does not seem like time well spent. i guess im tired of shooting paper and things at ground level. swingers and gongs are fine for long range but i want to work pistol and carbine inside 100 while moving shot after shot. not two shots then reset. hmmm |
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No I shoot FMJ as well as SWC all the time and nobody has any problems with pistols as 10 yds. That said it is always a good idea to wear eye protection as I have caught a couple fragments to the face. Never broke the skin, never even really hurt, just enough to remind you what you are doing.
You can place steel closer than 100, just be prepared for it to take some damage, and also wear protection. Once the steel has pock marks then it will send ricochets more often so try not to use it for close in pistol. |
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yeah I am not a huge stickler about eye pro like I should be although I usually have my oakleys on anyway but will definetly wear for steel. I know I should anyway so this'll just be another good reason.
Cool on the FMJ, I just have plenty of it already for paper punching and training so thats a good thing. I'll maybe shoot a quick email or two to the companies to see what will stand up to high velocity rounds but thats what ive been reading most: once its pocked you're rolling the dice on ricocetes. Thanks for the help! |