What do you like to shoot for practice?  I have a big steel gong that is fun to shoot, but not up close.  I want a bunch of smallish targets to place around and shoot rapidly.  I use cardboard and milk jugs usually.  The water filled milk jugs explode and only make it through one shot - fun, but short-lived.  The cardboard is nice that you can see your hits, but after a mag or two it's a pain to track where you're hitting and you can't tell what's happening.  

I'd like to place targets randomly from 10 to 100 yards generally.          

What do you like to use?

Is there any steel you can safely shoot at say 30 yards with a 5.56 AR?

Thanks!

Soda or beer cans

Rubberdummies target

https://shop.actiontarget.com/content/ipsc-cb-ipsc-uspsa-cardboard-torso-target.asp
then use this to cover missed bullet holes after a few mags
Kraft tape

Steel plate and clays. Paper shooting is ok and shows you a nice tight group , but steel and clays give you instant feedback that everyone likes.

How far do you need to be from steel with an AR?  I was thinking 100 yards.

I'll second the IDPA or IPSC target recommendation.

https://shop.actiontarget.com/content/le-25-man-boy-hostage-split-second-target.asp

6" white paper plates and staples are cheap.
USPSA targets and brown tape also pretty darn good.

Either way you need some target stands to accept 1" fir strips. You can make those from 2x4 or buy steel depending on your range (grass, dirt, rock)

Eta: need a staple gun.

Rifle Dot-Torture is my favorite!

Here's vid on it: https://youtu.be/d96fmpRmVo0

Here's one way to get them: https://www.nationaltarget.com/product_info.php?products_id=412

Pretty cool!  Thanks for posting!

Army ALT-C is a classic as are paper plates and USPSA targets already mentioned.

For Rifle, Appleseed has a ton of targets.  The Appleseed AQT or anything out of the Fred's Rifleman's Guide (printable) is a good challenge.

I have two 8” plates of AR500 and two 3/8” AR500 9”x15” ISPC targets.
I also use a mix of cardboard and paper.
You can see the size comparison in the last picture compared to the VTAC barricade. I didn’t see much need for a massive target, just something that will require a decent hit from any distance.0

Look up HMF targets on eBay.
This company is the same as Make It Ring Targets if you read about the company bio.
Some of the pictures look a little rough but all the ones I’ve received as well as some friends have all been smooth and in great condition. Just not painted.

For steel, technically it’s 10 yards for pistol and 100 yards for rifle. I believe it’s also based on how the steel targets are mounted and angled.

You don’t want to catch a ricochet but if the target is angled forward it should direct everything downward vs back toward the shooter. If you shoot even what’s rated for whatever rifle round at a closer distance you can get minor pitting on the target face. Once that starts happening ricochets can become random because the surface face is no longer smooth and directing in the same direction.

Most steel rating is not only for your safety but to preserve the life of the target as well.

All that being said I have shot plenty of steel at closer range than recommended and never had an issue but I make sure they are angled forward and always wear eye protection.
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I like these. Shot placement with targets from various body orientation and target clothing having to be taken into account. Hand overlays can be used to change the shoot/no shoot scenarios.

These targets are really good at training the eye to mind decision making process and shot placement on CNS.