How thick of steel to stop 1oz slug?

KyleH · November 25, 2007, 03:58 PM

I wanted to build a steel box to shoot at. I would line it with particle board to absorb most of the bullets. I will be shooting 12ga rifled slugs and buckshot, .45, 9mm, and 22s. Mostly 12ga and .22. I was planning on building a scatter shield around it as well for a just in case I miss and then making the box 15 x 15 x 15 covered by a piece of ~.125" aluminum backed plywood.

I was wondering what metal thickness I should use to ensure that when shooting 1oz lead slugs into it, they don't penetrate it. I would most likely be bolting two 1/2" mild steel plates together onto the back. Either that or put some solid 2.5" OD round steel stock into the box I have access to for free and using one 1/2" backing plate.

EHCRain10 · November 26, 2007, 04:11 PM

i have no clue but id really like to know how this turns out, update to let us know the results

KyleH · November 28, 2007, 10:07 PM

Whats the thickest thing that a shotgun shell has ever penetrated for you guys? What have you shot at that the shell lodged itself in an didn't penetrate or broke/bounced off?

Gbro · November 28, 2007, 11:38 PM

I would go 3/8 inch steel at the minimum. (50 Y).
The 1-Oz slug is awesome.
If you use the 3" or 3-1/2 use of 1/2 " steel may be necessary.

Bill DeShivs · November 28, 2007, 11:58 PM

Slugs will beat a box like that to death.

BillCA · November 29, 2007, 12:39 AM

Kyle,

I think you'd be better off building a "sand trap" box.

You can build your box to hold a bunch o' sand shoveled in from the top or build it to hold sandbags stacked at least 3-deep and maybe 3-4 high. The bags can be filled with washed sand or simply low-rock dirt. Personally, I'd set it up for sandbags to make portability a bit easier.

Most handgun rounds, even from under 25 yards, won't penetrate through the width of a filled sandbag. Once you get into the momentum of a 1oz 12-gauge slug though, I suspect you'll need 3 sandbags.

Sandbags can be had cheap, as can bags of clean sand at your hardware store. Just remember to bring extras of both along when using the 12-bore.

Check out The Box o' Truth to see their setup that uses water bottles. A similar rig that allows sandbags laid down 3-wide and 6 deep up to 4 bags tall would weigh a lot, but probably stop anything except a .50BMG. Then your 1/2" steel backing plate wouldn't get beaten into submission.

Hawg · November 30, 2007, 05:58 AM

A shotgun slug fired at a steel plate isn't going to leave much more than a thin circle of lead and a bunch of small fragments and your particle board will be destroyed pretty quick.

November 25, 2007, 03:58 PM	#1
KyleH Junior member Join Date: September 1, 2007 Posts: 58	How thick of steel to stop 1oz slug? I wanted to build a steel box to shoot at. I would line it with particle board to absorb most of the bullets. I will be shooting 12ga rifled slugs and buckshot, .45, 9mm, and 22s. Mostly 12ga and .22. I was planning on building a scatter shield around it as well for a just in case I miss and then making the box 15 x 15 x 15 covered by a piece of ~.125" aluminum backed plywood. I was wondering what metal thickness I should use to ensure that when shooting 1oz lead slugs into it, they don't penetrate it. I would most likely be bolting two 1/2" mild steel plates together onto the back. Either that or put some solid 2.5" OD round steel stock into the box I have access to for free and using one 1/2" backing plate.

November 28, 2007, 11:38 PM	#4
Gbro Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,084	I would go 3/8 inch steel at the minimum. (50 Y). The 1-Oz slug is awesome. If you use the 3" or 3-1/2 use of 1/2 " steel may be necessary. __________________ Gbro CGVS For the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, But to us who are being saved, It Is The Power Of God. 1Corinthians 1-18

November 28, 2007, 11:58 PM	#5
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,985	Slugs will beat a box like that to death. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

November 29, 2007, 12:39 AM	#6
BillCA Senior Member Join Date: November 28, 2004 Location: Silicon Valley, Ca Posts: 7,117	Kyle, I think you'd be better off building a "sand trap" box. You can build your box to hold a bunch o' sand shoveled in from the top or build it to hold sandbags stacked at least 3-deep and maybe 3-4 high. The bags can be filled with washed sand or simply low-rock dirt. Personally, I'd set it up for sandbags to make portability a bit easier. Most handgun rounds, even from under 25 yards, won't penetrate through the width of a filled sandbag. Once you get into the momentum of a 1oz 12-gauge slug though, I suspect you'll need 3 sandbags. Sandbags can be had cheap, as can bags of clean sand at your hardware store. Just remember to bring extras of both along when using the 12-bore. Check out The Box o' Truth to see their setup that uses water bottles. A similar rig that allows sandbags laid down 3-wide and 6 deep up to 4 bags tall would weigh a lot, but probably stop anything except a .50BMG. Then your 1/2" steel backing plate wouldn't get beaten into submission. __________________ BillCA in CA (Unfortunately)

November 26, 2007, 04:11 PM	#2
EHCRain10 Member Join Date: October 24, 2007 Posts: 57	i have no clue but id really like to know how this turns out, update to let us know the results

November 28, 2007, 10:07 PM	#3
KyleH Junior member Join Date: September 1, 2007 Posts: 58	Whats the thickest thing that a shotgun shell has ever penetrated for you guys? What have you shot at that the shell lodged itself in an didn't penetrate or broke/bounced off?

November 30, 2007, 05:58 AM	#7
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,189	A shotgun slug fired at a steel plate isn't going to leave much more than a thin circle of lead and a bunch of small fragments and your particle board will be destroyed pretty quick.