Shooting steel target rules

[Skyshot]

Hi guys I'm new to shooting in Australia. First post here.
I have recently received my licence and awaiting firt pta to come through. I have joined SSAA. I'm a little confused with the rules here on steels. Previously I have shot in the usa with both rifles and pistols. Out there you would go to a range set up your targets steel and paper and away you'd go. Looking at gun shops they seem to sell the regular steel gongs similar to what I have used before. Looking on ssaa it says you can only use their approved targets. I can't see much info on steels except ranges saying they are banned or only set up at very long range? Am I reading this wrong. Are you allowed to use steels from your local gun shop? Or is this only for people with private land?
I'm near Townsville. So if this is available to do can anyone let me know where or is it just not really done out here.

Thanks everyone.

[bladeracer]

Hi guys I'm new to shooting in Australia. First post here.
I have recently received my licence and awaiting first pta to come through. I have joined SSAA. I'm a little confused with the rules here on steels. Previously I have shot in the usa with both rifles and pistols. Out there you would go to a range set up your targets steel and paper and away you'd go. Looking at gun shops they seem to sell the regular steel gongs similar to what I have used before. Looking on ssaa it says you can only use their approved targets. I can't see much info on steels except ranges saying they are banned or only set up at very long range? Am I reading this wrong. Are you allowed to use steels from your local gun shop? Or is this only for people with private land?
I'm near Townsville. So if this is available to do can anyone let me know where or is it just not really done out here.

Thanks everyone.

The people to be asking would be those managing the range you want to shoot at, email and ask if you can bring steel targets and what restrictions there might be on using them.
I spent today at a club shooting at steel from 3m to about 25m, it does depend on the club, the range template, and what discipline it is that you are shooting.
If you can find a metallic silhouette club, or a PRS club they should allow shooting at steels.

[deye243]

Just like our gun laws steel rules are insane every range has a different set , closest one to me you could take a car body you could take anything you want and shoot the crap out of it go in a different direction you're not allowed to shoot steel at all no matter what the range

[Over The Hill]

My local club will only allow steel targets that are club committee approved. Just being a commercially manufactured product isn't enough. Its a compliance & liability thing.

[Larry]

All the rules regarding steel targets are made by the shooters at the club that they shoot at.

[Wyliecoyote]

Both ranges in Townsville are now restricted 7.62 templates. At Q22 there is no unsanctioned steel to be placed or shot at forward of the line on range 10 for plinking purposes. There is shrouded steel plate out to the 1000 meter line that can be shot at during general plinking days. The contradiction is that metal silhouette, both rimfire and centerfire, still shoots out in the open on range 10. Range 3 allows steel for pistol calibers only. The template is restricted due to military flight paths as the Herveys Range training area is just beyond the range template.
Then there is Q68. Was totally unrestricted until two factors came into play. One moron had a beef with the committee and as such weapons licensing got involved and the range was shut down for nearly 3 years apart from pistol use. Prior to that the club went from being fully privately owned to selling to SSAA who changed everything to the point it required written permission in triplicate to empty rubbish bins. There are permanent steel targets at range 3 for centerfire use. Again no unsanctioned steel targets.
All this restriction crap is mostly weapons licensing but a lot of it is SSAA drones at both club and state level exercising power they don't have in civilian life.

[Maxjon]

I noticed steel gongs were being shot at 100m at Little River yesterday....I thought it was 200m minimum distance.....

[Fester]

The closest range for shooting steel is 1hr 40 min drive for me, and the steel was only put in when Covid restrictions stopped the buggy taking blokes out. Whoever thought up putting the 500m gongs up should be commended.

It was the previous NSW govt who built the range, but the Chriss Minns Labor govt wanted it gone as it wasn't them that spent the money to build it, and said it was not profitable.

If SSAA hadn't taken it off their hands, Mince was going to give it to NPWS to go back to nature.

They doubled the prices to shoot steel, but put up heaps more steel, even as close as 100m, I think.
I suspect the steel just needs to swing, and not be soft steel that craters, to prevent ricochet.

The only other steel shooting was near Canberra, with falling silhouette targets and a few sighting plates.
It can't be that dangerous with all the pistol steel shooting going on, just rifle ranges seem scared of it.

[bladeracer]

I noticed steel gongs were being shot at 100m at Little River yesterday....I thought it was 200m minimum distance.....

Might depend on what you're shooting with perhaps. I shoot Cowboy at Little River and we shoot steel at maybe 3m. With the .45-70 rifles we shoot steel at around 10m I think. They do handgun Silhouette there as well with the chickens at 40m.

[No1Mk3]

I noticed steel gongs were being shot at 100m at Little River yesterday....I thought it was 200m minimum distance.....

Which range? Range 1 is 200m for Centrefire Rifles, 50m for Rimfire, same for Range 2.