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Travis Olander 12.14.23
Targets are costly, they usually don’t final until — properly, most of them endure these two issues, no less than. However not metal. Hardened metal targets can, when used correctly, final actually eternally. They’ll take 1000’s of hits from handguns and even magnum-caliber rifle cartridges, shrugging off all of the copper and lead you possibly can sling at them.
A metal rifle goal angled to eradicate ricochet dangers; extra on that later. Courtesy ShootSteel.com
However metal targets include loads of caveats. Utilizing the fallacious metal for a selected caliber can imply you’ll wind up punching holes in your shiny, costly plate. At worst, establishing a metal goal incorrectly will be deadly. Take, for instance, this notorious video of a .50 BMG ricocheting off some metal targets downrange within the desert. The offending shooter’s fortunate he solely misplaced his earmuffs.
What are metal targets made out of?
All metal targets are made out of through-hardened metal alloys, mostly AR500 and AR550, the latter being more durable and extra able to dealing with greater calibers. The “AR” stands for Abrasion Resistant, whereas the five hundred and 550 digits are supposed to denote the estimated Brinell Hardness Numbers (BNH) of every metal. It’s these excessive hardness scores that account for these steels’ capacity to face up to repeated high-velocity impacts from dwell rounds.
Though there are totally different AR-type hardened steels, like AR400, and AR700, it’s AR500 and AR550 that denote the “candy spot” for making dependable, reusable metal targets. Softer steels can’t stand up to the impacts of rounds with out deforming, whereas more durable steels are too brittle, and will crack or fissure when used as goal materials.
What’s the most important caliber you possibly can shoot at metal targets?
It’s typically accepted that .30-caliber magnum rifle rounds (like .300 Win Magazine and .338 Lapua) and .50 BMG characterize the bounds of what’s protected when capturing metal.
Metal goal sizes by caliber
Metal targets come in several thicknesses, that are designed to deal with sure ranges of calibers. Comply with these tips when selecting out metal targets to make sure you’re not capturing at an alloy that’s too skinny — lest you wind up with a ruined goal after a number of magazines.
1/4″ AR500
Quarter-inch AR500 is appropriate for all rimfire calibers, some shotgun rounds, and most centerfire handgun cartridges, excluding magnum hundreds. These embrace: .22, .25, .32, .380, 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP, and for shotguns, .410 shells.
3/8″ AR500
Three-eighths AR500 is appropriate for magnum handgun rounds and all centerfire rifle rounds up and together with .308 Win. That is the thickness you need for all of your typical intermediate rifle rounds, like .223 and 5.56 NATO, .243, and seven.62×39, bigger rounds like .30-06, and bigger shot shells, together with 20- and 16-gauge.
1/2″ AR500
You’ll need half-inch metal for all of the shoulder bruisers, together with these .30-cal magnums we talked about, and 12-gauge shot shells. In fact, half-inch shall be greater than satisfactory — if not overkill — for all of the cartridges reserved for thinner metal, too.
3/4″ AR500
These are reserved for repeated .50 BMG impacts and heavy-game cartridges, like 416 Rigby. If you happen to’re capturing wrist-breaking handguns, just like the Mannequin S&W500, you’ll most likely wish to follow these thick plates, too.
(What about AR550?)
No metal goal is really immortal. After lots of of rounds, the pock marked floor of your goal will start to fatigue the steel inside, and the metal could start to develop cracks and fissures. Utilizing AR550 as a substitute of AR500 metal merely delays this inevitability by offering a more durable strike face that’ll last more.
If you happen to’re capturing solely magnum rifle rounds, 12-gauge slugs, and different heavy hitters — and also you need your metal targets to final so long as potential — then investing in AR550 as a substitute of AR500 is the important thing.
Methods to Safely Shoot Metal Targets
Metal targets are, certainly, doubtlessly harmful if not used correctly. Comply with these steps to make sure you’re not catching shrapnel (or a spherical that winds up returning to its sender).
All the time Angle Fastened Metal Targets Downward
A 15-degree angle is the minimal, right here. Angling the goal downward like it will direct most spalling into the filth under, and any ricochets will merely pile within the floor under, too. If you happen to’re capturing metal at shut vary — inside 50 meters, which is often the case with handgun rounds — then a 45-degree angle is extremely suggest.
Targets held by chains don’t require any angling video games — and, properly, they technically can’t be angled down. They’ll merely dangle vertically, however that’s OK. The power of the influence is absorbed by the goal’s personal motion backward, which reduces the gap that spelling is thrown. Ricochets are additionally considerably much less prone to happen if you’re capturing at hung metal targets.
By no means use metal core, incendiary, or AP rounds on metal
Firing AP rounds at hardened metal goes to dramatically enhance the possibilities of the metal goal shattering and sending harmful shrapnel in all instructions. Metal core ammo may have comparable results, and people cores are extremely prone to ricochet with higher power and distance than a wayward copper jacket. Incendiary rounds make a reasonably dramatic splash when fired at metal, however this creates a serious hearth hazard and is finest averted.
Minimal distance for rifle rounds is 100 yards
Firing at metal targets with rifle rounds at any shorter distance will enhance the dangers of damage from spalling, shrapnel, and ricochets, and the lifetime of the goal shall be dramatically decreased.
Minimal distance for handgun rounds is 10 yards
The identical logic holds true right here, too: Give your self a minimal distance of 10 yards when capturing handgun rounds at metal, and make sure you’re angling your targets downward to forestall close-range accidents.
Want a very good standing silhouette metal goal? Try our overview of the Grizzly Targets 3/8″ Reactive Goal. KRATE Tactical has some cool “Deck of Playing cards” Metal Targets; click on the hyperlink to test ’em out.
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