long range target

[demontang]

Well after my streak of missing coyotes I decided to make a long range target to practice up some more. Its a 1/2" thick plate  that's 15"x15" and its swivels on two 3/4" hidden hinges. The thing weighs a ton and I don't think it will fall over unless I shoot a leg of it. I'm hoping it will stand up to my 338 win at 300yd's+ but I'm manly going to shot at it with my .223 but wanted to shoot my .338 at long ranges too.

[yelp]

NICE 

[Huntbear]

The 1/2 in. plate should stand up to the .338 at those ranges.  I know a 13 in. tree at 250 yds. does not.  Federal 210 gr. Partition loads went clear through the tree.

[gasman]

Nice "Gong", we used to make them from semi drums, and 1 ton rotors.

[Huntbear]

Oh and by the way, it looks extremely well made, may have to talk to my brother and get one welded up for our 400 yd. practicing.

[Jamieb]

That target looks good. I normally just shoot rocks but I like steel for long range, I love hearing the Ding sound of a hit.
I set out some 3/8" plate I had, 300 RUM rounds wont even dent it past 600 yards.

[MIKEXRAY]

Nice target, that does look like fun. Enjoy ! Mike

[demontang]

I know at 200yd's my .338 goes though 1/2" I just hope that the swinging action soaks up some of the energy. The load I'm shooting now is a 200gr nosler with 4200 ftlb's of energy at the muzzle and 1849ftlb's at 500yd's but I plan on getting the 300gr match kings for long range which will have 2588ftlb left at 500yd's

[jeepasaurusrex]

I work in a steel fab shop. I have made a bunch of steel targets in the past out of scrap we have left over. I could build some more if people are interested.

Some I've built.
This pig was cut from 3/4" A36. This was at 200yds. The Barnes Triple shocks sure make a distinctive colored hole. The two shots in the head nearly penetrated the steel. The small marks are from a .22 my 7yr old daughter was shooting. 

This was a swinging target I built. 200yds. 3/4" A36 steel. I tried a hurried offhand shot and hit the leg in the upper left. 

The diamond is also cut from 3/4" A36 steel. 200yds. It is 4" square.


Mickey had a bad day.    This was a piece of 1/2" A36 at 110 yards. The .270 punched through it easily, but made some weird holes. This is the entry side. My wife hit the target in the upper right and spun it 90° leaving it facing us on edge. So, I took a couple of shots at the edge of the target, the results are on the bottom left. 

[demontang]

If that was all from a 270 I might not want to shot mine with the .338 tell 500yd's

[dbllunger]

Nice looking target.  You are going to punch holes right through it.  A 223 will probably go through in the 100 yard range.  If not then dang close.  Normal plate steel is just too soft.  Check with your local rail road.  They have piles of old rail plates of hardened steel.  Also try your county/city public works guys for old plow/grader cutter bars.  DOT wont give you any.  You can also hit up any heavy equipment or excavation company.  Weld a lot of wear pads or what ever you can find over your plate if that is all you can find.  Weld them together and you can shoot it at any range.  If you know someone who buys surplus stuff off Fort Lewis they buys scrap metal at times.  They have old armor off from different vehicles.  3/8 armor will also pretty much stop everything.  It will also help if you set your angle iron  point facing forward it will help the frame last. 

[jeepasaurusrex]

You want to use AR-400 or T-1 plate. Those are the hardest, with 400 having the best bullet stopping power. I can make some out of 400 no problem. 

[demontang]

That would be nice, I dont have a clue what kind of steel the plate is.I found sheet that some one dumped and I picked it up and put what was left to use, I'm willing to bet its just mild steel.

[jeepasaurusrex]

I work Mondays by myself and have full rein of the fab shop, I could whip some up for the Hunting-WA members.

[demontang]

I work at a fab shop too, we just dont deal with much over 16ga, but we have the tools to work 1/2".