Again how many of you have tracer on your FAL, and how many ranges will allow the use of tracer, Tracer is unstable thats why it goes all over the place try shooting a group with it at 300 metres,also it is FMJ so it doesn't break up like sporting ammo, You would have to be standing very close to the target to get hit with any debris, if the target is set properly the debris go into the ground,
I think you are missing the point mate. I'm not suggesting we use tracer rounds! I'm using it to visually Illustrate the fact that bullets don't always just stop at the backstop, even if it is a sandbank! What happens to a bullet after it hits something has nothing to do with whether it groups well at 300m!
I would agree that steel plates can also be set at safe angles and ranges.
However, there are a lot of factors to consider! Use of the wrong type or thickness can cause the surface to pit or dent which can cause a variety of ballistic after-effects!
I'm guessing that the original poster isn't a ballistics expert, but maybe I'm wrong?
My posts are merely to highlight the dangers of shooting steel plates to him (and others) that may not fully understand the consequences of getting it wrong!!
I'm sure this fella though bullets only go in one direction also! :
I use BT heads which we assume are the most frangible right?
Last year I shot a Roe Doe clean through the heart and lungs with a perfect sloping sugar beet field behind as a backstop. The ricochet I heard would have put most cowboy film ones to shame. It must have hit a piece of flint or something on exit, but it certainly didn't sound like small bits of debris wanging off into the distance!!! Thankfully the area was clear for a good distance but it scared me!
I've also had a .22 FAC airpellet pass very quickly between mine and a friends head after he shot at a golf ball! That was very educational!
I try not to shoot hard things any more!
MS