Jun 28, 2025 4 min read

By Dave Bates

For the Observer-Reporter

If you’ve never shot steel targets, then let me assure you that you are missing out on a great learning opportunity. Shooting steel is simply a lot more than fun. Hearing the satisfying ring of steel each time your round impacts on target is a hoot.

Punching paper is standard in the shooting world and has been for years. Is there a time and place for paper? Absolutely. Is paper always best? Not necessarily. So where does the rubber meet the road? Or maybe more succinctly, where does the lead meet the steel?

As a teacher, coach and firearms instructor, seeking ways to speed up the learning curve of students/athletes/shooters is job one. Whether teaching concepts of the American Revolution, conjugating verbs or turning a double play, the faster the concept can be taught the more room left for further instruction. One of the biggest problems with shooting instruction is getting as much information to students before their attention span wanes, rendering shooters incapable of receiving further instruction. In the business we call this “Drinking through a fire hose.” Such is the case in basic Level I shooting classes.

The instructional timeframe looks something like two hours or so. By the time gun-handling skills are solidified in the morning’s instruction, difficulty in mastering basic target marksmanship and addressing malfunctions might arise by afternoon. Call it shooter overload. Thus, frequent breaks become necessary, even to the point of providing lunch for my shooters between sessions. Lunch provides a chance to refocus and get back on track, mentally. In beginner shooting classes, students shoot paper targets at relatively close distance, working on the concepts of safe gun handling, stance, grip, sight picture, breathing and trigger press.

Here’s where we change gears. Making further improvement to one’s shooting skill set takes form in fractions of a second here or there. In Level II intermediate courses, beyond the basic skills of gun handling, sub-skills are mastered one at a time or possibly in clusters. This is where steel shines.

The No. 1 attribute of steel is immediacy which is the primary focus of this column in a rather boiled-down form. Call it immediate feedback. Learning is mostly done in one of three forms: 1. visual (seeing) 2. auditory (hearing) 3. tactile-kinesthetic (doing or feeling.) Most folks learn faster in some combination on a percentage basis. How one learns becomes a most personal fit. Steel allows for success on all three fronts. Seeing the round strike the target is key. Hearing the round at nearly the same time “confirms the hit” or that the shooter’s execution is indeed on target. The brain realizes that shooting form enabled the hit, what some call muscle memory and is instilled or learned as both proper and effective technique. Put ’em all together and what do you get? S-U-C-C-E-S-S! Instant feedback on all three fronts creates solid technique and at a quicker learning clip. Thus, steel succeeds.

Are there additional reasons to promote steel? Certainly. Paper is disposable and costs money while steel requires little maintenance beyond freshening paint on the target face so hits can be seen. Durability is awesome and steel targets can absorb thousands of rounds. Steel may remain outdoors between shooting sessions and does not need resetting.

There are some requisites to shooting steel safely. Always use eye and ear protection. Make sure to keep a safe distance from the target and ensure targets are aligned at a proper downward angle (forward lean) checking for signs of wear, regularly. Use proper ammunition that will not damage targets. AR500 targets are built for such use. Follow the manufacturer’s directions and warnings when shooting steel.

Dave Bates writes a weekly outdoors column for the Observer-Reporter. He can be reached at alphaomegashootingsolutions@gmail.com