I was thinking about getting one of those metal swinging targets for rimfire use. I didn't know how they would hold up to the .17HMR since it is so much faster than .22LR. Do they splatter back bullet frags very bad?
We use the spinners and I made some 1/4 inch knock downs for the 22's. But have never tried or shot a 17 at them. But think anything would work for you as long as it is angled downward and or ona swing chain. I would be curious to hear back about if your 17 tears em up bad? Never shot or owned a 17.
I have a dueling tree (.22 lr cal) with 4 disc on each side and it would probably have to be shot at about 50 yds. with the .17 . There would be no back splater,
but I don't think it would be much fun at that distance. It works great with a .22 LR pistol at about 15 yds and is a lot of fun. I think, if you could find some 3/8" you could shoot it with the .17, but I don,t have any links to dealers. If you could find some disks from old farm implements, they should work for rifle distances.
I have one of the resetting targets similar to this one made for rimfire .22 cal:
The instructions say Minimum target distance for shooters and spectators is 25 yards. They mean it!
22LR from pistol or rifle will come back at you near that distance. I would for sure use something with a down angle.
The instructions say Minimum target distance for shooters and spectators is 25 yards. They mean it!
22LR from pistol or rifle will come back at you near that distance. I would for sure use something with a down angle.
You have to watch what steel the target is made from.
.22 rimfire will work just fine with mild steel for swingers.
When velocity gets to the .17HMR range, it will crater the steel, and cause the lead to fly back to the shooter if using mild steel, no matter how thick the steel is.
I shoot USPSA and Steel Challenge every weekend. Some targets are steel, others are paper. Regs say the steel must be AR500 shot at no closer than 23 feet.
If the steel is at 90 degrees to the shooter, it will splatter using common target loads.
Years ago I built a target stand of mild steel, 1" thick. 5'X5'. Thinking if it were angled at 45 degrees, the bullets from high powered rifles would deflect into the ground. It didn't happen. The bullets from .243 to 30-06 would crater the steel at that angle when shot at 100 yds. A buddy brought out a .300 win mag to shoot. One shot dimpled the back side of the 1" thick steel. I believe if he had shot it again in the same place, it would have gone through.
It will be a PITA, but I can drive out there and take a pic to show the carnage high power rifle rounds can do to some steel at an angle to prove my point.
.22 rimfire will work just fine with mild steel for swingers.
When velocity gets to the .17HMR range, it will crater the steel, and cause the lead to fly back to the shooter if using mild steel, no matter how thick the steel is.
I shoot USPSA and Steel Challenge every weekend. Some targets are steel, others are paper. Regs say the steel must be AR500 shot at no closer than 23 feet.
If the steel is at 90 degrees to the shooter, it will splatter using common target loads.
Years ago I built a target stand of mild steel, 1" thick. 5'X5'. Thinking if it were angled at 45 degrees, the bullets from high powered rifles would deflect into the ground. It didn't happen. The bullets from .243 to 30-06 would crater the steel at that angle when shot at 100 yds. A buddy brought out a .300 win mag to shoot. One shot dimpled the back side of the 1" thick steel. I believe if he had shot it again in the same place, it would have gone through.
It will be a PITA, but I can drive out there and take a pic to show the carnage high power rifle rounds can do to some steel at an angle to prove my point.
We've never noticed splashback putting 17gr hmrs into steel, but we consistently see the jacket weld itself to the plate, and the lead disappears, there has to be some. Not sure on what the safe range is. Never done it closer than 30-ish yds on a similar target.
You might stake some thin paper at varrying distances around the target, that might give you an idea of where the greenzone starts.
You might stake some thin paper at varrying distances around the target, that might give you an idea of where the greenzone starts.
I have a youth hunting event this weekend and due to me being over more than one hunt area (too far away from each other to share) I am spread thin on afternoon downtime activities.
I thought about buying one of those rimfire spinners Atwoods carries to allow supervised rimfire plinking with a .22lr bolt gun and a 17hmr bolt gun.
I thought about buying one of those rimfire spinners Atwoods carries to allow supervised rimfire plinking with a .22lr bolt gun and a 17hmr bolt gun.
Here is an example of .223 doing damage at our range. I know it's not .17 hmr, but the damage is similar.
You might consider the duraseal type soft spinners until you can pick up/build some abrasion resistant targets
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