How thick?

[Sniper260]

Talking about gongs here you twisted minded people... haha

How thick of metal gongs or targets are yall using? Im gonna be going up to a .338 lapua shooting 300 gr berger hybrids... I want do get around a 3ftX3ft square where I can paint it to see my bullet impacts and hear the ring... ill be dropping it off with the truck.. no packing it anywhere haha. Im just not sure how thick I need where the bullets wont go through it. Half inch? 3/4 inch. 1 inch?? What yall reccommend?

 

[Changed]

At least 1/2 for 338. 3/8's will do for 260-308.

 

[shooter.dm]

Second the half in

 

[Sugarbug]

well this was a let-down... thought we were going to be bragging here.

 

[gixxer822]

I half inch with 338 and 50 bmg. Closest has been 300 yards and no pitting at all.

 

[Dacam]

1/2", AR500 steel, LV Steel targets.

 

[MikeeBooshay]

At 500 yards, AR500 will start to cup with repeated 50BMG hits, in 3/8 plate. Two other issues to consider:

1. Speed of the impact - lose more plates to 556 inside 300 than anything, I think you'll be OK with 338, since you'll be outside the "speed limit" ranges.

2. Size of plate - shooting 3/4" plates at 500, with the 50, they wrap around over and over, fixed that by hanging on a pipe and just letting it spin over. Need really a larger plate, but already a POS hauling up there. For sighting in, hauled a 55 gallon drum, painted a big circle on it, stick paper targets rather than patch holes. At longer ranges, 1/2 inch is OK, especially in larger (18x24 plus) sizes, you should be fine.

We have 20" and larger gongs hung at 1000 and beyond, all 1/2 and 3/8, no holes yet, not bending yet. More 300 WM on these than anything, but some 50 also. All AR500.

 

[lash]

If you are not using AR500, consider using at least 1/2". We were shooting at a 3/8" steel target at 300 yds using .338 and punched holes clear through it. .308 was cratering about 3/16" deep. This was a local range and I'm not sure what steel they used, but as soon as we saw the damage, we stopped using that target.

 

[Sniper260]

Where is a good place to buy one of these AR500 targets? Which thickness overall is best for 556 up to 338 lapua? Half inch??? My plan was to use this from 100 yards out to as far as I ever shoot... do they make these ar500 targets thicker?? I wont be carrying it anywhere I have a truck for that haha

 

[Slofr8]

Where is a good place to buy one of these AR500 targets? Which thickness overall is best for 556 up to 338 lapua? Half inch??? My plan was to use this from 100 yards out to as far as I ever shoot... do they make these ar500 targets thicker?? I wont be carrying it anywhere I have a truck for that haha

I have 4 from Arntzen targets. All 3/8 500. Check out their web sight for info.

Arntzen Targets

 

[TRTAC]

Depends what kind of steel you will be using and how far you will be shooting... a 3x3 piece of half inch is gonna be a sob to work with. why so big?

 

[MikeeBooshay]

Depends what kind of steel you will be using and how far you will be shooting... a 3x3 piece of half inch is gonna be a sob to work with. why so big?

Agreed - use small 6" pieces inside 500 - bigger is boring. If you are going to hang 3x3, you'll only do it once. Leave it up at 1500 yards - too much hassle dealing with that very often.

If you are worried about holes in it, don't shoot it with 556 up close, even the AR500 can be penetrated by FMJ at 100 yards, be out to 300 min, for safety. Jackets can and do splash back, AT THE SHOOTER!!

You can buy targets already made from a number of great vendors here on the hide. Or buy AR500 from a steel supply house and maek your own. Most will cut to order for a small fee.