recommended steel target size for 100 yard rifle

[gidaeon]

Thinking about getting together some ar500 targets mostly for pistol work but also some rifle at 100-200 yards. I know long term I'd like many sizes for various distances and purposes - but not sure where to start for general purpose handgun and limited carbine\light rifle at 100yd.

My only experience for steel has been carbine, shotgun and handgun class where most work was fairly close using 8.5x11'ish sized steel. But this weekend I used these at 20 yards and around 80ish yards with AR with .22 conversion and had tremendous fun and got the steel bug I think.

 

[Lex Luthier]

I have had excellent luck going to a local metal yard and going through their cut off bin. The last time I got seven pieces about 3" x 4" x 3/8". My buddy welded them up to some swing arms and it was awesome.

I figure about anything out there will get destroyed, so why spend do much money?

 

[Al Thompson]

I'm using 12x12 targets at 100y for positions other than prone and it works fine. The 6x6 targets are about right for more precision at speed or closer in.

 

[packpike]

I use a 9x12" 3/8" AR500 target from shootsteel.com at 100 yards with my LE6920 (RDS or irons, no scope). This has allowed me to get pretty good at quick follow-up shots with no gun rest.

I use a 12" round target (same type) usually at 15 yards for my handguns.

Note that the rifle target does get pitted so I can't use it for handguns, but at this thickness you could probably flip it around as needed and just have 1 target.

 

[taliv]

i have six of the big dog steel "econoline" 45% ipsc. I have them on their T-post hangers which let me angle the targets so i can shoot them much closer than I normally would. I have shot probably 2000 rounds at them since i got the first 2 in early december. I only shoot them with AR15s using M193. So far I've been extremely pleased. There are no divots, dents or new holes. Targets are in excellent shape. They are light enough and hanging loose at an angle that allows them to move a lot and deflect as opposed to a lot of the static and heavier 1/2" steel I shoot with higher powered rifles.

45% ipsc is a good size for me for shooting with a 10" AR and micro t1 aimpoint standing with no support (no high power position). at 80 yards I'm probably 75% hits but the dot covers most of the target.

http://www.bigdogsteel.com/necta.html

 

[Joe I]

I'm a welder by trade, so I LOVE talking about steel.

For pistols, I use standard HR steel, 1/2" thick x 8" diameter for IDPA practice out to 30 yards. (8" is the diameter of the 'down zero' on a standard IDPA target.) I built several of these for a small club I'm a member of, and we haven't damaged them yet although no one is shooting high-powered revolvers at them. Even a .22 will knock them over at 30 yds -- the key is to only use a small (1" x 2") rectangular foot on them.

If I were to design a centerfire rifle target for offhand at 100 yards, it would be 10" max diameter and made of 1/2" AR500. For reference, the black (the 9 and 10 rings) on a 100-yard offhand High Power rifle target is about 6" in diameter, and easily visible at that distance with iron sights -- it appears to be about the same width as the front sight on an AR.

This past weekend we built a pistol plate rack, but I won't go into that since this is "Rifle Country."

 

[Wicked1911]

two good sites to check out: (one someone mentioned earlier)

http://store.redstitchtactical.com/...6bd5603a843d8b62b70cd76ad1560&scsbd=1&sdccr=1

http://www.shootsteel.com/3-8-ar500-steel-targets/

 

[Powerglide]

I love those 7x7 railroad hold-down plates.They are 5/8 thick and are great for long range shooting and, free!Pure steel

 

[68wj]

I love those 7x7 railroad hold-down plates.They are 5/8 thick and are great for long range shooting and, free!Pure steel

I don't like them. They are too soft and even moderate rifles leave nasty divots that are prime for sending bullets back. Of course, the longer the range the less chance of ricochet hitting you, but there is no idea where the bullets are going. AR500 is cheap enough and will last a LONG time for safe steel shooting.

 

[MtnCreek]

.223 fmj's will beat up a target, even at 300yds. Below is a plate that's had a lot of .223 on it; maybe 100rds at ~200yds, with the bulk being at 300yds+.

 

[Cesiumsponge]

I have a couple Big Dog Steel targets including a 6"square 3/4" MIL-A-12560 RHA plate. I wish I picked up a few more because armor plate wears better than AR500 steel. I'm probably going to pick up a scale IPSC later this year through them. I'd never use mild steel targets or anything that craters unless I wanted to take a ricochet to the face.