AR500 or other "gonog" steel

[CNC Dan]

I've got very few divits on the face of my 8" x .5" when shooting .223, .247, .308 and 30-06.
Usually shooting at 260 yards, but have shot as close as 100 yards.
There are a few small chunks missing from the edge, apparently an edge shot can blow a bit of steel away. Center shots barely have any depth to them at all.
I have a 4" x .5" as well, but it's so lightweight that anything over a .223 swings it so hard that it wraps around the framework (it's hanging on two 6" chains)

I wouldn't angle the targets only slightly when shooting close, the lead sprays out in all directions and a slight angle may send the upwards lead back at you.
Angling them quite a bit would probably not be an issue though, as the spray would probably be away from you then.

That's a good point.

 

[C4Ranch]

I get all mine from the target man.

AR500 Shooting Targets | The Target Man

 

[Chain Bender]

Those are pretty expensive.

 

[dntfxr]

Another consideration with welding the bushhog blades or any heat treated alloy is drawing the temper from the heat. That said perhaps a hard facing rod would do better.

 

[C4Ranch]

Those are pretty expensive.

? The 12" on amazon link is $60, 12" at the target man link is $43... Seems fair to me AR500 is a pain to work with..

 

[C4Ranch]

I like the gongs but have more fun with reactive targets. Got this and a dueling tree..

 

[jwmorris]

I have built a lot of different targets, along the lines of what your looking for I built this one using 3/8" ar 500 and have shot it with rounds up to 300wm.

At rest the red plate is covered from the shooters view by the black one, when hit it rocks back and the red plate pops up, so you can see the hit even if you can't hear it.

The wet are 1/2" EMT and the cross bar is 3/4" bar stock. So it is portable and doesn't need to be set into the ground.

If your not going to be shooting level with the target you would need a way to adjust the "flasher" part to suit the terrain.

 

[jwmorris]

This is another long range target I built that is reactive but more complex to build.

Video of how it works.


Another video in use along with one of my auto reset plate racks.

 

[jwmorris]

I get my steep targets from handgunsports.com already cut.

And another one of my autoreset plate racks. It resets on the last large plate so if you can't hit the small ones you can still play.

 

[JerryK]

AR500 steel targets are only 'safe' if you are shooting at them with something that will not dimple them. If you are getting dimples, then gong targets are not for you for that weapon/ammo. The targets are usually hung so that they lean towards the shooter at the top. When the lead bullet hits the metal surface, it basically disintegrates and sprays down in a fan pattern into the ground. Shooting my 9mm, I will find dime shaped thin pieces laying just below the target once and awhile.... Once you get any deformity to the metal gong surface you can no longer count on the bullet spray going down 100% of the time. Not saying that you can't blow holes thru 1/2 AR500 if you don't want to, but I wouldn't unless I had lots more property for a safe zone and THICK safety glasses/bullet proof clothes. But, it is a free country....