I'm very sorry for vladimir and consider him very lucky to have only come out as badly as he did.

I don't want to hijack his thread, but I've shot them too and love to shoot the steel plates with the big stuff.

I guess the question is: does it matter how the plate is supported? In other words, if it were rigid and unable to swing - I would think that would increase the likliehood of a bounce-back.

Mine are welded with chain and allowed to swing with the impact of the bullet.

Just an academic question... I'll consider myself lucky thus far, and this one of those lessons that didn't come the "hard way" for me!