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Most good steel targets warn not to shoot at them any closer than 10 yards or 25 ft for safety.

Depending on caliber you may want to stand further back.

I like steel targets, but I also like to get ones that are well made, solid, and have some down deflection to them to reduce chances of ricochet backwards.

But they are not cheap at all.

I watched some guy shoot some home made steel that was a bit too light and springy. It was at about 50 yds. He ended up shooting himself in the head. It can come back at you from a long ways. Make it stiff and allow it to pivot on a slight balance. They will still fly wild, but at least not straight back at you. Soft points are much safer also. Setting the plate at an angle similar to a bullet trap also works.

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I have a bunch of old 20 pound propane tanks, I have used them mainly for 22lr @30 yards and greater, they give a nice ring but even at 300 yards a center fire rifle will shoot straight through. I like the fly wheel idea. I have a plastic orange bullet cube as well, expensive and will not trap center fire bullets, creating a ricochet hazard

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A friend of mine uses an old flywheel. Hangs it on a chain, angled down a little. Great target, good response and very sturdy. Doesn't show any dings when we're done.

That would be a good choice, they are pretty hard when new and work harden through their useful life by the clutch, which generates a little heat with every application. And when the clutch becomes worn it produces a lot of heat. Not a close up target IMHO. Too heavy and if you don't get enough angle on it could come back at you!
I made my own hanging gongs out of 1 & 1 1/4" Scandia, an imported steel that, I am told, is an older armor for war machines. I know that high velocity ball ammo (.223-.308) barely scratches it. Welded chains to it.
 

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