To gong or not to gong, that is the question!

the45er · December 4, 2017, 10:23 PM

I have purchased a number of different AR500 steel plates in 3/8" and 1/2" thicknesses. They were advertised as "gong" targets but they dang sure don't make the sound that a gong makes! I watch Hickok45 on YouTube shoot his gong targets and all of them produce a very definite "gong" sound when struck by a bullet.

Anyone have a clue what his are made of versus what I've been buying?

TXAZ · December 4, 2017, 11:08 PM

Is the plate coated?
That would dampen the sound.

T. O'Heir · December 5, 2017, 12:29 PM

A 'gong' target has nothing to do with the sound it makes when hit. It's about how the plate is hung on chains like a dinner or Chinese/Japanese temple gong.
You can add sound effects to YouTube video's.

OzeanJaeger · December 5, 2017, 01:39 PM

How big? I have from 2" Mickey Mouse-full sized IDPAs, and the smaller they are the more *TIINK* sound they make and the less *GONG* sound they make. Also, a bigger and heavier bullet is going to ring deeper. A .45 sounds a lot different than a .22.

There is a 4' round gong on my range @ 660 yds that I've heard make a deep *GONG* sound. It isn't hard to hear an impact with 5.56 even on a breezy day. Shoot it with a 45-70 and it makes the *GONG* sound. That's the closest sound to an actual gong instrument I've heard, and it's HUGE. Even a full sized IDPA goes *PA-TINK* with small calibers.

Eazyeach · December 5, 2017, 02:52 PM

I'd love to have a freaking four foot gong!!! Not sure I could make a hit at 660 but it would be fun to try!

444 · December 5, 2017, 03:11 PM

I think the one Hickok has makes that sound because it is so big.

jmhyer · December 5, 2017, 03:37 PM

This ^^^^
Size has a lot to do with the sound it makes.

OzeanJaeger · December 5, 2017, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Eazyeach

I'd love to have a freaking four foot gong!!! Not sure I could make a hit at 660 but it would be fun to try!

4’ @ 660yds is over 7moa. People shoot it with iron sights all the time. You could do it a lot more easily than you think.

5whiskey · December 6, 2017, 09:39 AM

Quote:

4’ @ 660yds is over 7moa. People shoot it with iron sights all the time. You could do it a lot more easily than you think.

Ditto. This is not a difficult shot. A first round hit would require a little more skill, but even then not anything crazy.

20" gongs at that distance are a different story, and even then most shooters can start to land hits on target with iron sights given enough practice/patience/attempts. It's still a 3moa target

OzeanJaeger · December 6, 2017, 10:17 AM

There are a couple of guys who come out with their Sharps Rifles and tang sights who shoot that thing dead center almost every time. They say, "We're working a knot!", and I can assure you that when they hit there is a very loud *GONG* sound that could be heard in a thunderstorm. I think one of them shoots a 45-90.

ocharry · December 6, 2017, 11:45 AM

OzeanJaeger,,,its that flying sledge hammer those guys are tossing down range,,,they are prolly getting a pretty good wiggle out of that plate too

i guess size really does matter

ocharry

December 4, 2017, 10:23 PM	#1
the45er Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2008 Location: The mini-hill country of Texas Posts: 254	To gong or not to gong, that is the question! I have purchased a number of different AR500 steel plates in 3/8" and 1/2" thicknesses. They were advertised as "gong" targets but they dang sure don't make the sound that a gong makes! I watch Hickok45 on YouTube shoot his gong targets and all of them produce a very definite "gong" sound when struck by a bullet. Anyone have a clue what his are made of versus what I've been buying?

December 4, 2017, 11:08 PM	#2
TXAZ Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2010 Location: McMurdo Sound Texas Posts: 4,322	Is the plate coated? That would dampen the sound. __________________ Cave illos in guns et backhoes

December 5, 2017, 12:29 PM	#3
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	A 'gong' target has nothing to do with the sound it makes when hit. It's about how the plate is hung on chains like a dinner or Chinese/Japanese temple gong. You can add sound effects to YouTube video's. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

December 5, 2017, 03:11 PM	#6
444 Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2000 Location: Ohio Posts: 3,968	I think the one Hickok has makes that sound because it is so big. __________________ You know the rest. In the books you have read How the British Regulars fired and fled, How the farmers gave them ball for ball, From behind each fence and farmyard wall, Chasing the redcoats down the lane, Then crossing the fields to emerge again Under the trees at the turn of the road, And only pausing to fire and load.

December 6, 2017, 11:45 AM	#11
ocharry Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2006 Posts: 686	OzeanJaeger,,,its that flying sledge hammer those guys are tossing down range,,,they are prolly getting a pretty good wiggle out of that plate too i guess size really does matter ocharry __________________ The felon does not fear the police, and he fears neither judge nor jury. Therefore what he must be taught to fear is his victim." - Lt. Col. Jeff Cooper, USMC

December 5, 2017, 01:39 PM	#4
OzeanJaeger Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2014 Posts: 301	How big? I have from 2" Mickey Mouse-full sized IDPAs, and the smaller they are the more TIINK sound they make and the less GONG sound they make. Also, a bigger and heavier bullet is going to ring deeper. A .45 sounds a lot different than a .22. There is a 4' round gong on my range @ 660 yds that I've heard make a deep GONG sound. It isn't hard to hear an impact with 5.56 even on a breezy day. Shoot it with a 45-70 and it makes the GONG sound. That's the closest sound to an actual gong instrument I've heard, and it's HUGE. Even a full sized IDPA goes PA-TINK with small calibers.

December 5, 2017, 02:52 PM	#5
Eazyeach Senior Member Join Date: January 14, 2014 Posts: 706	I'd love to have a freaking four foot gong!!! Not sure I could make a hit at 660 but it would be fun to try!

December 5, 2017, 03:37 PM	#7
jmhyer Senior Member Join Date: June 19, 2012 Location: MS - USA Posts: 899	This ^^^^ Size has a lot to do with the sound it makes.

December 6, 2017, 10:17 AM	#10
OzeanJaeger Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2014 Posts: 301	There are a couple of guys who come out with their Sharps Rifles and tang sights who shoot that thing dead center almost every time. They say, "We're working a knot!", and I can assure you that when they hit there is a very loud GONG sound that could be heard in a thunderstorm. I think one of them shoots a 45-90.