1/2" AR-500 steel will hold up to everything from .22lr all the way up to .50BMG as long as it is 100+ yards away.
I use transport grade chains and heavy duty D shackles. On one target alone, there was thousands of centerfire rifle rounds, including .50bmg on target before one of the shackles let go.
I hate having to stop shooting to reset targets, so the extra few bucks on quality chain and hardware is a no brainer for me.
Invest in quality hardware and steel once, and it will last you a lifetime. I have had these three steels for years now, and they have taken tens of thousands of centerfire rifle hits, and I have only had one fall once, and that was from the .50BMG. I have never damaged or destroyed a target. These will be with me for life.
Here is a direct .50BMG hit.
And one on the edge of the target. No deformation at all.
The only time I ever got deformation on the target was with .223 at sub 50 yard ranges, and even that only left a slight divot less than 1/64" deep... still smooth to the touch.
The other nice thing about 1/2" AR-500 is it rings loud, gives you a good clear "BONK" noise to confirm the hit.
I use transport grade chains and heavy duty D shackles. On one target alone, there was thousands of centerfire rifle rounds, including .50bmg on target before one of the shackles let go.
I hate having to stop shooting to reset targets, so the extra few bucks on quality chain and hardware is a no brainer for me.
Invest in quality hardware and steel once, and it will last you a lifetime. I have had these three steels for years now, and they have taken tens of thousands of centerfire rifle hits, and I have only had one fall once, and that was from the .50BMG. I have never damaged or destroyed a target. These will be with me for life.
Here is a direct .50BMG hit.
And one on the edge of the target. No deformation at all.
The only time I ever got deformation on the target was with .223 at sub 50 yard ranges, and even that only left a slight divot less than 1/64" deep... still smooth to the touch.
The other nice thing about 1/2" AR-500 is it rings loud, gives you a good clear "BONK" noise to confirm the hit.
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