Shootin' steel with FMJ's - The Firearms Forum

garydude · 02-04-2011, 02:08 PM

Any problems doing this? I mostly shoot steel and have been using plated because I read somewhere it's best to not shoot steel with FMJ's. Thanks for any input.

Also I want to buy some Roze bullets, but they are out, out, out. Any other good jacketed bullet mfrs?

jdon72 · 02-04-2011, 02:26 PM

Try http://www.precisiononeammunition.com

JLA · 02-04-2011, 02:29 PM

I shoot steel with FMJ all the time. Its advised to use lead or softpoint bullets because it minimizes the chance of ricochet.

In 10 years I have yet to have one bounce back at me...

carver · 02-04-2011, 02:41 PM

I do it too, and haven't had any problems. I do have some FMJ that will shoot thru the steel targets, but I know that, so I don't waste them.

LDBennett · 02-04-2011, 03:04 PM

Fifteen years ago I shot at an indoor range (and for the ten years prior to that) once a week come ran or shine. During that time I shot jacketed, plated and cast lead bullet. The range had angled steel back plates that they changed once a month. Those plates were 50 feet from the shooting positions. About every other week I felt splash back from bullets striking the upset surface of the steel plates. Since it was a rather active range there almost always were other shooters using the range. I could not tell if it was pieces of my bullet or that of others or what kind of bullet. The bottom line is at that close distance you can and probably will get splash back, especially from jacketed bullets.

At an outdoor range years ago I was shooting my 45-70 at a steel plate about 25 yds away. A piece of the jacket from the hollow point 45-70 bullet came back to hit my friend's face and drew blood.

It is never a good idea to shoot jacketed bullets at steel plates unless you are at least 50 to 100 yds away from them, in my experience. Jacketed bullets are especially bad in this respect because the jacket can breakup into small pieces. Cast lead bullets probably are OK but I still would keep them 50 yds away. If you don't suffer at least one splash back in your lifetime from shooting at steel plates too close to you then you are just plain lucky and need to buy a lotto ticket.

LDBennett

johnlives4christ · 02-04-2011, 04:16 PM

it wont hurt anything to shoot steel with jacketed as said. when a bullet hits steel at a right angle it smashes and throws pieces of the disintegrated bullet on both sides, up, down and some back towards the shooter. it's recommended to be 15 yard from the target so you dont experience splatter and wear safety glasses

i shoot a bunch of steel with all types of ammo and calibers

jim brady · 02-04-2011, 04:59 PM

About 30 years ago, while practiceing on a civilian range for an up-comming Service Rifle match for an ARNG Rifle Team, one of my team mates and me were invited to shoot our M-14s at some animal silohuetes...... Turned out to be a nice invitation, but a bad idea. Our M-118 Match 7.62 NATO ammo shot clean holes in those things. The owners of those targets were not mad at us - just that they were as surprised as we at the damage.

Whipper · 02-04-2011, 05:15 PM

I would shoot swinging steel targets only.

This was a 50 shot at a fixed steel target.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLTvUNn3Suo

RustyFN · 02-04-2011, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garydude

Any problems doing this? I mostly shoot steel and have been using plated because I read somewhere it's best to not shoot steel with FMJ's. Thanks for any input.

Also I want to buy some Roze bullets, but they are out, out, out. Any other good jacketed bullet mfrs?

We shoot steel with FMJ's all the time with no problems at IDPA and GSSF matches. If you are interested in buy Zero bullets check out Powder Valley. I shoot a lot of Zero bullets, great bullets.

garydude · 02-04-2011, 06:42 PM

Thank you Gentlemen for the replies. I am truly grateful to be a member of this forum.

RustyFN, at what distance do you shoot the steel targets in competition?

shorter260513 · 02-04-2011, 07:13 PM

i shoot 9mm fmj at steel quite often from about 20 ft + had some splashback from 357mag with jhp but never a chunk big enough do anything

RustyFN · 02-04-2011, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garydude

Thank you Gentlemen for the replies. I am truly grateful to be a member of this forum.

RustyFN, at what distance do you shoot the steel targets in competition?

The closest steel targets we shoot are around 11 yards.

02-04-2011, 02:08 PM	#1
garydude Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Desert Southwest Proper Contributor Posts: 749	Shootin' steel with FMJ's Any problems doing this? I mostly shoot steel and have been using plated because I read somewhere it's best to not shoot steel with FMJ's. Thanks for any input. Also I want to buy some Roze bullets, but they are out, out, out. Any other good jacketed bullet mfrs? -->

02-04-2011, 02:26 PM	#2
jdon72 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 340	Re: Shootin' steel with FMJ's Try http://www.precisiononeammunition.com

02-04-2011, 02:29 PM	#3
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,328	Re: Shootin' steel with FMJ's I shoot steel with FMJ all the time. Its advised to use lead or softpoint bullets because it minimizes the chance of ricochet. In 10 years I have yet to have one bounce back at me... __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

02-04-2011, 02:41 PM	#4
carver TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DAV, Deep in the Pineywoods of East Texas, just west of Shreveport, LA Contributor Posts: 11,296	Re: Shootin' steel with FMJ's I do it too, and haven't had any problems. I do have some FMJ that will shoot thru the steel targets, but I know that, so I don't waste them. __________________ Y'all be safe now, ya hear! Lamentations Chapter 5: 1. Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. 2. Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. 3. We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers [are] as widows. 5. Our necks [are] under persecution: we labour, [and] have no rest. 16. The crown is fallen [from] our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! 21. Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.

02-04-2011, 03:04 PM	#5
LDBennett Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hesperia, CA Posts: 5,719	Re: Shootin' steel with FMJ's Fifteen years ago I shot at an indoor range (and for the ten years prior to that) once a week come ran or shine. During that time I shot jacketed, plated and cast lead bullet. The range had angled steel back plates that they changed once a month. Those plates were 50 feet from the shooting positions. About every other week I felt splash back from bullets striking the upset surface of the steel plates. Since it was a rather active range there almost always were other shooters using the range. I could not tell if it was pieces of my bullet or that of others or what kind of bullet. The bottom line is at that close distance you can and probably will get splash back, especially from jacketed bullets. At an outdoor range years ago I was shooting my 45-70 at a steel plate about 25 yds away. A piece of the jacket from the hollow point 45-70 bullet came back to hit my friend's face and drew blood. It is never a good idea to shoot jacketed bullets at steel plates unless you are at least 50 to 100 yds away from them, in my experience. Jacketed bullets are especially bad in this respect because the jacket can breakup into small pieces. Cast lead bullets probably are OK but I still would keep them 50 yds away. If you don't suffer at least one splash back in your lifetime from shooting at steel plates too close to you then you are just plain lucky and need to buy a lotto ticket. LDBennett

02-04-2011, 04:16 PM	#6
johnlives4christ Former Guest Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,828	Re: Shootin' steel with FMJ's it wont hurt anything to shoot steel with jacketed as said. when a bullet hits steel at a right angle it smashes and throws pieces of the disintegrated bullet on both sides, up, down and some back towards the shooter. it's recommended to be 15 yard from the target so you dont experience splatter and wear safety glasses i shoot a bunch of steel with all types of ammo and calibers

02-04-2011, 04:59 PM	#7
jim brady Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,076	Re: Shootin' steel with FMJ's About 30 years ago, while practiceing on a civilian range for an up-comming Service Rifle match for an ARNG Rifle Team, one of my team mates and me were invited to shoot our M-14s at some animal silohuetes...... Turned out to be a nice invitation, but a bad idea. Our M-118 Match 7.62 NATO ammo shot clean holes in those things. The owners of those targets were not mad at us - just that they were as surprised as we at the damage.

02-04-2011, 05:15 PM	#8
Whipper Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: The Replublic of California Posts: 15	Re: Shootin' steel with FMJ's I would shoot swinging steel targets only. This was a 50 shot at a fixed steel target. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLTvUNn3Suo __________________ Good Luck, be safe, and enjoy.

02-04-2011, 06:42 PM	#10
garydude Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Desert Southwest Proper Contributor Posts: 749	Re: Shootin' steel with FMJ's Thank you Gentlemen for the replies. I am truly grateful to be a member of this forum. RustyFN, at what distance do you shoot the steel targets in competition?

02-04-2011, 07:13 PM	#11
shorter260513 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 262	Re: Shootin' steel with FMJ's i shoot 9mm fmj at steel quite often from about 20 ft + had some splashback from 357mag with jhp but never a chunk big enough do anything