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.