Infinite Defense: Steel Target Safety and Usage Guide

Thank you for purchasing an Infinite Defense steel target. Shooting steel targets provides excellent visual and auditory feedback, but it also involves inherent risks. Your safety is our top priority. Please read this entire page carefully before mounting or shooting your new target. By using this product, you agree to the safety protocols and liability waivers outlined below.

General Liability and Assumption of Risk

WARNING: Shooting steel targets involves inherent dangers. The user assumes all risk and liability for any property damage, injury, or death resulting from the use or misuse of this product. Infinite Defense is not responsible for any accidents, injuries, or damages that occur while using our targets. If you do not agree to these terms, do not use this product.

Mounting Directions

Proper mounting is critical for both your safety and the longevity of the target.

• Angle: Always mount the target with a slight downward angle (typically 10 to 20 degrees). This ensures that bullet splatter and fragmentation are safely deflected downward into the soil.

• Movement: Hang the target loosely. The target must be able to swing or move freely upon impact to absorb the energy of the bullet. Rigidly mounting a steel target significantly increases the risk of damage to the steel and dangerous, unpredictable ricochets.

Distance and Placement

Shooting steel too closely is highly dangerous and will damage your target. Always adhere to the following minimum safe distances:

• Rifles: Minimum distance of 100 yards.

• Handguns: Minimum distance of 50 yards.

• Clear the Area: Ensure the area immediately surrounding and behind the target is clear of people, animals, and valuable property. Bullets shatter on impact, and fragmentation can spread outward.

Ammunition and Velocity Restrictions

Using the wrong ammunition will pit, dent, or completely pierce the steel, ruining the target and creating a major safety hazard.

• Velocity Limit: Ensure the bullet's impact velocity remains under 2,850 FPS to maximize the target's lifespan. Note: Muzzle velocity is different from impact velocity. High-velocity rounds may need to be shot from further than 100 yards to drop below 2,850 FPS before striking the steel.

• Prohibited Ammunition: Do not shoot the target with armor-piercing (AP) rounds, steel-core ammunition (like green tips/M855), bi-metal rounds, steel-jacketed rounds, tracers, or incendiary rounds.

• Permitted Ammunition: Use only high-quality, standard lead-core, full metal jacket (FMJ), or frangible ammunition.

Safety Procedures and Hazard Warnings

• Mandatory Protective Gear: Shooters and bystanders must always wear ANSI-rated ballistic eye protection and appropriate hearing protection.

• Fire Hazard: Bullet impacts on steel generate hot sparks and fragmentation. Always clear dry vegetation around and beneath the target to prevent sparks from starting fires. Do not use in dry conditions where fire bans are in effect.

• Stay Clear: Bullets shatter on impact; stay clear of the target area to avoid flying fragments. Do not shoot closer than the recommended minimum distances.

Maintenance and Inspection

• Inspect Before Every Use: Always check your target for damage before shooting.

• Retire Damaged Steel: Never shoot a cracked or pitted target to prevent dangerous ricochets. Pockmarks and craters in the steel catch bullets and throw fragmentation back toward the shooter instead of safely deflecting it outward.

• Hardware Checks: Regularly inspect your chains, straps, bolts, and stands to ensure they are secure and intact. Replace heavily worn mounting hardware immediately.

Disclaimer: This guide provides essential safety baselines, but it is the shooter's responsibility to understand and practice all standard firearms safety rules. For any questions regarding your specific target model, please contact Infinite Defense customer support.