Steel "gong" targets

[cheygriz]

Mods- if this is in wrong forum, please move it. I didn't know where else to put it.

My question: What type of steel, and what thickness would I need to make steel "gongs" for targets that will withstand 7.62X51 ball ammo at 100 yards?

And advive will be greatly appreciated. TIA

 

[Rembrandt]

...."withstand"....is the key word here. Our club has some that are three layers 3/4" mild steel stacked and welded together. They've lasted for several years. Thinner mild steel plates (1/2", 3/4", etc) looked like swiss cheese after a while. Depending on how many rounds they are subjected to will determine life expectantcy. We have some target holders made from old "grader & snow plow blades" that have held up well.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Another issue is the gong holder, one range I shoot at uses AR500 steel about 3/4-1" thick hung inside an old tire by a chain. The steel holds up fine to .308; but the welds where the chain is attached fail pretty regularly and the plate falls down.

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

I have a silhouette chicken made of 1" armor plate. Hot-loaded 7mm IHMSA will dent it (slightly) at 50 meters.

I have heard that the plates that hold switch ties together will take a lot of punishment. I have a couple, but I haven't tried them yet.

 

[Travis McGee]

Has anybody tried a manhole cover? Just kidding. That would be wrong (to leave a big hole in the street.)

 

[cheygriz]

Thanks for the responses.

Larry, where do you get the armor plate?

TIA

 

[oldgold]

Have dealt with this company with good results. They have targets made of T-520 armor steel.

http://www.arntzentargets.com/

Hope this helps.

Goldy

 

[duckfoot]

Good hardend carbon tool steel like 1090, 5160, W-1 etc..... Will do a wonderful job as a reactive target, but kinda of pricy.

Try this:

http://huntershooter.acornhosting.com/old/catalog/steel.htm

They make some good gongs

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

Larry, where do you get the armor plate?

Well, I hadn't thought about that. It helps to have a friend who is a millwright at a major steel mill.

Actually, the stuff is EXTREMELY expensive. My friend called my practice chicken a "ten minute chicken" (the boss turned his back for ten minutes).

We have a steel mill and a couple of specialty steel retailers here. If you want, I can make a coupla calls.

 

[timbo]

I couldn't tell you what alloy exactly would help, but I have good references on strength of materials. If anyone wants to put up some numbers on how much stress to withstand, I can pick out the alloy to fit it.

 

[Vermonter]

Any problem with bullets bouncing back if the steel target is at 100 yards or less?

 

[TimRB]

"Any problem with bullets bouncing back if the steel target is at 100 yards or less?"

Absolutely. Always wear eye protection, especially when shooting steel targets.

Tim

 

[cheygriz]

Thank you very much to everyone who responded!!!

I think I know where to go now!