In the present study, dynamic experiments are developed to investigate the induced damage modes when Lingulid sandstone is subjected to dynamic and impact loading. To do so, a series of spalling tests were carried out in order to investigate the material response at high strain tension rates. This illustrates how structural defects influence the wave propagation in the tested sample, the loading-rate, and the resulting tensile strength. In addition, edge-on-impact tests were performed using both open and sarcophagus configurations. An ultra-high-speed image recording system is used in an open configuration for time-resolved visualisation of damage. The sarcophagus configuration gives the opportunity to visually compare the state of the cracking pattern prior to and after the test. This experimental work points-out that the pre-existing structural defects play a major role on impact loading. This is because the opening of cracks in mode I and the sliding of cracks in mode II are favoured, and by also restricting the fragmentation of the material caused by less critical defects. Next, a numerical simulation, only involving the so-called KST model, is presented to highlight the loading that would be applied to the target in the absence of structural defects. It demonstrates that in such a situation, a wide network of radial cracks would be expected. Finally, a numerical study involving the KST-DFH model illustrates the influence of a structural defect on the amount of damage generated in the target.