Here's my question- I have read several times to not use 1" mild steel as targets because as the steel dimples it can create angles where future rounds can deflect back at the shooter? Makes sense. Could a person not design it to hang at a downward angle of say 20-30 degrees (or whatever the minimum would need to be to eliminate any possibility of rounds deflecting back) and be able to shoot worry free? The only difference would be a 10" round gong would perhaps only look 8" tall because of the forward angle of the plate. Issue solved? Or still a bad idea? Forgive my ignorance if there's something obviously wrong with my plan! As always I appreciate the feedback!
1" mild steel for a target
- Thread starter Willerton
- Start date
- Location
- Houston, TX
High power rounds will still crater it badly (not dimples). Don't buy twice, buy AR500 the first time.
I made a pile of mild steel targets I used 3/4 inch ........... Was shooting them at 100 yards with a 308 338 and 22-250 a bit deadly lol leaves big dimples so for safety sake 300 yards is the minimum I would shoot at them .at 300 your get a good dimple but at least I hope you won't get one comming back at you .at 600 yards you leave a small mark good for lots of rounds ,,, paint them white and you can see the hit easy .
AR-500 steel isn't that expensive. If your buying 1" plate you could likely buy 3/8" ar-500.
I still think it will be a bad idea. Over time it will make a pocket and may get some of the bullet turn around in it.
But keep in mind that AR-500 steel isn't 100% safe. I took a ricochet in the shoulder with ar-500 steel. We were much closer then 100 yards though. Had to go to the ER to get it dug out.
I still think it will be a bad idea. Over time it will make a pocket and may get some of the bullet turn around in it.
But keep in mind that AR-500 steel isn't 100% safe. I took a ricochet in the shoulder with ar-500 steel. We were much closer then 100 yards though. Had to go to the ER to get it dug out.
We just made up a couple of gongs out of 5/8" mild steel today and went out and shot them at 470m. We use these for much longer ranges than 470m usually(600-1200m) so the mild is fine, if I was to use it inside of this range I would probably use AR500 though.
Hotwheels81
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- South of GP
I had a couple nice triangle pieces of 5/8" plate I found in a scrap bin, about 16" of straight and nice 2" radius corners on it so they were fairly big, welded 2 hooks on the back side upper 1/3 of the plate and built a cheap tripod out of some scrap 1" pipe... Had a 7.62x39 FMJ come back at me while shooting at 100M BUT never had a hunting bullet or Amax/VLD make the return trip... 100M is too close for shooting at steel I learned, 200M is a minamum and a Winchester power point from a .300WM leaves a loonie size crater about 1/8" deep every strike at 300M...
If it's free I'd say have at er, if your paying for it I'd go straight to AR plate and it'll be around to pass down to your kids.
If it's free I'd say have at er, if your paying for it I'd go straight to AR plate and it'll be around to pass down to your kids.
you can get a ar500 plate for $75 or less.
I just got a 3/8 12 in gong. I tested it out at 160 yards with a 270win and 150 gr sierra hunting bullets. it just left a tiny mark.
I shot it with my 223 yesterday at 495 yards and it doesn't leave any mark other than a grey splat where the paint comes off. This gong will last almost forever.
worth the money in my opinion,
because the target will last and its much safer to shoot. since its not pitted I can use it for 25 yard pistol safely too
I just got a 3/8 12 in gong. I tested it out at 160 yards with a 270win and 150 gr sierra hunting bullets. it just left a tiny mark.
I shot it with my 223 yesterday at 495 yards and it doesn't leave any mark other than a grey splat where the paint comes off. This gong will last almost forever.
worth the money in my opinion,
because the target will last and its much safer to shoot. since its not pitted I can use it for 25 yard pistol safely too
I've got a 1" mild steel plate hanging at 510 yards. Besides its size, the only thing it has going for it is that it was free. Calibers from the big 30s and up crater it badly, and although nothing has passed through it yet the dimples make spotting the hits a bit of a pain with the smaller calibers. Bullet splatter will often go into 2 or 3 old holes and no amount of paint will prove the true hit. Hits on fresh metal are very visible. My .375 Chey-tac almost went through on the one shot I took at that distance; won't be doing that again.
We shot up the stand last time, and I will be moving it out to 800 and reversing it instead of setting it up in the same place. If you can swing it at all get AR500 in the first place and be done with it. Almost all my targets are AR now and I can't hurt them. There is still an old 1" mild plate dangling at 220, it looks like a moon-scape and the next time it gets shot off will be the last time. The current crop of AR500 round gongs and IPSC silhouettes are ready and waiting.
We shot up the stand last time, and I will be moving it out to 800 and reversing it instead of setting it up in the same place. If you can swing it at all get AR500 in the first place and be done with it. Almost all my targets are AR now and I can't hurt them. There is still an old 1" mild plate dangling at 220, it looks like a moon-scape and the next time it gets shot off will be the last time. The current crop of AR500 round gongs and IPSC silhouettes are ready and waiting.
