Shooting Steel Safely

[Criticalt]

In what way can the position of the plate at any time other than the couple milliseconds it is in contact with the bullet have any effect on the trajectory of the ricochet ?

Can I shoot all day, then when I'm done walk downrange and lay the plate flat and have that make a difference ? If the angle of the plate doesn't matter an hour after the event is over, why does it matter 1 ms later ?

There is a video on youtube where someone tests this. Im not sure, its either Hickock 45 or Demolition Ranch maybe....ill find it.
Anyways, by placing a piece of paper under the target, it showed ALOT more splatter going harmlessly down from hanging steel targets than from ridged steel targets placed flat.
The downward angled steel and free hanging directed the same amount of splatter down.
So there is something to hanging steel sending less splatter back at you.

 

[spat]

There is a video on youtube where someone tests this. Im not sure, its either Hickock 45 or Demolition Ranch maybe....ill find it.
Anyways, by placing a piece of paper under the target, it showed ALOT more splatter going harmlessly down from hanging steel targets than from ridged steel targets placed flat.
The downward angled steel and free hanging directed the same amount of splatter down.
So there is something to hanging steel sending less splatter back at you.

I would be very interested in seeing that video.
In order for the mount to make any difference it would have to be *very* rigid, a lot more than the typical bolt on a 2x4.

Also, if the difference is whether the spall hits the ground 1' in front of the target or 3' I wouldn't consider that significant.

If you want a real test, you'd want to shoot through a large sheet of cardboard placed a few feet in front of the steel. If nothing comes back through the cardboard after 1000 rounds, then it's fine.

 

[Criticalt]

I would be very interested in seeing that video.
In order for the mount to make any difference it would have to be *very* rigid, a lot more than the typical bolt on a 2x4.

Also, if the difference is whether the spall hits the ground 1' in front of the target or 3' I wouldn't consider that significant.

If you want a real test, you'd want to shoot through a large sheet of cardboard placed a few feet in front of the steel. If nothing comes back through the cardboard after 1000 rounds, then it's fine.

Another point.
Ive shot at angled steel and hanging steel for 30+ years....alot at 7-10 yards with pistol.
I believe ive had something hit me maybe 5-6 times. I dont generally shoot steel with rifle but if I do, its at 100 + yards.
Ill find the video when I get home.

 

[Criticalt]

Doing a bit of looking I havent found that video yet....but here is Hickock saying they have NEVER had anything come back from hanging steel. He says its the 'answer" to shooting steel.
And not many people shoot more than Hickock.
He does kind of do what you said....but with soda cans.....very little comes back compared to steel on stands......according to his 50 years of shooting.

 

[Defilade]

 

[Uninformed and Compliant]

A long time ago we went out on a group shoot and some douche that was with us shot m855 at my target. When I went up to paint the target I saw serious dimples and damage. I had to tell him he couldn't shoot the target anymore. I was pissed. Those are the only things that ever damaged my target. I've oviously never shot 7N6 at any of my steel.

Interestingly, I had the exact opposite experience.

Green tip - tiny dimple.
63 hpbt - no mark
55 spire point - noticeable spawling
55 fmj - minor spawling

So for me, it's the spire points I avoid

 

[Acer-m14]

to bad the 2 guys in that video don't know there mosin ammo .. the silver tip is steel core

 

[Podmonkey]

Interestingly, I had the exact opposite experience.

Green tip - tiny dimple.
63 hpbt - no mark
55 spire point - noticeable spawling
55 fmj - minor spawling

So for me, it's the spire points I avoid

"Spalling" no "W" or "U" in it. Also spalling refers to small pieces of material that have broken away from a larger piece.
Perhaps you were referring to cratering?

 

[Uninformed and Compliant]

Sounds good.