Best Steel Targets for .22 Rimfire (2026): Picks and Safety Rules
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A good steel target does two things a paper target can't: it tells you instantly when you've hit it, and it's reusable for years. For .22 rimfire shooters, a properly rated spinner or gong turns plinking into a feedback loop — you hear the ring, see the swing, and keep shooting. But steel is unforgiving if you get the distance, angle, or ammo wrong. This guide covers five rimfire-rated targets worth buying in late 2026, plus the safety rules you need to follow every single time you set one up.
Steel target safety rules
Read this section before you buy anything. Steel targets can throw fragments and splatter back toward the shooter, and the rules below come straight from target manufacturers and ammunition companies — not from forum folklore.
- Minimum distance. Action Target says to stand at least 10 yards from steel when shooting a handgun or .22 rimfire, and at least 100 yards when shooting a centerfire rifle (actiontarget.com). Savage Arms advises a minimum of 10 to 15 yards for handguns (savagearms.com).
- Always follow the specific target's rating over any general rule. Some targets require more distance than the general minimum. SME, for example, requires 30 yards minimum for .22 Short/Long/LR on its rimfire spinner, and 100 yards minimum if you're shooting .22 Magnum or .17 caliber rimfire at it.
- Watch your angle. Action Target says never to exceed a 20 degree angle of engagement with steel. Savage recommends hanging targets angled slightly downward so fragments deflect into the ground instead of back toward you.
- Inspect before every session. Never shoot steel that's cratered, pitted, or otherwise damaged. Damaged steel face can spall unpredictably and send fragments farther or in different directions than a smooth plate will.
- Wear real eye and ear protection. Wrap-around, shatter-resistant shooting glasses and hearing protection are non-negotiable around steel, even at the correct distance.
- Ammo matters. Action Target warns against ever shooting steel-core or green-tip ammunition, BBs, steel shot, or pellets at steel targets — these can punch through or badly damage a plate rated for standard lead ammo.
- Rimfire-rated means rimfire-rated. A target built and rated for .22 rimfire is not automatically safe for centerfire pistol or rifle rounds unless the manufacturer specifically says so. Don't assume — check the listing or manual for your exact target.
Follow the distance and ammo rules printed on your specific target first, and treat the ranges above as a floor, not a ceiling.
Quick picks
- Best overall first spinner: Birchwood Casey World of Targets Duplex Rimfire Spinner
- Best for rimfire and pistol owners: Allen EZ Aim Hardrock AR500 Spinner Targets with Stand
- Best auto-reset fun: Champion Rimfire 5-Gong Auto-Reset Spinner
- Best budget: SME .22 Rimfire Steel Spinning Target
Comparison table
| Target | Steel and size | Rated for | Price checked Nov 11, 2026 | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birchwood Casey Duplex Rimfire Spinner (BC-46422) | 3/16 in solid steel; paddles 3.625, 2.25, 1.625 in | .22 rimfire rifles and handguns | $30.99 | Check price at SCHEELS |
| Allen EZ Aim Hardrock AR500 Spinner with Stand (15365) | AR500, 1/4 in; 4 in and 5 in squares; 5.2 lb | Rimfire and centerfire pistol | $49.99 (out of stock, last listed price) | Check price at Sportsman's Warehouse |
| Champion Rimfire 5-Gong Auto-Reset Spinner (40874) | Five 2.5 in gongs; 24 in H x 16 in W | .22 rimfire only | $42.89 | Check price at Sportsman's Warehouse |
| SME .22 Rimfire Steel Spinning Target (SME-22SPN) | Powder-coated steel spinner | .22 Short/Long/LR at 30 yd min; .22 Mag/.17 at 100 yd min | $29.97 clearance (was $39.99) | Check price at Sportsman's Warehouse |
| Caldwell AR500 1/4 in Soda Can Target (4002314) | AR500, 1/4 in, yellow powder coat | Rimfire and non-magnum centerfire handgun | Check current price | Check price at SCHEELS |
The targets
Birchwood Casey World of Targets Duplex Rimfire Spinner (BC-46422)
This is the spinner most rimfire shooters should start with. It's built from 3/16 in solid steel with no welds, which means there's no weld seam to crack or spall over time. The duplex paddle design gives you three hit zones — 3.625, 2.25, and 1.625 in — so you can work from an easy target down to a genuinely tough one on the same stand. It's rated for .22 rimfire rifles and handguns. Listed at $30.99 at Birchwood Casey, and also available at SCHEELS.
Allen EZ Aim Hardrock AR500 Spinner Targets with Stand (15365)
If you split time between a .22 and a pistol in centerfire calibers, this is the spinner built for both. It's AR500 steel at 1/4 in thick with 4 in and 5 in square spinner plates, and the whole unit weighs 5.2 lb including the stand. Per the Allen and Sportsman's Warehouse listing, it's rated for rimfire and centerfire pistol. It was listed at $49.99 at Sportsman's Warehouse but is currently out of stock; that's the price it was last sold at.
Check price at Sportsman's Warehouse ›
Champion Rimfire 5-Gong Auto-Reset Spinner (40874)
Five separate 2.5 in gongs on one 24 in H x 16 in W frame means five chances to ring steel before you have to walk downrange, and each gong auto-resets after it's hit. This one is rated for .22 rimfire only, so don't move up to pistol or centerfire rounds with it. It's $42.89 and in stock at Cheaper Than Dirt, and listed at $42.99 at Sportsman's Warehouse, though currently out of stock there.
Check price at Sportsman's Warehouse ›
SME .22 Rimfire Steel Spinning Target (SME-22SPN)
SME's spinner is powder-coated steel with a distance rule that's stricter than the general minimums: 30 yards minimum for .22 Short, Long, and LR, and a full 100 yards minimum if you're running .22 Magnum or .17 caliber rimfire. The listing also calls for soft-nose lead ammunition only — no subsonic, no magnum loads, and no hollow points. At $29.97 on clearance (down from $39.99) at Sportsman's Warehouse with limited stock, it's the cheapest rated spinner on this list, but only if you can commit to shooting it at the right distance with the right ammo.
Check price at Sportsman's Warehouse ›
Caldwell AR500 1/4 in Soda Can Target (4002314)
A fun, novelty-style can shape in 1/4 in AR500 steel with a yellow powder coat finish, built to hang on Caldwell's own target post. It's rated for rimfire and non-magnum centerfire handgun rounds. It's currently out of stock at Cheaper Than Dirt and listed (no confirmed current price) at SCHEELS — check current price before you plan a purchase around it.
Alternate pick: the Do-All Outdoors .22 Single Spinner is a simple, affordable option at $24.99, sold online only at Tractor Supply. It's rated for .22 rimfire with soft lead ammunition only.
Setting up
Where and how you set a steel target up matters as much as which one you buy.
- Backstop. Place your target in front of a real backstop — a dirt berm, hillside, or other barrier that will stop both direct hits and any fragments that get past the target itself. Never shoot steel with open space or a flat horizon behind it.
- Ground surface. Avoid setting up over hard-packed dirt, gravel, rock, or concrete immediately in front of and around the base of the target, since these surfaces can cause fragments and splatter to bounce unpredictably.
- Flat, level surface. Stands and spinners need a flat, level base so the target hangs and swings the way it's designed to, and so it doesn't tip or shift mid-session.
- Check your range or land rules, and local laws. Not every range allows steel targets, and some restrict them to certain calibers or distances. If you're shooting on private land, confirm your local laws on shooting before setting anything up. This guide doesn't cover legal requirements where you live — that's on you to verify.
What .22 ammo works on steel
As a general rule, standard lead round-nose .22 LR is the safe default for rimfire steel. Beyond that, follow each target's own ammo rules closely — some, like SME's spinner, specifically exclude subsonic, magnum, and hollow-point loads and call for soft-nose lead only. Others may have different restrictions. Check the fine print on your target's listing or included instructions before loading up.
Compare .22 LR prices at GunDeals ›
Where to find the current deal
Prices on steel targets move around with stock levels and seasonal sales. Check GunJoy's daily deals page for the latest confirmed pricing on the targets above. If you're also shopping for a rifle or scope to pair with your new steel, see our guides to the best rimfire rifles and fun guns under $500 and the best scopes for a Ruger 10/22.
FAQ
How far away should you shoot steel targets with a .22?
Action Target's general rule is at least 10 yards for a .22 rimfire or handgun. But some targets require more — SME's rimfire spinner, for instance, requires 30 yards minimum for .22 LR. Always follow the specific distance printed on your target over any general rule.
Can I shoot .22 Magnum at rimfire steel?
Only if the manufacturer specifically rates the target for it. SME, for example, requires a full 100 yards minimum before shooting .22 Magnum or .17 caliber rimfire at its spinner — a much greater distance than its 30-yard rule for standard .22 LR. Other targets on this list are rated for .22 rimfire broadly, but check each listing before assuming Magnum is included.
Why does my target say no hollow points?
Some manufacturers, like SME, call for soft-nose lead ammunition only and exclude hollow points along with subsonic and magnum loads. This is about how the bullet deforms and sheds energy against the steel face — follow the maker's ammo rules rather than guessing based on what worked on a different target.
Is AR500 necessary for .22?
Not strictly. AR500 is a harder steel often used for centerfire pistol and rifle rated targets, and it shows up on multi-caliber targets like the Allen EZ Aim and Caldwell soda can target in this guide. For rimfire-only use, lighter-rated steel like the 3/16 in solid steel on the Birchwood Casey spinner is built and rated specifically for .22 rimfire and handles it fine — you don't need AR500 unless you also plan to shoot centerfire rounds at the same target and it's rated for that use.