Quick answer: the best steel targets for .22 LR are ones that move easily when a light bullet hits them: .22 LR spinners, self-resetting .22 LR targets and 1/4" AR500 gongs on swinging hangers. Shoot our AR500 plates from at least 10 yards (for spinners and reset targets, follow the distance on the product page or contact us), angle the face slightly down, and keep everyone in eye protection. Heavy 3/8" rifle plates will take a .22 all day, but they barely react, so they're not much fun.
A .22 is the cheapest, quietest way to spend a whole afternoon ringing steel. The catch is that a little 40-grain bullet doesn't carry much punch, so the target you pick makes a huge difference in how much fun you have. Here's how we think about rimfire steel, and what we'd put on your range.
Rimfire steel at a glance
| Target type | How it reacts to .22 LR | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| .22 LR spinners | Plates spin around on every hit | Plinking, kids and new shooters, instant feedback |
| Self-resetting knock-up target | Small plates flip up, a reset plate drops them back | Accuracy drills, no walking downrange |
| 1/4" AR500 gongs on hangers | Swing and ring clearly | Classic "hear the hit" practice, non-magnum pistol and .22 LR |
| 3/8" AR500 gongs | Ring, but move very little | Shared ranges where centerfire also shoots |
| Paper and cardboard | Shows exactly where you hit | Sighting in, groups, anything closer than 10 yards |
Why lighter steel works better for .22
Steel targets are fun because they do something when you hit them. A centerfire rifle round slams a 3/8" plate hard enough to swing it on its chains. A .22 LR hitting that same heavy plate gives you a faint "tink" and almost no movement, and at 50 yards you may not be sure you connected at all.
That's why .22 LR targets are built light. Thinner plates and small spinning paddles need only a little energy to move, so even a standard-velocity .22 gets a clear, visible reaction. The plate swings, spins or flips, and you know instantly whether you hit.
Thinner steel is perfectly safe for .22 LR because the round is so mild. Our 1/4" steel is rated for .22 LR and non-magnum handguns (9mm, .40, .45 ACP), which covers everything a .22 LR can throw at it. What 1/4" isn't for is magnum handguns or centerfire rifle, so if a buddy shows up with a .357 Mag or an AR, give him a 3/8" plate instead: 25 yards minimum for magnum handguns, and 100 yards for rifle, or 200 yards if the load leaves the muzzle over 3,000 fps, like many 55-grain .223/5.56 loads such as M193.
Minimum distance for .22 LR on steel
Our rule for .22 LR is simple: 10 yards minimum on our AR500 plates. For spinners and reset targets, follow the distance on the product page or contact us. Closer than the minimum, switch to paper or cardboard.
Distance matters even with a small, slow bullet. When lead hits hardened steel, it breaks apart and fragments spray outward along the face of the plate. At a proper distance those bits run out of energy long before they reach you. Too close, and they don't. Rimfire bullets can also bounce back in larger pieces than people expect, which is one more reason to respect the 10-yard line and keep glasses on.
Most rimfire plinking happens well past 10 yards anyway. A .22 rifle on small spinners at 25 to 50 yards is a great test of your fundamentals, and stretching out farther shows you exactly how much a light bullet drops and drifts in the wind.
For every other caliber, see our guide on how far away to shoot steel targets.
Spinners, resetters or gongs?
.22 LR spinners are the crowd favorite. Each hit spins a plate around, and you can keep shooting without ever walking downrange. They're great for kids, new shooters and anyone who just wants to have fun with a brick of .22.
Self-resetting targets add a goal. On our Air Rifle Reset Target, four small 1" plates flip up when you hit them, and once all four are up you hit the top 1" plate to drop them back down. Small plates like that make you slow down and focus on sight picture and trigger press.
Gongs are the classic. Hang a few 1/4" AR500 gongs at different distances and you get a clean ring on every hit and a target you can also use with your handguns. Gongs in a range of sizes let you start big and work down as your groups tighten.
Plenty of shooters end up with all three: spinners for fun, a resetter for drills, and a gong line that the whole family can shoot with whatever they brought.
How to set up rimfire steel
- Angle the face down. A slight downward tilt sends fragments into the dirt instead of back toward the line.
- Let it move. Hanging gongs from target hangers or a T-post hanger lets the plate swing, which absorbs energy and gives better feedback.
- Use a backstop. Put a dirt berm or hillside behind your targets to catch misses.
- Clear the area. Keep rocks, concrete and other hard surfaces out of the target area so stray bullets don't bounce.
- Paint between strings. A fresh coat of target paint makes every hit show as a bright splash, so you can see where you're landing on the plate.
- Inspect before you shoot. Retire any plate that's pitted, cratered, bent or cracked.
More detail is in our full safety information.
Common mistakes
- Buying only heavy rifle steel for a .22. It'll last forever, but the reaction is so small that plinking gets boring fast.
- Standing too close because "it's only a .22." The 10-yard minimum on our AR500 plates applies to .22 LR too. Fragments and bounce-backs don't care about caliber.
- Letting someone shoot centerfire rifle at 1/4" or .22 LR-only targets. Our .22 LR spinners and 1/4" plates aren't built for it. Keep rifle rounds on 3/8" steel at 100+ yards.
- Using steel-core or steel shot ammo. Never shoot steel-core, armor-piercing, green tip, tracer, incendiary or steel shot at any steel target.
- Setting targets on rocks or hard ground. Misses that hit hard surfaces can come back at you.
- Skipping eye protection. Everyone on the line wears glasses, every time.
What to buy
For non-stop action: the Rimfire Reset Pack puts three self-resetting .22 targets in one box: the Rimfire Single, the Rimfire Double and the Air Rifle Reset Target. You can also buy each one on its own.
For a gong line: the 1/4" Gong Set gives you 4", 6", 8" and 10" 1/4" AR500 gongs plus four hangers, so you can start on the big plate and work down. Want a specific size? Pick it from our 1/4" AR500 Gong Target.
For a precision challenge: the 10" AR500 Bullseye Gong 1/4" has a 3" center hole with a small gong behind it, so a center hit sounds different from an edge hit.
To keep hits visible: add a can of Steel/Rubber Target Paint.
See everything built for the little guns in our rimfire collection.
FAQ
How close can I shoot a .22 at steel?
On our AR500 plates, 10 yards is the minimum for .22 LR. For spinners and reset targets, follow the distance on the product page or contact us. If you want to shoot closer than the minimum, use paper or cardboard.
What thickness steel is best for .22 LR?
Lighter is better for reaction. Our 1/4" steel and .22 LR targets move more on a light hit than 3/8" plate does. 3/8" works too, it just won't move much, so save it for a range where centerfire rifles also shoot.
Will a .22 damage AR500 steel?
Not when you follow the minimum distance and use normal lead or copper-plated ammo. A .22 LR is about the easiest thing you can shoot at hardened steel.
Can I shoot my .22 LR spinners with a 9mm or a rifle?
No. Our spinners and reset targets are built for .22 LR. For centerfire handguns, look at our Centerfire Reset Pack, and keep centerfire rifles on 3/8" steel at 100 yards or more.
What about .22 Magnum or .17 HMR?
Those are much faster than .22 LR. Our .22 LR spinners and reset targets are not for .22 WMR or .17 HMR unless the product page says so. Check the rating on your specific target before shooting them, or contact us and we'll help you choose.
Questions about setting up a rimfire range? Contact us and we'll help you pick the right targets for your .22.