My New Targets :) ...(or should I be smiling?)

You can do the same with a chipping hammer used for welding by taking the pointed end and slamming it against a plate. It will dimple the steel. So yes, it's normal.

"Plain ol .223" or did it have a steel penetrator? We use a lot of AR500 steel on our range and dimpling hasn't been an issue but we also ask people avoid the rounds loaded with a penetrator on it.

My own AR-500 steel plates came with directions to maintain the velocity at 3,200 FPS or less at impact. The directions also say to use only soft point ammo, no penetrators, no FMJs, and no hollow points. I don't worry about it too much, because I have my targets set at 300 yards.

Geno

I wouldn't have thought lead and jacket .223 would dimple that badly without a penetrator, I don't know what to tell you. The AR 500 steel my club bought from Bobcat Steel isn't showing any signs of dimpling like that despite hundreds of hits including 22-250 up to 8mm.

any chance of cleaning the paint off the hit so the damage to the steel can be seen more clearly?

Mwsenoj:

I say that because you can put a dimple in steel fairly easily without 2800-3000fps velocity. You can put dimples in steel with a chipping hammer.

XM193 will tear up steel plates at 100 yds.

M

I wonder how these will handle .30-06 loads....Let us know how they really hold up under .223 loads. If .223 dimples the steel, the 06 should really hammer it, at least in theory.

Thanks mwsenoj.

Feel free to use in your sig line too.

looking at the tearing I'd wonder if that was AR500.

If you put holes in them, buy new ones.

Where did you get the target hangers for these?

The "cratering" is caused by the heat generated upon impact. The higher the velocity the more cratering you will see.Had a .17 rem that would put a crater darn near thru 1/2" T1 steel at a hundred yards. A 7BR XP100 with 110 gr bullets would put serious craters in 3/8" T1 steel at 50 yards. A 308 or 06 wouldn't do near that kinda damage. Frank

Couldn't you go to a metal shop and get some square scrap 3/8" or 1/2" steel for a lot cheaper?

I was surprised to see any kind of dimples on the steel at all.The pics dont do the dimples justice, but still, the dimple is probably as deep as a thick cardstock paper if I had to make a guess. Is this normal?

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Yes, that is normal. Shooting a rifle at steel, even AR500 at 100 yards or less will be really hard on it. If you want to reduce the amount of damage to the steel, put the plates at 150 yards or more.

If you shoot them enough, even at longer ranges, those plates will eventually wear out and will need to be replaced, but not until they've been hit several thousand times. Keep an eye on the steel, and when it starts to look really cratered and beat up, or if it starts to make a concave bowl-shape, replace it.

I wonder how these will handle .30-06 loads....Let us know how they really hold up under .223 loads. If .223 dimples the steel, the 06 should really hammer it, at least in theory.

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The AR500 targets we use at our rifle matches have held up to .223 and 30 caliber rifles. I think we've had one or two guys shoot the match with Garands, and the targets didn't seem to mind.

They will swing a lot more when hit with a .30 bullet though!

Couldn't you go to a metal shop and get some square scrap 3/8" or 1/2" steel for a lot cheaper?

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AR500 is basically armor plate. It's more expensive, but will outlast targets built out of softer metals by a long shot.

It has been my personal experience that 5.56 M855 will not pass through 1/2" mild plate at 130 yards. You can hear it just fine when you connect. 7.62x51mm FMJ is another story, it will sail right on through but still make a distinctive sound upon impact.

I was hoping to make some steal targets someday soon to shoot at, on my property. 100 yards max. with an AR15 and 50 yards or less with pistols. Mild steal won't work ah?:

cemjr said:

I was hoping to make some steal targets someday soon to shoot at, on my property. 100 yards max. with an AR15 and 50 yards or less with pistols. Mild steal won't work ah?:

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I just welded two 1/2" plates together and so far so good. Now, with that said I wouldn't shoot it at less than 100 yards as the dimples add to the possibility of ricochet.

This is 1/2" mild plate w/7.62x51 M80 Ball

Wow...So much for ringing steel on a budget...Looks like the .308 didn't even know the steel was there. And if that happens with a short .308, a stiff powder charge and a suitably grained bullet in a .30-06 will cruise right on through it and whatever is behind it. Makes you respect the power even further....Sheesh!