Metal Targets.

T

TheGoldenState

New member
Basically what i want is a 18-24 inch metal target gong. I want to be able to hear it when i hit it. I have a platform that i want to hang it from (so it'd be about 4 feet off the ground). I do know you have to be careful tho as certain metals can dent rather easily which very bad (correct?). Not sure how thick it should be either?

As you can tell ive never ventured here before :o, so any knowledge and insight would be great. Im going to google it, but where is the best place to get these?

thanks.
 
Softer metal targets get cratered quicker, and tend to send more bullet fragments back toward the line, rather than at 90 degrees.

At 100 yards plus pistol ammo is probably fine on softer steel, but always wear eye protection. I can't tell you how many times I've been hit.

Google "Pepper Poppers" some time- they're a blast.
 
Cratered targets are dangerous!! Soft steel craters with lots of stuff. Trooper buddy took a richocet(sp?) to the thight, darned near got his femoral artery. Sent him to surgery. Handgun round on a shot-up steel plate at relatively close range.

It's expensive, but get AR-500 steel, at least 3/8" thick. Settle for a smaller target rather than cheaper steel!! Shop around. Prices vary.

The experts will be along shortly.

Stay safe.
Bob
 
Thanks for reinforcing what i was already thinking. I had heard that cratered targets were BAD.

Hopefully someone can provide me with a site where they purchased theirs.

Do i need to go smaller to get the thicker?
 
I get my target from http://arntzentargets.com/ they are good targets that last and are affordable. All the ones I bought shipped fast and have held up ive shot them with everything from 4/10 slugs to 7.62x54. They also have a page on their sight that explains the different types of metal and what you should buy for what cartridges your using.
 
There is NO WAY you need 3/8" AR500 plate for pistol shooting. 1/4" mild steel works for a long time for everything but the hotter .357 loads. If money is no object and you don't mind the extra weight, go for it... but it's way overkill.

I have a torso sized 1/4" mild steel target that we've been shooting for 7 or 8 years now. It sometimes starts to get concave in shape, so we flip it arounds and shoot the other side of it.

For what you're talking about, any piece of scrap steel that's 3/8" thick will last you a lifetime.
 
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I had heard that cratered targets were BAD.
Click to expand...

Like Michael Jackson BAD... hee heeeee!!

hudson107.jpg
 
Yikes, hopefully you were far away lol

Looks like ill be needing AR400 for anything up to magnums and rifles in pistol calibers. Im looking at the 28inch Diameter circle @ 125$. Im going to do some more looking, this is just from JC's site. Not sure what prices are good, bad, and fair in the world of high grade steel targets.
 
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For handguns I have had good luck with 1/4" stainless steel (type 304). I suspend mine with a strip of rubber conveyor belt. The stainless is hard enough to "ring" when hit. Holds up well to 44 Mag @ 50 yds.
Check with metal fab shops, especially those who work for the food processing or pressure vessel industry. They probably have pieces of drop (scrap) you can pick up cheap.
 
Golden state when I was shopping around for targets thats the lowest I could find so their might be some cheaper now. Also I tried looking for scrap around where I live and everybody was trying to make a buck so it was still cheaper to order from arntzen. I havent really looked anywhere else because everything went so smooth with them and I am really satisfied with what I got.
 
Hey Y'all ......

Just a thought........

I'm thinking your targets would take less of a beating, and you'd reduce the chance of it ricocheting back at YOU if you'd just hang it in such a way as to cause the bullets to ricochet downwards- just attach a third wire to the bottom and raise it such that the top edge is closer to you than the bottom by several inches. Bullets will tend to follow the path of least resistance, and be deflected into the ground. It'd still go "Ding!", and you wouldn't have to worry about bullet fragments splashing back at you.

Then, if you want, you can start your own miniature lead mining operation every so often.....
 
JC,
thanks again, glad to hear everything went smoothe. Im always weary buying online.

G. Wilks,

THe link has some very cool targets. It says "up to .44 mag, NO rimfire" It doesnt say the type of steel tho? Also, if you can use a .44 mag why cant you use a .22 rimfire???

thanks again
 
I'm thinking your targets would take less of a beating, and you'd reduce the chance of it ricocheting back at YOU if you'd just hang it in such a way as to cause the bullets to ricochet downwards- just attach a third wire to the bottom and raise it such that the top edge is closer to you than the bottom by several inches. Bullets will tend to follow the path of least resistance, and be deflected into the ground. It'd still go "Ding!", and you wouldn't have to worry about bullet fragments splashing back at you.
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JB,

I plan on hanging the target from a target frame that i already have. Theoretically the target would sway in the direction your speaking of, but not placed in that position prior to being shot. Any downside with free hanging steel targets?
 
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