Mild steel 1/2" 500+yards?

[demolitionman]

Does anyone know if mild plate steel used as a target, 1/2" thick will hold up to personal use of 6.5mm and .308 beyond 500 yards? I've got an area I can run targets out to 1200yards and wasn't sure if I could get by with mild steel. These will be shot about every other month by myself and one or two close friends. I've got some Ar bucket cutting edge for inside 500 yards. Thank you. Also these targets will be left standing and may be subject to theft hence the reason on not wanting to spend alot on the initial setup. If theft isn't a problem after the first year I'll upgrade everything to ar500 FROM jc steel or the like.

 

[HoustonB77]

We shoot 1/2 inch mild steel at 1000 all the time. So far it has been holding up well with 6.5s and 308s. Everything inside a grand we use AR500

 

[Wrong hander .243]

At 500 yards it will start to go threw it fast . 1000 it will beat it up. I have some ar400 and at 400 yards it beats it up 200 goes threw with In 50 rounds

 

[NewsShooter]

Yep, I've got some one inch that I shot at 400 and it dimpled badly with a 6.5 CM and ELD's

 

[JC Steel]

Hit us up for some quality ar500 plates.
You can get them thinner, and thus they will move better and ring louder. Check out our slotted hook targets. Loudest targets in the industry!

 

[Bandaid]

1000yds with non magnum short action calibers seems to be no problem for 1/2" mild steel.

We shot it with a 7mm STW at 1000 and it made a decent crater then we shot it with a .50 BMG at 1000 and it made a rather large crater but still did not go through.

That is my experience. I wont use it on anything inside 1000 yds.

 

[DrainTheSwamp]

I’ve had mild at 500, 6.5 left some decent craters. Once I noticed it I stopped using it. I doubt you’d ever have anything coming back your way but I lean on the cautious end of that stuff. Something cheap would be to go to a farmer and ask him if he has any tillage disk blades from a disk he rebuilt. If you’re worried bout some dick smacker stealing it that’s what I would use. And they ring like a mofo

 

[Sweetyzfd]

I have a 5/8” mild steel plate and at 650yd 308 does some serious damage to it. At 1k, barely makes a dent

 

[Rmas308]

You could use it, may not stand up to hard use, but if it doesn't grow legs and walk off like you said just upgrade after you beat it up or shoot holes through it... whatever comes first

 

[101stinfantry]

I've a got 3/4" one that I use at 600, it'll last a good while. 178gr. A-max just splatter on it, 6.5 CM will leave a bit of a dimple, and M855 will leave the steel penetrator stuck in it. Wouldn't want to use it any closer than that. Mine is a full size B27 type target, if the fuckers can carry it off they can have it!

 

[goinghunting]

I shoot some 1/2" mild steel with 6.5 at 523yds and 814, not much damage at 814 but some dimpling at 523. But it was free so it works. I have AR500 for closer stuff and some long stuff too. Like JC steel said little thinner makes it ring louder.

 

[Wildfire1550]

It will dimple fast

 

[Deleted member 113831]

I’ve had mild at 500, 6.5 left some decent craters. Once I noticed it I stopped using it. I doubt you’d ever have anything coming back your way but I lean on the cautious end of that stuff. Something cheap would be to go to a farmer and ask him if he has any tillage disk blades from a disk he rebuilt. If you’re worried bout some dick smacker stealing it that’s what I would use. And they ring like a mofo

Plow disks are indeed some type of hardened steel. I have seen 50 BMG and 408 Cheytac, 300 Win and 6.5 Creed bounce off of them at 600 yds and didn't even leave a dent.

 

[Mt_Hunt]

I have ran the gamut of mild steel from 400 to 1000. I have slowly started getting AR400 or AR500 plates since my shooting has gone up once i started getting targets set up. 600-800 3/8s or 1/2" works well and can take a 6.5x284 pretty well will leave some craters but never went through. I don't have a 308 but past 600 it should handle it ok it will start to get a bend in it but just turn it around and shoot the bend out.. Disk blades will work and i have used them thats what my 985 gong is.. Have to be carful some are harder than others. I had a disk blade to 700 the 6.5x284 was like a hot knife through butter just fractured and blew chunks out, thought I was missing it till I went up and I hit it really good and they just went straight through. If you have a friend with a plasma cutter you can usually find remnant pieces from a metal shop or AR400 or 500 and cut whatever size you want. I would go with 3/8s rings better and past 800 1/4 works great good movement and ring.