Anyone shoot at steel targets?

[CampingJosh]

With my AR to be completed any day now, I'm looking for something new to shoot at. Has anyone tried the steel targets made of AR500?

The warning says that shooting steel can be dangerous. Ricochet, right? Shouldn't be much of a problem with 55 or 62 grain .223/5.56, I wouldn't think; those tend to break up pretty easily anyway. Only shot steel one other time, during which my BIL learned that 7.62x39 hits a lot harder than his .223 (and then had to weld his target back together). I'm not keen the AK anymore, anyway, so that's no problem.
I do intend to get a .30-06 or .308 sometime in the not-too-distant future (simply for longer range plinking), so I'm hoping this will hold up for these just fine.

Anybody have any experience? I'm just looking for something for "fun time" shooting, not serious target work. Other recommendations are also welcome.

[flyingtiger85]

Theres a guy that makes u-tube gun video's called" hickok 45"that has a hole hillside of steel targets he even shoots them with a Mosen-nagant. Maybe you can get some idea's from him.It's kind of neat to hear the sound of a hit on steel instead of just paper all the time.

[CampingJosh]

I have to stay off Youtube. Our internet is limited to 5GB monthly, so I don't get to watch many of the videos we talk about on here (unless I go somewhere with public wifi).

[AAofLot19]

I use steel targets for everything except pistol shooting. Nothing like the report from shooting steel. I don't shoot any closer than 50 yds. at them though. I make my own and have found a hardnes of 50-52 Rc is the best to keep it from warping. Flipping and shooting both sides helps too. I shoot up to a 30-06 at them and they hold up just fine.

[carver]

Originally Posted by CampingJosh

I have to stay off Youtube. Our internet is limited to 5GB monthly, so I don't get to watch many of the videos we talk about on here (unless I go somewhere with public wifi).

Josh, I use the same kind of internet conection, mine is Verizon, and I am limited to 3G. However, watching movies on youtube is streaming, not down loading. If you download, you will hit 5K real fast, but just streaming, you use none of your alloted 5K.

[carver]

I have bought several steel targets from Academy Sports. They just stick up in the ground, and swing when hit. Ricochets are directed into the ground behind the steel plate, as it swings back. I have steel for everything from .22LR to 30-06.

[todd51]

CJ, I have put up some new steel targets (round disks) this year and they are great fun and like AA says the report of hitting the steel adds a lot to the fun. The new plates I got are from Arntzen Targets

http://www.arntzentargets.com/index.htm

They are the AR500 steel and so far I haven't marked them. I used to use just mild steel picked up where ever and center fire rifle would just blast through and handgun rounds would cause it to bend.

Visit Arntzen's web sight and they explain what to expect with different ammo at different ranges.

I have hung all the new plates on curved plant hangers so they are free to move and swing. I think the angle of the steel and their freedom to move is the key to safety. I shoot handguns at steel as close as 50 feet but they are hanging/swinging steel plates. The lead handgun bullets just flatten out and fall to the ground.

So far no problems.

[carver]

These are two that I have from Academy Sports. They have a paper target stuck to them, and will have to be replaced from time to time. The first one will handle anything up to 30.06, and the second one is for .22LR. The largest round I have fired into the larger plate is 170gr .308. No damage to the plate, but it did blow the paper target off after only 3 hits. $37 for the large plate, and $10 for the .22LR.

[AAofLot19]

I shoot handguns at steel as close as 50 feet but they are hanging/swinging steel plates. The lead handgun bullets just flatten out and fall to the ground.

Nice setup Todd. I'm going to have to try shooting handguns at them. It just always made me a bit nervous.

[todd51]

This fellow "Hickok45" was my inspiration. If you can watch some of this videos you will see steel shooting as close as a few yards out to over 200 yards. On some of his videos he talks about the safety of shooting steel and the precautions to take. I only wish I could shoot like that.

http://www.youtube.com/user/hickok45#p/u/36/JPzIisdtS8o

[todd51]

This what is left of a Rainier 200 grain RN fired at an 8" steel hanging plate at 50 feet. It was laying on the ground below the plate. The plates at 50' are AR500 steel 3/8" thick. Most lead bullets fired at the close steel turn into dime or nickle sized disks laying on the ground, smaller disks for .22lr.

A trespasser came onto the range and fired a 30.06 at these plates from the table 50' away. It did not penetrate the steel but it did crater it badly. I got the word out to I think the zombie that did that and there has been no repeats of that kind of vandalism.

[todd51]

Carver I like those. I bet they are not as heavy as the plates I am using. My plates are getting heavy when I have to tote them out to 50 yards or more, ha.

Would be great if I could just leave the steel on the range when I leave but they would probably walk off never to be seen again.

[AAofLot19]

This fellow "Hickok45" was my inspiration. If you can watch some of this videos you will see steel shooting as close as a few yards out to over 200 yards. On some of his videos he talks about the safety of shooting steel and the precautions to take. I only wish I could shoot like that.

That guy's amazing. Thanks for the info. Just watched the first one but I'm subscribed now so I'll watch all his vids when I get a chance.

[AAofLot19]

A trespasser came onto the range and fired a 30.06 at these plates from the table 50' away. It did not penetrate the steel but it did crater it badly. I got the word out to I think the zombie that did that and there has been no repeats of that kind of vandalism.

Wow! Trespassing on someones personal range. What a DUMB@SS.

[HunterAlpha1]

Originally Posted by todd51

This fellow "Hickok45" was my inspiration. If you can watch some of this videos you will see steel shooting as close as a few yards out to over 200 yards. On some of his videos he talks about the safety of shooting steel and the precautions to take. I only wish I could shoot like that.

http://www.youtube.com/user/hickok45#p/u/36/JPzIisdtS8o

subscribed and bookmarked!

[Gabob]

We use steel swinging plates on our long range. First targets are at 400 yards so back spatter is not a problem. On the longer targets you have time to remove ear muffs and listen for the "Ding". We repaint the targets every time we go downrange so hits are visible thru scope. We have gongs at 500, 550, 600,650,700,800,900 and 956 ( We thought we had 1000 yards until we lasered it). One of our shooters works at a plant that makes log trailers and he can buy the cut off pieces at scrap prices. We cut holes in them and hang by chains. It is 1.1 miles round trip to setup some sillouette targets at the far end. We have Ram, turkey, pig and chicken out there. The turkey and chicken are a real challenge

[AAofLot19]

We have Ram, turkey, pig and chicken out there. The turkey and chicken are a real challenge

Awesome! Do you laser cut the silhouettes yourself?

[Gabob]

Originally Posted by AAofLot19

Awesome! Do you laser cut the silhouettes yourself?

When the AMU (Advanced Marksmanship Unit) at Ft Benning quit shooting sillouettes our local club bought them. When the club disbanded later we divided the targets and several sets were donated to me as I had a private range. I also had the sighting gongs but another member of the old club wanted them so we swapped.

[HunterAlpha1]

wait, WHY did the Army stop shooting at silhouettes?

[Gabob]

Originally Posted by HunterAlpha1

wait, WHY did the Army stop shooting at silhouettes?

Have no idea. That was back in mid eighties

[tim peterson]

We have several steel targets. And they work great I have two heavy circles one inch and one and a half inch . Both eight inch circles we have shot them with everything from a 22 up to a338. We make it simple we weld a old chain link to the top and you can hang them any where. We have shot 3/8 mild steel with a 223 several times with no problem. Just rember keep a safe distance. I have gone to several welding shops and asked to check out there scrap pile and most of them gave me the scrap no charge!! The only time we had trouble with Ricochets was when we shot the plates with a SKS. Have fun.

[Jay]

I bought $150 worth of boiler plate and angle iron and built my own. The plates are angled towards the shooter and I hold classes regularly where the targets are shot at and hit at 3 yards and there have never been any ricochets back at the shooter. 30-30 bullets have not cratered the steel at all.

[carver]

Originally Posted by todd51

Carver I like those. I bet they are not as heavy as the plates I am using. My plates are getting heavy when I have to tote them out to 50 yards or more, ha.

Would be great if I could just leave the steel on the range when I leave but they would probably walk off never to be seen again.

I hear ya! These targets are light weight, and easy to transport. I set them up to shoot, and bring them in when I get thru. No problem with neighbors, just don't want them to rust up. My problem at this time is the ground itself, no rain here in months, and the ground is really hard. I have started using a hammer that I made from a large chunk of seasoned oak to drive them into the ground. Everyone who has come out to my place to shoot loves them.

[todd51]

Jay, those are some great looking targets and it makes them even better when you could build them yourself. Thanks for sharing and including the plans.

I don't shoot any thing but lead handgun bullets at 25 yards or less. So far no problems but we are always on the look out.

I am looking for something in steel to use for close range defensive shooting practice and your targets may just be the answer.

Being retired so long I have lost contact with shops and people that could build stuff so I have to take the hit in the wallet.

[Jay]

Originally Posted by todd51

I am looking for something in steel to use for close range defensive shooting practice and your targets may just be the answer.

Being retired so long I have lost contact with shops and people that could build stuff so I have to take the hit in the wallet.

Thanks for the kind words. If you're interested in a three hour drive, you can come and shoot at 'em and see what you think. I"m about 2.5 hours from Dayton, about 50 miles north of Indianapolis.