Author Topic: Spinning Pistol Targets ??????? (Read 1693 times)

lostone1413 · « **on:** December 16, 2003, 07:28:27 AM »

I was thinking of getting one of them metal spinning targets . I was wondering if anyone uses them and if so how do you like them?? I'd be using anywhere from 22 to a light load 44 and 45apc when I can afford one. Why do they say a min of 25 yards to shoot at it?? Most of my shooting would be from 7 to 15 yards away Would they work shooting at them at that range Also if you have one and like it were iis a good place to buy them?? Lookin if they are good to just keep one in the pickup and a supply of ammo then when up in the mountains and urge comes to shoot some i'm all set Thanks Chuck (Cottonwood,AZ.)

securitysix · « **Reply #1 on:** December 16, 2003, 07:55:39 AM »

Usually, the minimum listed range of 25 yards is what is necessary to keep the shooter and bystanders relatively safe from ricochets.

If you have fragnible ammo (there's a few places that make it, but it gets pricey), you can shoot at 7-15 yards with it.

Birchwood Casey makes a few that will take up to .44 Mag as long as the nose of the bullet has some exposed lead on it (helps soften the blow and keep the target in tact longer). I've never used them, but I've considered grabbing one or two just to see how they are (they usually retail for under $40 here).

Questor · « **Reply #2 on:** December 16, 2003, 09:54:12 AM »

I use one for rimfire shooting. Works fine. Very durable. Reactive enough for the kids to enjoy.

Savage · « **Reply #3 on:** December 16, 2003, 09:59:37 AM »

In NRA falling plates the close station is at 15yds. Don't know why you couldn't shoot the spinner at the same range safely. Just be sure to wear good eye protection, which makes sense regardless of what you're shooting.
Savage

Black Jaque Janaviac · « **Reply #4 on:** December 16, 2003, 11:46:43 AM »

I think Securitysix is on to it. The companies are worried they'll get sued by someone hit with backsplash.

I've got two although they aren't the spinning kind; they're the auto-reset kind. They are a fine idea. The bottom disks flip up, then you shoot the top disk and the bottom ones swing down to reset.

These are nice reactive targets that don't require a lot of walking back and forth to reset. So I'll set up the pop cans full of water, pop those, then hammer on the clangers for a while. Then go refill more pop cans - whatever I feel like.

Graybeard · « **Reply #5 on:** December 17, 2003, 04:51:10 PM »

Among my many targets I have on my range one is the large and small metal cirles rated for .44 mag. at 25 yards. My first shot on it at 100 yards using a Hornady 240 XTP over 24.0 W296 my standard load permanently bent that big circle about 15 degrees to the right with a hit that caught the edge on the right side. Since then I've shot it with the .44 mag many more times but generally always use lead not jacketed bullets now.

Back in my NRA Silhouette competition days we shot a lot of metal. It was a common occurence to be hit by lead returns from the chickens at 25 meters. So common NRA changed the target distance to 40 meters. I've been hit by and hit others with fragments from jacketed and some of my super hard cast bullets all the way out to 50 meters as rebounds. Once I fired into metal at 100 yards on my range and got a bounce back that hit the metal building beside me. I have no other explaination for the hit on it except for that unless someone was shooting at me. :eek:

My advice to you if you are gonna shoot metal under 25 yards is to do as the CAS shooters do and use soft lead at slow velocity. That seems to work well but NEVER EVER shoot without proper eye protection when shooting metal even if you don't normally wear it. Which of course you should all the time. But never shoot metal without it.

GB

Sixgun · « **Reply #6 on:** December 18, 2003, 03:33:16 AM »

Amen Graybeard,

The other day I was shooting at a 100 meter rams with my 357mag Cowboy silhouette rifle. I was the only one on the range and after one of my shots the ram fell and I heard the bullet buzz off and heard it hit the metal awning over my shooting station. It made a loud noise too. The bullet was a 166 gr Lee swc cast from our indoor range lead which is mostly 22s. It is soft and I cast them hot so they crystalize in hopes that they will do less target damage. This one must have had a little rubber in it.

Sixgun

lostone1413 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 18, 2003, 06:28:40 AM »

Thanks for all the advice on the spinning targets. After seeing how the bullets can come back at you I don't think I will bother to get one. I was just lookin for something to keep in the truck that I could fast setup if I was riding in the mountains and wanted to do some shooting, But being alone I don't think I would want to dodge bullets. Guess i'll just stick with the paper targets I was just hoping that if the spinning targets could fill the need it would be something different then shooting paper targets. Like I was saying before most all my shooting is say 7 to 15 yards max. Thanks again Chuck

Hcliff · « **Reply #8 on:** December 18, 2003, 07:39:04 AM »

I used a spinning target alot. Then a stray 44 full power lead bent the hinge and it wouldn't spin any more. :shock: If you want to be closer than 25 yards, you can get the shoot thru targets. They can take lorts of hits. Made out of a self sealing polymer thee is no ricochet or splatter. I have the style that you shoot and it is like a hinge and bounces back. I think dillion sells the brand (which I can't think of.) This is a good alternative. The problem I have found is that round nose bullets should be used to get the most shoots out of the target. wad cuttere or LBT style don't seal as well.

Good Luck

Hcliff

John · « **Reply #9 on:** December 18, 2003, 10:27:02 AM »

We hang metal discs on links of chain and hang them so they are not facing us squared up. We've not had any problems using them at any range as the rounds seem to glance off to the side a bit instead of coming back toward the shooter. We've fired about all the pistol rounds that are common at them.

Bullseye · « **Reply #10 on:** December 18, 2003, 04:44:37 PM »

I love shooting at my metals spinners and animals. I have never had a problem which I thought was because I always shoot at 50 yards or more, but not sure that is the answer after reading the other posts. I am going to still keep shooting at them though, lots of fun.

c mac · « **Reply #11 on:** December 29, 2003, 02:33:32 PM »

Got a birchwood casey reseting 22 target for CHRISTmas. My 14 yr old son and I have shot at it a lot. No spit backs. Love it. But it's only for 22.
cmac

NHANG · « **Reply #12 on:** January 04, 2004, 05:54:17 AM »

B. Casey's resetable 22 target is a lot of fun to shoot at but it is too light weight for your heavy rounds. If anyone has plans to make a heavier metal target for centerfire rounds please send me a PM.