Very Safe Targets Displace Round Impact Energy To The Ground

New Very Safe Targets (VST) from Metal Madness make it less likely for shooters firing at steel to be struck by fragments from spent rounds.

by
posted on December 9, 2024
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
Newlede 1Target 1
New Very Safe Targets (VST) from Metal Madness are a target system that displace the energy of the impact of the round downwards to the ground—instead of towards a shooter—making it less likely they will be struck by fragments from a spent round while shooting steel.
Metal Madness Shooting Sports Association

A new target system from the folks at Metal Madness called VST (Very Safe Targets) promises to minimize or even eliminate bullet splashback.

Ed White, the founder of Metal Madness, describes the organization’s new Very Safe Targets as “an affordable target system for the beginner to the seasoned competitor.”

Very Safe Targets
With Very Safe Targets, fragments go straight down to the ground, basically eliminating ricochet or fragments heading back to the shooter.

 

In development for the past two years, the patent-pending design of this target system basically eliminates ricochet or fragmenting coming back at the shooter. Very Safe Targets displace the energy of the impact of the round to the ground, rather than back towards the shooter, making it less likely for the shooter to be struck by fragments from the spent round while shooting steel.

“Our patent-pending design was developed for Metal Madness Unlimited, but we found that it works in any steel target shooting sport,” White said.

While watching video of the Very Safe Targets in action above water puddles to indicate where spent bullets are headed, you can see the new targets directing rounds fairly straight down after impact, marked by both large and small splashes below the targets and hangars. You can watch the video at Rumble and YouTube.

I asked White how the Very Safe Targets can send rounds to the ground, instead of back towards shooters.

“The way it works is that the target gives on impact, because of the way the hanger is angled and designed,” he said. “The size of the hole in the target is important to allow the target to move freely, but be small enough that a .22-caliber round will not pass through it insuring a mark on the target.”

Besides being touted as a safer steel target, White mentioned that Very Safe Targets have “a loud ring and visible movement, making it easy to know when the target is struck.”

VST gif
Very Safe Targets in action.

 

As for the price, it’s still being determined, but White said it will be “comparable or less than targets already on the market.”

Manufacturing is complete for Very Safe Targets, and you will be able to find them online soon at the Metal Madness website. Go to mmssa.net.

Latest

2025 CC Nov 1
2025 CC Nov 1

Competitors’ Corner: November 2025

Highlights from the November 2025 issue of Shooting Sports USA, the NRA’s competitive shooting journal

Youth Shooting Sports Shine at 2025 SSSF Nationals

The 2025 SSSF Nationals celebrates youth shooting sports as student-athletes in SCTP and SASP build confidence and teamwork skills through friendly competition.

Record Attendance and Timeless Triumphs: 1983 National Matches

Over 3,400 shooters gathered at Camp Perry in 1983 for the largest NRA National Matches in decades.

Mike Wilgus Wins 2025 NSCA National Championship in San Antonio

Mike Wilgus fired a 282 to win his first NSCA National Championship, leading a strong showing for Team Winchester and Team White Flyer.

Creedmoor Sports, CMP Partner on New .30-06 Match Ammo for the M1 Garand

Raise scores, support youth marksmanship with CMP’s new match ammo for the M1 Garand

Derrick Mein Finishes Runner-Up at 2025 NSCA Nationals

Team Federal’s Derrick Mein ends the 2025 NSCA Nationals as runner-up

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Sports USA delivered to your inbox.