crude steel target

[bionic knees]

here is a crude 1/2 inch plate steel target I stirred up this afternoon. wondering what you think will completely penetrate this target, nothing special as far as I know. I am guessing that 90% of handguns will splat and bounce off. I also think that i t will take a fairly stout centerfire rifle cartridge to get through, what do you guys think?

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[Lennie]

For safety sake, make sure you bullets do not crater the target. Armor plate of the right thickness will not crater.

Bullet ricocheting back towards the shooter, when shooting plates, is most often caused by cratered targets.

 

[Knobgoblin]

Bullet composition and velocity would matter most.
I'd bet 30-06 could get through. Some .308 might.

No common handgun loadings would have a chance.

@The Heretic , what chance would 5.7 have??

 

[The Heretic]

Bullet composition and velocity would matter most.
I'd bet 30-06 could get through. Some .308 might.

No common handgun loadings would have a chance.

@The Heretic , what chance would 5.7 have??

.

 

[Member 34319]

17hmr will crater soft steel.

1/2" thick soft steel will be fine for most pistol rounds.

 

[Johnkendall]

I wouldn't try putting any full-sized cartridges like 30-06 or 8mm through it. As long as the steel isn't cratering from 5.56 or pistol rounds you should be gtg.

 

[Member 34319]

I will add that 1/2" hardened steel AR500 starts to bend after 50,000 plus rounds of various everything. I imagine soft steel would too.

 

[kmk1012]

OP, do you have any idea as to the composition of the material it made out of? If not I'd surely start small and work up, don't want to return any Bullets towards the shooter.

 

[deadeye]

here is a crude 1/2 inch plate steel target I stirred up this afternoon. wondering what you think will completely penetrate this target, nothing special as far as I know. I am guessing that 90% of handguns will splat and bounce off. I also think that iView attachment 1127385t will take a fairly stout centerfire rifle cartridge to get through, what do you guys think?

You may want to put the chain on the back and slightly bend that first link outward, may help get the angle of a dangle.

 

[bionic knees]

OP, do you have any idea as to the composition of the material it made out of? If not I'd surely start small and work up, don't want to return any Bullets towards the shooter.

nope, no idea. we have had a water feature bolted to it for the last 20 years or so. the water feature changed and the plate has been leaning against a tree for at least 5 years

 

[bionic knees]

You may want to put the chain on the back and slightly bend that first link outward, may help get the angle of a dangle.

was thinking about that, put a slight slant to it. not sure yet if it will be hung or bolted to a stump.

 

[Johnkendall]

was thinking about that, put a slight slant to it. not sure yet if it will be hung or bolted to a stump.

hang it for better impact absorption/longevity of the target.

 

[Knobgoblin]

 

[bionic knees]

going to give it a workout on Friday, several.22's, long guns, and handguns. no danger of penetrating. several 9mm's, again no danger of penetrating, .38 special, .327 federal, .357 magnum. I think that is it but one of the guys may have something bigger. going to be fun whatever happens.

 

[oremike]

You will want to angle it for sure. I made a heavy plate steel target once and hung it from a chain. When I shot it with a 9mm the bullet didn't have enough energy to move the plate and the bullet whizzed back over my head. I only shot it that one time and am glad to have survived.

 

[L84Cabo]

You'll probably be fine.

Dibs on your guns though in case anything goes wrong.

 

[Lennie]

From experience, a heavy solid copper bullet at 2300 plus FPS will punch a hole right through 1/2" AR500. Most every manufacture of AR500 targets advises against shooting any type of steel target with solid copper bullets. And the same goes for steel core bullets.

 

[kmk1012]

nope, no idea. we have had a water feature bolted to it for the last 20 years or so. the water feature changed and the plate has been leaning against a tree for at least 5 years

Wish you were closer, we could hang it in my backyard range and try it out. We've got several options for hanging it and testing different rounds. Really should be safe with your plan and watching out for signs of potential ricochets.

 

[Tilos]

here is a crude 1/2 inch plate steel target I stirred up this afternoon. wondering what you think will completely penetrate this target, nothing special as far as I know. I am guessing that 90% of handguns will splat and bounce off. I also think that iView attachment 1127385t will take a fairly stout centerfire rifle cartridge to get through, what do you guys think?

Nice
I would stop shooting it with anything that causes a crater.
You might consider longer bolt for the chain as it will angle the target down and bullets will deflect down into the ground.
Something like this pic:

 

[dselwood]

Use with caution, had some soft steel at my fathers old home range and shooting from 100yds you could watch jackets fly back about 20 or so yards