Steel target options

TrueBlue711 · January 23, 2018, 11:12 AM

I've recently made a few threads asking advice when it comes to long range shooting. I'm looking to get steel plates/gongs for long range targets, but I mostly just see AR500...and nothing really bigger than 16" plates. What other companies are out there that sell larger than 16" plates for a decent price? Are there local places (metal shops, junk yards, etc) that I should be visiting?

BillM · January 23, 2018, 11:23 AM

Going local makes sense. Shipping on big hunks of plate gets nasty fast.

It would probably help if you mentioned where you are?

TrueBlue711 · January 23, 2018, 11:38 AM

Quote:

It would probably help if you mentioned where you are?

I'm in Albuquerque, NM. I didn't mean specific stores though. Was thinking general locations that most cities/towns have that may have scrap steel I could get off of them for good cost.

T. O'Heir · January 23, 2018, 12:46 PM

Scrap steel may or more often is not suitable. The type of steel matters. So does the thickness and what type of bullet you're using. A jacketed bullet requires better and thicker steel than a cast bullet. And no cf magnums.
Talk to these guys. They're local to you. You might be able to pick their brains.
https://shop.actiontarget.com/
The thing to remember is that scrap dealers can get money for steel. Isn't a great deal of money. Today's price for scrap steel is 6 to 10 cents per pound. Al siding gets roughly 4 times that for a comparison. That'd be in NJ and PA.

50 shooter · January 25, 2018, 09:07 PM

A 1" piece of plate will stop almost any bullet, lead core won't do more than leave a small dent. Even a 50 BMG match round wouldn't do much more.

So if you're only shooting that type then find a local scrap metal place and see how big of a piece you can buy. Then make a frame for it that you can hang it on with some chains or make some hooks to place it on the frame.

Will save you a lot of money in the end over AR500.

tickTalk · February 19, 2018, 12:57 PM

but you will very quickly get an unsuitable surface if using the wrong material for targets. You want the round to fragment and cleanly disperse on impact. Dents and dings will cause unpredictable ricochets. I stick with ar500 .5" or thicker..
Steel core ammo is a different beast though. My M1 puts nice big holes in mild 1" plate, and will badly pit even thick ar500. Plus bouncers will go a very long ways. Besides, it is more fun watching 4x4 wood posts disintegrate.

DMK · February 19, 2018, 01:49 PM

Quote:

My M1 puts nice big holes in mild 1" plate, and will badly pit even thick ar500

What are you shooting AP?

I shoot milsurp ball ammo out of my Garand, FAL, PSL, etc at AR500 gongs all the time and it does nothing but chip the paint.

Quote:

Shipping on big hunks of plate gets nasty fast.

Every time I've ordered AR500 plates, they ship them in flat rate boxes.

AR500 gongs are not that expensive. They are darn near indestructible if you don't shoot AP at them and mount them properly so they can switch and deflect most of the energy down into the ground.

tickTalk · February 19, 2018, 02:41 PM

well.. I guess badly pit is relative.. I don't even like dents in my nice clean freshly painted targets..

January 23, 2018, 11:12 AM	#1
TrueBlue711 Senior Member Join Date: March 16, 2011 Posts: 489	Steel target options I've recently made a few threads asking advice when it comes to long range shooting. I'm looking to get steel plates/gongs for long range targets, but I mostly just see AR500...and nothing really bigger than 16" plates. What other companies are out there that sell larger than 16" plates for a decent price? Are there local places (metal shops, junk yards, etc) that I should be visiting?

January 23, 2018, 12:46 PM	#4
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Scrap steel may or more often is not suitable. The type of steel matters. So does the thickness and what type of bullet you're using. A jacketed bullet requires better and thicker steel than a cast bullet. And no cf magnums. Talk to these guys. They're local to you. You might be able to pick their brains. https://shop.actiontarget.com/ The thing to remember is that scrap dealers can get money for steel. Isn't a great deal of money. Today's price for scrap steel is 6 to 10 cents per pound. Al siding gets roughly 4 times that for a comparison. That'd be in NJ and PA. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

January 25, 2018, 09:07 PM	#5
50 shooter Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2002 Location: SoCal PRK Posts: 986	A 1" piece of plate will stop almost any bullet, lead core won't do more than leave a small dent. Even a 50 BMG match round wouldn't do much more. So if you're only shooting that type then find a local scrap metal place and see how big of a piece you can buy. Then make a frame for it that you can hang it on with some chains or make some hooks to place it on the frame. Will save you a lot of money in the end over AR500. __________________ I see the world thru bloodshot eyes Streets filled with blood from distant lies The dogs of war never compromise, No time for rearranging.

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January 23, 2018, 11:23 AM	#2
BillM Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2009 Location: Amity Oregon Posts: 791	Going local makes sense. Shipping on big hunks of plate gets nasty fast. It would probably help if you mentioned where you are?

February 19, 2018, 12:57 PM	#6
tickTalk Member Join Date: February 18, 2018 Location: california Posts: 21	but you will very quickly get an unsuitable surface if using the wrong material for targets. You want the round to fragment and cleanly disperse on impact. Dents and dings will cause unpredictable ricochets. I stick with ar500 .5" or thicker.. Steel core ammo is a different beast though. My M1 puts nice big holes in mild 1" plate, and will badly pit even thick ar500. Plus bouncers will go a very long ways. Besides, it is more fun watching 4x4 wood posts disintegrate.

February 19, 2018, 02:41 PM	#8
tickTalk Member Join Date: February 18, 2018 Location: california Posts: 21	well.. I guess badly pit is relative.. I don't even like dents in my nice clean freshly painted targets..