Pistol Gongs: One or Two Holes?

Swifty Morgan · March 3, 2020, 12:23 PM

I've never used a gong. I am thinking of getting a couple of little ones for pistol shooting, plus a bigger one for rifles. I assume I'll be shooting pistols at 10 yards to 50 feet.

I figure 6" will be good for the pistol gongs. It's too big for slow fire at 10 yards, but it will work for rapid fire and longer distances.

Question: do I need gongs with two holes, or will one hole do? I was planning to get a two-hole gong for rifles, but it seemed to me that one hole would be fine for little gongs.

I'm not sure what size rifle gong to get. I was thinking 12" would be good, because it would work for less-than-precision work at 100 yards, and it would also be fun for pistols at long range, but for rested shooting, it would be huge.

Swifty Morgan · March 3, 2020, 12:29 PM

It looks like prices are about the same regardless of the number of holes, so maybe I should get two-hole gongs, mount them by one hole, and see how it goes. My plan is to run eye bolts through the holes and hang them from the eyes so they will tilt forward.

Pahoo · March 3, 2020, 01:47 PM

If you are set on using these, them mounting and placement is important. Not sure of you setup so I'd recommend the two-holer. It's always best to swing or tilt downwards, This should reduce the ricochet problems. …..

Be Safe !!!

hot chili powder · March 3, 2020, 02:17 PM

Get them with 2 holes, single hole swings like crazy when hit. Also hang them with reinforced rubber straps, they can take any hits to them without much damage, unlike chains, I got mine thru Amazon @ good price including hardware. Make sure you get gongs of correct thickness for caliber you are using. Ringing gongs is alot of fun!

Erno86 · March 3, 2020, 02:37 PM

May I suggest avoiding the two hole bunny eared gongs, because of the inherent weakness of the steel, at the open hole ear extension --- especially with high power rounds of the 30-06 and below crowd --- impacting at the ear area.

Hanging - two holed gongs...make great swingers --- though our outdoor range requires that the swinging gong completely stops swinging; before you send another bullet at it.

FITASC · March 3, 2020, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Get them with 2 holes, single hole swings like crazy when hit. Also hang them with reinforced rubber straps, they can take any hits to them without much damage, unlike chains, I got mine thru Amazon @ good price including hardware. Make sure you get gongs of correct thickness for caliber you are using. Ringing gongs is alot of fun!

Many folks like to use old fire hose for hanging steel; check with your local FD; they have to retire hoses every so often

wild willy · March 4, 2020, 06:43 AM

Like other have said a single chain plate will move for a long time putting the chain in a piece of hose will really help.If you use two chains make sure they are wider where mounted don't have them hanging straight down.And yes you can shoot a chain off but with handgun calibers they last a long time.And if your plates have square hole and you use carriage bolts don't overtighten them or the bolt heads will pop off when you shoot them

Swifty Morgan · March 4, 2020, 12:09 PM

I was planning to hang them on garden crooks, like Hickok45, the Youtube guy. My plan B is to use 1" x 1/8" steel bar to hang them. It's the handiest thing on earth.

I ordered two 2-hole 6" gongs plus a steel hog and a steel squirrel.

peterg7 · March 5, 2020, 10:11 AM

I’ve hung a 12” plate(1 hole) on a crook for handguns, beware the plate with move when hit.

The bigger the slug the more bounce you’ll get, so I’d go at least 10” and then practice hitting a moving target.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

T. O'Heir · March 5, 2020, 01:53 PM

Hit a plate, hung on a single chain, off centre in the least and it'll likely spin. Hung by 2 chains it'll just swing no matter where it's hit.
"...at 10 yards..." You can expect bits of bullet bouncing back at you. Buddy of mine required a trip to the ER to have a slice of cast bullet taken out of his forehead hide. The slice went through his baseball hat brim/peak, hit his skull, whereupon the point bent and grabbed his hide. It missed his glasses by a fraction. He was shooting at about 7 yards. Been hit myself from much longer distances.
Don't learn how to do stuff from Youtube.

rock185 · March 8, 2020, 06:31 PM

FWIW, I've shot steel targets closer during required training, but 10 yds. is the closest I am personally comfortable using steel targets. Even then, people will get hit with pieces of lead, jacket material,etc., especially since they won't be angled down. I'd suggest two holes, to at least eliminate spinning....

March 3, 2020, 12:23 PM	#1
Swifty Morgan Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2018 Location: FL Posts: 467	Pistol Gongs: One or Two Holes? I've never used a gong. I am thinking of getting a couple of little ones for pistol shooting, plus a bigger one for rifles. I assume I'll be shooting pistols at 10 yards to 50 feet. I figure 6" will be good for the pistol gongs. It's too big for slow fire at 10 yards, but it will work for rapid fire and longer distances. Question: do I need gongs with two holes, or will one hole do? I was planning to get a two-hole gong for rifles, but it seemed to me that one hole would be fine for little gongs. I'm not sure what size rifle gong to get. I was thinking 12" would be good, because it would work for less-than-precision work at 100 yards, and it would also be fun for pistols at long range, but for rested shooting, it would be huge. __________________ People who think their guns shoot better than they do must not be shooting much rimfire.

March 3, 2020, 12:29 PM	#2
Swifty Morgan Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2018 Location: FL Posts: 467	It looks like prices are about the same regardless of the number of holes, so maybe I should get two-hole gongs, mount them by one hole, and see how it goes. My plan is to run eye bolts through the holes and hang them from the eyes so they will tilt forward. __________________ People who think their guns shoot better than they do must not be shooting much rimfire.

March 3, 2020, 01:47 PM	#3
Pahoo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: IOWA Posts: 8,783	Swingers and spinners If you are set on using these, them mounting and placement is important. Not sure of you setup so I'd recommend the two-holer. It's always best to swing or tilt downwards, This should reduce the ricochet problems. ….. Be Safe !!! __________________ 'Fundamental truths' are easy to recognize because they are verified daily through simple observation and thus, require no testing.

March 3, 2020, 02:17 PM	#4
hot chili powder Member Join Date: October 16, 2014 Location: Green Bay ( Titletown) WI Posts: 27	Hanging gongs Get them with 2 holes, single hole swings like crazy when hit. Also hang them with reinforced rubber straps, they can take any hits to them without much damage, unlike chains, I got mine thru Amazon @ good price including hardware. Make sure you get gongs of correct thickness for caliber you are using. Ringing gongs is alot of fun!

March 3, 2020, 02:37 PM	#5
Erno86 Senior Member Join Date: September 22, 2012 Location: Marriottsville, Maryland Posts: 1,739	May I suggest avoiding the two hole bunny eared gongs, because of the inherent weakness of the steel, at the open hole ear extension --- especially with high power rounds of the 30-06 and below crowd --- impacting at the ear area. Hanging - two holed gongs...make great swingers --- though our outdoor range requires that the swinging gong completely stops swinging; before you send another bullet at it. __________________ That rifle hanging on the wall of the working class flat or labourer's cottage is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there." --- George Orwell Last edited by Erno86; March 3, 2020 at 02:45 PM.

March 4, 2020, 06:43 AM	#7
wild willy Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2006 Posts: 404	Like other have said a single chain plate will move for a long time putting the chain in a piece of hose will really help.If you use two chains make sure they are wider where mounted don't have them hanging straight down.And yes you can shoot a chain off but with handgun calibers they last a long time.And if your plates have square hole and you use carriage bolts don't overtighten them or the bolt heads will pop off when you shoot them

March 4, 2020, 12:09 PM	#8
Swifty Morgan Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2018 Location: FL Posts: 467	I was planning to hang them on garden crooks, like Hickok45, the Youtube guy. My plan B is to use 1" x 1/8" steel bar to hang them. It's the handiest thing on earth. I ordered two 2-hole 6" gongs plus a steel hog and a steel squirrel. __________________ People who think their guns shoot better than they do must not be shooting much rimfire.

March 5, 2020, 10:11 AM	#9
peterg7 Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2017 Posts: 316	Pistol Gongs: One or Two Holes? I’ve hung a 12” plate(1 hole) on a crook for handguns, beware the plate with move when hit. The bigger the slug the more bounce you’ll get, so I’d go at least 10” and then practice hitting a moving target. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Last edited by peterg7; March 5, 2020 at 10:21 AM.

March 5, 2020, 01:53 PM	#10
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Hit a plate, hung on a single chain, off centre in the least and it'll likely spin. Hung by 2 chains it'll just swing no matter where it's hit. "...at 10 yards..." You can expect bits of bullet bouncing back at you. Buddy of mine required a trip to the ER to have a slice of cast bullet taken out of his forehead hide. The slice went through his baseball hat brim/peak, hit his skull, whereupon the point bent and grabbed his hide. It missed his glasses by a fraction. He was shooting at about 7 yards. Been hit myself from much longer distances. Don't learn how to do stuff from Youtube. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

March 8, 2020, 06:31 PM	#11
rock185 Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2001 Location: Out West in Rim Country Posts: 1,093	FWIW, I've shot steel targets closer during required training, but 10 yds. is the closest I am personally comfortable using steel targets. Even then, people will get hit with pieces of lead, jacket material,etc., especially since they won't be angled down. I'd suggest two holes, to at least eliminate spinning.... __________________ COTEP 640, NRA Life