There is no return ball. You hit the steel target and the ball completley splatters into fine pieces.
Sorry :nono: not so. Lead, maybe not as a complete ball, can come back or go in a dangerous direction. They do not always splatter into fine pieces. It depends on several factors what happens to the ball, or other projectile.
I used to manufacture steel targets and later did a lot of competition, with both modern pistol and c&b pistols, on steel targets.
How the ball, or other projectile behaves when it hits the steel is more dependent on how that target is mounted than any other factor. (e.g. distance, type of steel, etc.) A heavy, fixed steel target can present serious dangers as the projectile or parts of it can fly in many/any direction. A target that swings or falls will direct that same projectile at a direction other than where it came from, meaning the shooter. I have a small scar on my elbow inflicted when (stupidly) testing at a very heavy fixed target at close distance with a pistol.
Hanging, swinging or falling steel targets are the only ones that should even be considered for use with firearms, of any kind.