12 gauge steel targets

[film495]

I don't see a lot of info easily found on setting up to shoot 12 gauge lead slugs at steel targets. Is this not common, or is 100 yards distance not that entertaining? I think reading some charts on velocity and nrg, the target if AR500 1/2" will take a slug at 50 yards, just not sure I'd want to be in the area.

Anyone shoot slugs at steel? How do you set it up? Distance etc?

 

[forindooruseonly]

I shoot 12 gauge slugs at a 5/8 AR500 gong hung on chains. Usually 100 yards out, but sometimes as close as 50 or 60. I won't go any closer than that with a slug. It's a large caliber, slow velocity proposition, so it's not super hard on the steel, no divots or craters, but it sure moves the gong around.

I have a lot of steel targets. Things that hit really hard, or I feel are more of a risk bouncing back at me, I'll only shoot on my targets hung on chains or swingers because it seems the most effective way to absorb the impact and direct the remains in a direction away from the shooter. Any steel that is hard mounted or not swinging freely greatly increases the chance of having something come back at you.

 

[1KPerDay]

Shot them a lot in 3-gun. Typically at least 40 yards out. They make a satisfying clang when they hit. they shoot pretty high in my gun. I aim at the beltbuckle (bead sight).

 

[illinoisburt]

Speed and projectile composition are what matters with steel targets. Shotgun slugs are universally soft and relatively slow as far as AR500 targets are concerned. I do agree you want targets which can swing and/or are angled down to prevent splatter and ricochets. You can whack the plates to make them ring and dance with slugs but otherwise they are in no danger from your scattergun.

 

[jmorris]

Have shot lots of full size poppers at 3 gun matches with them. Not sure if any were ever past 100 yds.

Let a kid shoot a few into my 3/8” AR500 plates a couple weeks ago because he wanted to shoot a slug. They are hell on paint but the plate remains smooth unlike regular FMJ from a centerfire rifle at close distances.

 

[1KPerDay]

Shotgun slugs are universally soft

I’m sure you meant foster type rifled slugs but this statement should be qualified. Not sure I’d want to shoot hardened brenneke slugs at some steel targets.

 

[illinoisburt]

I’m sure you meant foster type rifled slugs but this statement should be qualified. Not sure I’d want to shoot hardened brenneke slugs at some steel targets.

I mean all shotgun slugs. I think the old Dixie hard cast might have been upwards of 30 brinnell. The Black Magics are probably mid 20s. That's pretty solid for lead but way softer than any of the monometal and jacketed fmj rifle and pistol bullets. At a speed under 2000 fps those slugs won't ever pierce an AR500 plate. Worse case they splatter off the paint and have a good amount of spall thrown around and back from the plate. I doubt you could dimple a plate with slugs even at close range (please don't try as we don't need someone hurt from splatter).

 

[1KPerDay]

I mean all shotgun slugs. I think the old Dixie hard cast might have been upwards of 30 brinnell. The Black Magics are probably mid 20s. That's pretty solid for lead but way softer than any of the monometal and jacketed fmj rifle and pistol bullets. At a speed under 2000 fps those slugs won't ever pierce an AR500 plate. Worse case they splatter off the paint and have a good amount of spall thrown around and back from the plate. I doubt you could dimple a plate with slugs even at close range (please don't try as we don't need someone hurt from splatter).

I wonder. It would be fun to shoot a 3.5” mag brenneke at a 3/8” plate and see what happened.