A range can be that short if you are shooting into a substantial and soft backstop which will absorb all bullet calibers at all velocities below 4,000 feet-per-second.

I will only shoot steel targets at “close” distances (less than 50 yards) if I am shooting handguns. If I am shooting rifles, I typically move the steel targets out to 100 yards. The only exception to that 100 yard distance is at a family property where the targets are about 15 feet lower in elevation than our shooting position–and even then we are still 50 yards away.

One of the scariest videos of shooting steel targets that I have ever seen is a man shooting a rifle, chambered in .50 BMG I believe. He hits his steel target (which appears to be 100 yards away) and his bullet comes whizzing back, at what seems to be at least 90 miles-per-hour, and knocks his ear muffs (hearing protection) off. I cannot begin to imagine how bad my day would be if a .50 caliber bullet weighing in excess of 600 grains hit me in the face at 90 miles-per-hour.

Idea came across no problem and I sincerely doubt frangible was involved given the stupid stuff we were able to get away with in shoot houses “safely”.

* “at 12 ranges” supposed to be “at 12 yard range”

The stupidity on display is breathtaking. I have the highest respect for the Marines, but this was unconscionable.

If it was intentional, the headlines write themselves: “An AR15 is too dangerous for even a Marine!!!!!” But I can’t imagine anyone with a functional brain shooting steel with an AR-15 at 12 ranges without eye protection, and doing it on purpose, just to make an antigunner point.

Can we at least hope that they were using frangible ammunition? If they were shooting FMJs, they immediately need their brains recalled. If they were shooting frangibles, at least there’s a half a prayer that somebody, somewhere, at least had a thought. But to set up a tiny short range like that, with tannerite? What was the thought process there? I can’t imagine anyone, anywhere, being dumb enough to set up a tannerite target so close.