Reactive targets

[Scott in NCal]

Has anyone shot standard velocity 158 grain 38 special round nose lead bullets at reactive metal targets(spinners ect) designed for 22 rim fire use ? Did the targets get destroyed ? Midrange 148 grain hbwc ? Any experiences anyone willing to share.

 

[Nevada Ed]

.22 targets are to light and the welds are not made for High Impact loads.

At the Reno rifle range, even the heavy 1/2 and 3/4" thick metal plates have to be repaired from shooters high vel.bullets
now and then. placed at 300 yards.

Get a well made center fire spinner that will last.

 

[phil1967]

Steel targets designed specifically for .22 LR are generally not suitable for centerfire handguns and probably not .22 mag or .17 HMR. Steel handgun only targets are available form several sources that are designed for .22 LR through .45 ACP. Shooting steel targets with firearms for which they are not designed will damage/destroy the targets.

 

[Mike0251]

Shooting a .22 at large caliber steel can also get you injured by the ricochet coming right back at ya. Shoot the proper caliber at the proper target. Ask me how I know from 20 some years ago when I shot a .22 at a 1/2 steel and the bullet whizzed back beside my head 2" away.

 

[forindooruseonly]

I have .22 only targets on my range. They're painted a different color so that everyone who shoots there knows what they can shoot at what. White is centerfire pistol, Yellow is rifle rated, and Red is .22 only.

Despite that, a new shooter shot the .22 targets with a light .38 special with a plated 158 grain RN bullet. It damaged some, others were ok. The ones that were damaged were by far and away the thinnest targets, about 1/8 inch, while the thicker 1/4 inch targets survived ok. I definitely glad they weren't hit with anything stronger. Since she was a new shooter, these were truly powderpuff loads.

On the damaged ones, they were just plates so I hammered and welded to a flat surface again, and they seem to be holding up just fine now with .22s again.

That's my experience. I'd say stick to what you are supposed to shoot at them.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I "had" an inexpensive .22LR target but my son took it to the range and didn't think it would hurt if he shot it with a 9mm. Let's just say he was wrong.