Type of steel for target

[Hespco]

I want to install steel plates on my range at 400 & 500yds. Have never made such targets before. Will be shooting mainly Barnes mono's in 6.5 . 120 & 127 grs from 260 thru 264 mag rifles. What type of steel will hold up best & what thickness should I consider?

 

[hydehunter]

order AR 500 steel targets, I use a 8" at 500 yards and a 6" at 400 yards if you use reg steel it will get beat up and AR 500 round steel targets are very reasonably priced and I use heavy chain to hang them. have fun

 

[nmbarta]

Yep 1/2" ar500 will stop my 375 cheytac at 1000 It does slightly dent it but my 338 lapua does nothing to it
T1 works okay for normal use
I get both at scrap price from a local fabrication shop.

 

[snox801]

Man what bullet in the cheytac? I'm shooting 400 gr lazers out of my .375 AM and it does nothing to my 1/2 bear target at 300 yards. My lapua improved doesn't faze it at 100 yards.
Not sure if it's different grades of AR I would h e to assume so.
I must say my friend works for one of the largest target manufacturer in the US so I usually get some good stuff. Perk of letting him hunt on my place.

 

[snox801]

Sorry for a 6.5 you could do 1/4" and be fine. It seems to h e more to do with speed than anything. I've been told not to exceed 2900fps on impact. I have seen putting on one target I was shooting fmj .223 at from about 30 yards. But never fazed it from 100 yards out. Have well over 1000 rounds of same ammo at 100 yards and no pitting till I was 30 yards.

 

[nmbarta]

Man what bullet in the cheytac? I'm shooting 400 gr lazers out of my .375 AM and it does nothing to my 1/2 bear target at 300 yards. My lapua improved doesn't faze it at 100 yards.
Not sure if it's different grades of AR I would h e to assume so.
I must say my friend works for one of the largest target manufacturer in the US so I usually get some good stuff. Perk of letting him hunt on my place.

That's awesome! Mine will be an AM next year, my barrel is just about done.
350 rmb's
My bad, that one is T1. Not near as durable for targets as ar500, but does work much better than A36.

 

[silverhair]

You can get raw steel cut to size from Speedy Metals ( http://www.speedymetals.com/default.aspx ). A little cutting oil, a couple of drill bits, a battery operated drill and a little paint and you've got your blanks. Bend some rebar and you're in business.

 

[Hespco]

Thanks for all the input....Helpful. All the basketball size & smaller rocks out on my hill side have been reduced to baseball size. Steel plate is I believe the way to go.

 

[Mach 1]

I use either ar550 or ar500 targets either 3/8 or 1/2. For
9mm and 22 pistol targets I use 1/4 ar400 targets. Can't beat ar550/500 for longevity

 

[Swiftkill]

The Caldwell Magnum Gongs are AR550 and they are cheap. You can buy just the replacement steel if you don't want their stand. I can shoot 300 win mags at 100 yards and it does nothing. The most damaging bullets I have shot on steel are Varmint bullets at 4000 fps. AR550 holds up amazingly compared to 500. There is a BIG difference. Very few places can I find 550. The Caldwell is a steel. (no pun intended).

 

[ntsqd]

Expect targets to go up in price. I was just reading a trade article about the whole HSLA metals segment starting to see increased demand. They're expecting it to nearly double in the next 7 years and I doubt that production capability will be able to keep up in the short term.

 

[bri4676]

I shoot a 6.5X284 Norma and have an A/R 500 12"X12", 5/8" thick steel plate. Usually shoot from 650 - 800 yds and it doesn't dent at all... bought it off eBay for around $30-40.
I have also shot it with 9 mm/45 cal/300 win mag etc.... good little ring-a-dinger!

 

[Hespco]

Never considered E-bay , but thanks for the idea.

 

[mac426]

Check out https://shootingtargets7.com
I always had good luck with their stuff. They have a page on target selection as well.