AR500 target sparking with lead bullets?!?

[BNE]

I took some out of town folks shooting yesterday evening. We shot until close to dark. The last rifle we shot was a 458 SOCOM. I noticed a small spark when the bullets made impact with the AR500 steel?!?
Bullet alloy was roughly 94-3-3.
Powder coated
300 grain round nose with a big meplat.

I have not chronographed this load, but I think it’s in the 1,600FPS range.

My question is what technically is causing the spark?

BNE

[Barry54]

Static electricity?
Plastic coating traveling through the air hitting a grounded target.

[G W Wade]

Could it possibly been a reflection off of a bullet fragment flashing in existing light? GW

[BNE]

Static electricity?
Plastic coating traveling through the air hitting a grounded target.

The steel is not grounded. It is bolted on to a 2x4 that is slid into a wood stand.

[BNE]

Could it possibly been a reflection off of a bullet fragment flashing in existing light? GW

It was cloudy and getting dark. So I don’t think so.

I didn’t take the time to inspect the steel itself. I’ll inspect and report back.

[Larry Gibson]

Bullets GC'd?

[country gent]

It may be the bullet sliding rust or scale on the plate against the steel and producing a red hot ember or spark.This only really shows up at dusk or low light.

[HWooldridge]

It may be the bullet sliding rust or scale on the plate against the steel and producing a red hot ember or spark.This only really shows up at dusk or low light.

^^^This^^^

Steel will spark against something like flint because small fragments are "burned" off the surface by the rock striking the surface. The bullet is doing the same thing - I suspect if you painted the steel target, most of the sparks would cease to appear.

[BNE]

Bullets GC'd?

No gas check.

[BNE]

^^^This^^^

Steel will spark against something like flint because small fragments are "burned" off the surface by the rock striking the surface. The bullet is doing the same thing - I suspect if you painted the steel target, most of the sparks would cease to appear.

Ok I like this theory. I did paint it, but it may have had rust spots on the surface. Interesting.

[BNE]

I did look at the target this weekend more closely. There is a small amount of surface rust on the exposed surfaces. I had painted over it, but that makes the most sense so far. Will have to try this again.