New Target Setup and Fire danger with steel targets?

[Eldoradotim]

Whats a good distance to clear the ground around the target if doing this?

 

[Caseknife]

10-12' radius, more it is the safer.

 

[RancherJohn]

We were shooting steel a few nights ago after sunset, sparks were clearly visible on most shots. I'm changing my steel target locations this year given how dry things are, planning to hang a lot more in rocky cliffs well away from grass/sage/anything flammable.

 

[jmsdad]

Some reading on the subject..

https://www.fs.usda.gov/rm/pubs_other/rmrs_2013_maynard_t001.pdf

 

[HairyScandinavian]

Some reading on the subject..

https://www.fs.usda.gov/rm/pubs_other/rmrs_2013_maynard_t001.pdf

That's interesting, thanks for posting that.

 

[hibernation]

Some reading on the subject..

https://www.fs.usda.gov/rm/pubs_other/rmrs_2013_maynard_t001.pdf

Interesting that solid copper bullets are way more likely to cause ignition than lead core / copper jacket.

Plate angle seems to play a significant role too, much lower risk when the impact angle is closer to 90 degrees.

 

[Pilsner]

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.

Same. We use them a ton when we do our annual Rx burns here on our mtn. A drip torch to start it and a leaf blower to keep it where it is supposed to be.

 

[nphunter]

Got the targets up. I’m might take a rake next time I go but I set them up in clear spots with little vegetation because it was very dry in some spots. It seems to me like the bigger rifles at closer ranges would have more risk. Shooting heavy .243 from a 16” barrel at 1K probably won’t make of an impact. I know there is a crazy difference watching video of my 280AI vs a 6.5cm at 100, the CM barely moves the plate and the 280 flips its around pretty hard on the chains.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

Your buddy have a water tank and sprayer by chance? Could hit the ground with a quick spray to wet it down when you go to paint the targets before shooting.

 

[nm.otter]

Interesting that solid copper bullets are way more likely to cause ignition than lead core / copper jacket.

• Lead melts 1363°F before copper does.
• Melting (phase change) eats a crazy amount of energy -- so while lead gets squishy, copper just keeps heating up.
• Copper fragments flying away versus a splat of lead heating up the gong.
• Stuff lights on fire.