Shooting Steel... dangerous?

[jeepasaurusrex]

As you can see from the pictures above, the softer steel actually contains the bullet while the harder steel deflects the bullet. The bullet will ricochet off the harder steel easier.

[CementFinisher]

500 Brinell or hrc is what is really needed. The steel is not catching the bullets, those big divots in the pics you've shown is what causes ricochets to come back toward the shooter. With the 500 hardness rating you will not get divoting so the plate can do its job of deflecting the bullets to a known location. I.E. the angle of the plate directing the bullets downward. These plates will last for years also.

[CAMPMEAT]

I've noticed that the shooting shows when showing their weapons, shooting steel, the steel is slanted downwards to avoid ricochet.

[jeepasaurusrex]

With the softer steel, the kinetic energy is dissipated and the bullet fragments travel only a very short distance. A lead core bullet is going to disintegrate upon impact anyways so there would be no mass left to ricochet.

The last gong I made with AR-400 hangs on chains from a 1/2" diameter steel rod hoop. As the plate hangs, it will deflect what is left of the bullet downward.

[CementFinisher]

With the softer steel, the kinetic energy is dissipated and the bullet fragments travel only a very short distance. A lead core bullet is going to disintegrate upon impact anyways so there would be no mass left to ricochet.

The last gong I made with AR-400 hangs on chains from a 1/2" diameter steel rod hoop. As the plate hangs, it will deflect what is left of the bullet downward.

Jeep Yes the ar400 is hard enough it often has a hardness of brinell 380-425. So its a hardened steel.  I'm just trying to show that a guy should not just grab a piece of steel off a job site like something for a column or gusseting, soft steel is bad for shooting. Once it is dimpled it is dangerous.

[jeepasaurusrex]

That's why anything I make out of A36, 572 etc is one time use. The targets I make out of T-1 or AR-400 hardly show any signs of use after hitting them multiple times.

[demontang]

Ive used a piece of 5/8" ar400 and it stopped my 338 win at 100yds but had a huge hole 9/10 of the way throw it. I moved it out to 300yds and it didnt do to much to it. Ive since found some thats 1.25" thick and its my long range gong now O I leave it out there hidden so I dont have to pack it lol.

[yorketransport]

I've shot a lot of steel with a bunch of different calibers. As long as the plate can swing, I've never had a problem. The large calibers (338 and up) are the best. You'll hear that gong ring like it's right next to you. I have a 12" T-1 gong hanging down 12" that my 375 Ruger will flip over the stand if you get a good hit.

Andrew

[jeepasaurusrex]

I am the shop foreman at a heavy equipment attachment company. We have tons of scrap laying around to build targets out of. I can make them pretty easy. I tore my left rotator cuff on Tuesday, so I am down to one arm for while but I could whip up a couple of prototypes if someone is interested.

[demontang]

I would love to get some another gong but unless I could meet when I go over at the end of the month, I could get another piece around here for the price of gas .
Hope you heal fast thats not a fun injury been there.

[jeepasaurusrex]

Just got back from the DR. He seems to think its the AC joint and bicep attachment. Scheduling an MRI now..

[FC]

Just got back from the DR. He seems to think its the AC joint and bicep attachment. Scheduling an MRI now..

Ugh, that sucks!

[demontang]

That sucks. I still have major problems with my shoulders it's not any fun at all.

[jeepasaurusrex]

The boss and our risk management company are jerking me around now, saying they want to try physical therapy etc before allowing an MRI. Humm... If something is torn, PT etc is NOT going to fix a tear. 

[FC]

The boss and our risk management company are jerking me around now, saying they want to try physical therapy etc before allowing an MRI. Humm... If something is torn, PT etc is NOT going to fix a tear. 

Is your company insured by L&I?