New Target Setup and Fire danger with steel targets?

[nphunter]

I'm getting ready to setup a 1K yard range on a friends property. It's out in the sage brush with pretty much zero water around. I'm curious if anyone has seen a fire started from a target before, google says it's possible but I've never head of it happening and feel like I see a lot of targets out in similar terrain? I don't plan to shoot the targets a ton and 99% of use will be a lead/copper bullet, TMK, VLD type bullets from a .243 or 280AI. The land is used for cattle grazing so I don't want to dig out any ground around as a fire break. The 1K target will be in the rocks and the rest will be in grassy sage, I'm not really worred for the next month or so but come Summer it's hot and dry.

I doesn't seem like much of a risk to me since copper and lead shouldn't spark against AR500 steel. Pretty excited to get a permanent range setup where we can shoot out as far as we want. I plann on setting targets up at 400, 600, 800 and 1000 with the ability so move back and easily shoot out past 1500. The Targets range from 10" to 24".

 

[brancher147]

Yea I have seen it. Dry hillside with grass and cedar. Burnt up a few acres before VFD got it put out. I think the fire actually started from a ricochet off a rock not from a steel target

 

[justinspicher]

I’ve responded to a few fires that were started on private property and made it to NF property from folks shooting steel targets during hot and dry days. Red flag warnings are for a reason.

 

[nm.otter]

Battery-powered string trimmer?

 

[flyfisher117]

Yes I have put out fires started by shooting steel targets. One was set up on a dirt berm and the single bush in the general area of it caught fire.

 

[nphunter]

This is where I will be setting them up. Maybe I’ll have to figure something else out as it warms up this summer. I’ll be setting them up in the grass on the hillside above the field. The grass is all green now but it will get dry in July.

 

[BRTreedogs]

Shoot in the morning.

And also

I’ve had poor luck shooting chains off.

I switched to rubber hangers like strips of semi mud flap

 

[Caseknife]

Weed eater and round-up would be your best bet, that and shoot in the morning when there may be a bit of dew as was said above. If you are trying to perfect your wind calls on a hot August afternoon, may be pushing it.

 

[Coopsdaddy]

Keep a leaf blower around to help with a fire .

 

[Dan Russell]

I have similar concerns where I shoot. The issue isn’t sparks per se, but superheated fragments caused by friction when the bullet impacts. Shoot a steel plate at dark and you can see it. looks like sparks but actually hot globs of lead/copper. weedwack judiciously, and some days are just too hot/dry.

 

[Coopsdaddy]

Keep a leaf blower around to help with a fire .

Seriously I work in right of ways under power lines and when you can’t get a water rig it’s all leaf blowers if it’s not a raging fire.
Mater of fact the last fire that ran down a wooded rocky draw was contained with nothing but 4-5 guys and leaf blowers.
I have a peice of property that’s wooded and when we have camp there we take a leaf blower in case the fire gets out of its ring and sparks something up.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Sometimes its ok to admit thats its a bit on the dry side and just not worth the risk............

 

[MuleyFever]

Seriously I work in right of ways under power lines and when you can’t get a water rig it’s all leaf blowers if it’s not a raging fire.
Mater of fact the last fire that ran down a wooded rocky draw was contained with nothing but 4-5 guys and leaf blowers.
I have a peice of property that’s wooded and when we have camp there we take a leaf blower in case the fire gets out of its ring and sparks something up.

We were just talking about this at the station. Blow the flames back into the black.

 

[MuleyFever]

Shoot in the morning.

And also

I’ve had poor luck shooting chains off.

I switched to rubber hangers like strips of semi mud flap

I used fire hose. Local station may have some bad hose they need to get rid of.

 

[Weldor]

Never heard of the leaf blower thing. Great idea! I always keep a pre-charged water extinguisher when working outside, but a 60v greenworks blower is the way to go. I'll keep both with me now. Thanks.

 

[Marbles]

Yes. I have personally been on a crew to control a grass fire started by small arms fire at a military training facility. No steel targets were involved.

We used poles with rubber flaps to beat it out as it was still small at perhaps 400 square feet. Sage brush would be a little more challenging than knee high grass.

 

[nphunter]

Glad I posted this. I’ve never really heard of a fire started from target shooting personally and never gave it a lot of thought. I’ll most likely just move the targets into heavily grazed areas or cut fields once it warms up.

 

[BRTreedogs]

Can you clear the spot down to bare dirt?

 

[doc holiday13]

Shoot in the morning.

And also

I’ve had poor luck shooting chains off.

I switched to rubber hangers like strips of semi mud flap

x2

You can also use strips of stall mats or cut the sidewall out of a old tire

The fire doesn't necessarily start from the target sparking. That lead and copper are too HOT to handle just from the contorting of the metal getting twisted down a tube and then violent contorting after hitting a metal target. No sparks needed. just need a chunk of bullet to land on tinder. I guarantee that will smolder and start a fire