Target Steel

CliffM · #1 03-03-2012, 08:01 PM

Do you really need steel as hard as AR500 for targets?
Here are some pics of a piece of 1/4" AR400 that Bigngreen and I abused today.

These were made with 140 nosler cc bullets from 6.5 Sherman at 300yds.

Bigngreen at 812yds with 270wsm and 165 Matrix.

The pic doesn't show how deep the craters are from the 270 very well. The 6.5 hits were quite a bit shallower. Alot of difference between the two bullets.
I didn't get a pic of the other side with a hit from the 270 at 1108 yds. It still makes a pretty good dent.

Cliff

Rimfire · #2 03-03-2012, 08:31 PM

Are you sure that's 400, mine held up better than that. Then again I guess mine could have been AR500.

CliffM · #3 03-03-2012, 08:57 PM

As far as I know it is, we use it for lining truck boxes. I had expected some damage up close, but not holes punched through. I saw some 3/8 in the pile that I want to try and see how much difference thicker steel makes.

liltank · #4 03-03-2012, 08:58 PM

We have a piece of 5/8" AR400 we hit with a 300SMK at 90yds. It put a we little dent in it.

winmag · #5 03-03-2012, 09:23 PM

Promise not to laugh, but I wanted a LR steel Target so I could see splash marks, & here a thwack when I connected. As it turns out, I got a bunch of 3/4" steel (just the regular stuff) for free.
I shot it at 300 with everything from 223 ball ammo to 270WSM, 338 win & 300 Wby. Yep it SUCKED! Pock marks 3/16 deep!
But at 500+ on out, it looks like a BB gun hit it, & splashes beautifully when painted white. Same cartriges with everything from ball, to cup & core to Accubonds, & its barely dinged!
Is say thickness makes a HUGE difference.
If you have access to Higher grade steel in thicker pieces GET IT! I still shoot mine often. Only down side is it chips paint on the off side a little. But hey, its cheapo soft steel that was free! I love it for 500+yds.

Did I mention 2 pieces is squatting my Jeep suspension? Who needs sand bags Ha!

Id be happy to email pics of both to someone if they wanna post em.
I'm kicking & screaming into the 21st century, & just plain gave up trying. It worked a couple times from Photobucket the old way, & when I was trying it from a computer, & my wife helped. Now I can't do anything, cause I'm using my phone. But I can type this & send email, & make a call. I'm technologically retarded. Sorry.

Nice shootin by the way boys.

ATH · #6 03-04-2012, 12:52 PM

I have a couple discs that were advertised as AR400. Granted they are smaller/lighter and swing more to dissipate energy, but if I keep the range to at least 200yds I can smack them with 200gr SMKs at 2950fps MV from a 300wm and the dents are pretty small and they would last a long while. 100yds is too close and the dents get abusive, but a Garand at 100yds is fine on them.

1/4" is pretty thin though. Mine are either 3/8 or 1/2".

Korhil78 · #7 03-04-2012, 05:55 PM

I have 3 ar500 discs that are 3/8" thick and I have shot them with a 25-06 and a 260 at 300 and beyond. It doesnt do a thing to it, not even a small dent. Once I get my 338 LM built, I will see what that does to it but I doubt it will do anything. I like the AR500 steel because it will last you forever. Just repaint and shoot.