Steel target

Danger Mouse · April 7th, 2008, 07:48 PM

I was wondering. Besides being a carpenter and plumber I am also a welder. I was just out at my shooting range today and saw some left over steel from a job. It is 10 guage which is 1/8" thick. I was going to cut a piece about the size of a human from waist to head and the width from shoulder to shoulder. Then I was going to install a rod horizontally across the bottom letting the ends stick out oh perhaps 2 inches on each side. Then I will take a piece of angle iron about 1 foot long and add this to the bottom pointing vertical. To this on the lower end I will add some weight so that the portion below the pivot rod is slightly heavier than the top portion. This will be cradled in a stand. Now when the steel is hit by a bullet, the target will tip backwards indicating a strike. Then because the counter weight is slightly heavier than the top, it will tip itself right side up by itself. I was thinking though the 10 guage cold rolled steel is a bit thin. I used to have some scrap 3/13" AR steel which is much tougher, but I dont know, I may have scraped it by now. At 7 yards do you think the 1/8 cold rolled will be ok?

SIXTO · April 7th, 2008, 07:53 PM

It will show some good dents, maybe some holes will wear through (with pistols) but I would think it will work fine. Mine are 1/4 and do great, 3/8 would be best knowing what I know now.

ridurall · April 7th, 2008, 08:06 PM

Mine are 3/8 inch and they will shot dents. I've also got 7/8 inch 18 in diameter round targets that I shoot with my 45/70 and hand guns. My .308 craters a dent about 3/4 inch deep. The distance I'm limited to from my front door is 328 yards. Right now I've got steel set up at 100 yards, 200 yards and 260 yards. I've also got a dualing tree and some silhouette targets set up in my front yard for pistol practice. The silhouettes are 3/8 inch T2 armor and work quite well with any pistol ammo. I've shot them thousands of times and only had to weld up the swinger hinge. My other steel targets are not armor and anything faster then pistol or 45/70 will burn holes in them. Even at 260 yards my .223 will burn a .40 caliber hole with 75 gr HP ammo. That extra 1000 FPS translates to heat. At least it's handy to be able to shoot off my front porch.

Danger Mouse · April 7th, 2008, 08:17 PM

My main guns are all pistols, .45 ACP 230 grain. No rifles. Maybe my 6 year old grandson will get a .22 rifle from santa so he may plink them too. Closest anticipated with the .45's is about 21 feet.

SIXTO · April 7th, 2008, 08:30 PM

They will dent and holes will start to appear, perhaps get a small plate of thicker material to beef up the bullseye will help.

MattLarson · April 7th, 2008, 08:33 PM

7 yards it a bit too close, IMHO. Particularly as those dents and pits start to appear - you're asking for some chunks to come back your way.

Matt

SIXTO · April 7th, 2008, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattLarson

7 yards it a bit too close, IMHO. Particularly as those dents and pits start to appear - you're asking for some chunks to come back your way.

Matt

Very true... I've had it happen to me requiring surgery.

MattLarson · April 7th, 2008, 08:41 PM

For the young prospective shooter with the .22, I'd strongly advocate one of those cheap self-healing plastic swingers / spinners.

In my experience, the lowly little .22LR loves to bounce back off hard targets.

Matt

ridurall · April 7th, 2008, 08:49 PM

By the way I can still hit the 260 yard target with my Redhawk 45 Colt. I've got it loaded with 300 JHP running a bit over 1100 FPS. I've got 72 inches of drop at that range and when I allow for it off a rest it makes a satisifying ring on the gong. It's especially satisfying when you figure it's a chest sized target.

HK Dan · April 8th, 2008, 04:37 PM

For a short term target it outta work , Bill. I think you'll be disappointed at the performance of 1/8" cold rolled steel versus those 230 grain ball rounds.

Dan

April 7th, 2008, 07:48 PM	#1
Danger Mouse Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cumberland, VA Posts: 362	Steel target I was wondering. Besides being a carpenter and plumber I am also a welder. I was just out at my shooting range today and saw some left over steel from a job. It is 10 guage which is 1/8" thick. I was going to cut a piece about the size of a human from waist to head and the width from shoulder to shoulder. Then I was going to install a rod horizontally across the bottom letting the ends stick out oh perhaps 2 inches on each side. Then I will take a piece of angle iron about 1 foot long and add this to the bottom pointing vertical. To this on the lower end I will add some weight so that the portion below the pivot rod is slightly heavier than the top portion. This will be cradled in a stand. Now when the steel is hit by a bullet, the target will tip backwards indicating a strike. Then because the counter weight is slightly heavier than the top, it will tip itself right side up by itself. I was thinking though the 10 guage cold rolled steel is a bit thin. I used to have some scrap 3/13" AR steel which is much tougher, but I dont know, I may have scraped it by now. At 7 yards do you think the 1/8 cold rolled will be ok? __________________ Think twice Buy once!

April 7th, 2008, 07:53 PM	#2
SIXTO VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Here and There Posts: 10,091	It will show some good dents, maybe some holes will wear through (with pistols) but I would think it will work fine. Mine are 1/4 and do great, 3/8 would be best knowing what I know now. __________________ In a land of sheep, even a toothless wolf is king. Wake Up! The zombie invasion has begun years ago.

April 7th, 2008, 08:06 PM	#3
ridurall Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: SW Oklahoma Posts: 735	Mine are 3/8 inch and they will shot dents. I've also got 7/8 inch 18 in diameter round targets that I shoot with my 45/70 and hand guns. My .308 craters a dent about 3/4 inch deep. The distance I'm limited to from my front door is 328 yards. Right now I've got steel set up at 100 yards, 200 yards and 260 yards. I've also got a dualing tree and some silhouette targets set up in my front yard for pistol practice. The silhouettes are 3/8 inch T2 armor and work quite well with any pistol ammo. I've shot them thousands of times and only had to weld up the swinger hinge. My other steel targets are not armor and anything faster then pistol or 45/70 will burn holes in them. Even at 260 yards my .223 will burn a .40 caliber hole with 75 gr HP ammo. That extra 1000 FPS translates to heat. At least it's handy to be able to shoot off my front porch. __________________ Life member NRA since 1983 I normally carry a Sig Pro .40 in a Crossbreed IWB but when necessary will switch to: Baby Eagle .40 W/Kramer holster Bersa Thunder380 Kel-Tec P3AT Skyy 9mm

April 7th, 2008, 08:17 PM	#4
Danger Mouse Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cumberland, VA Posts: 362	My main guns are all pistols, .45 ACP 230 grain. No rifles. Maybe my 6 year old grandson will get a .22 rifle from santa so he may plink them too. Closest anticipated with the .45's is about 21 feet. __________________ Think twice Buy once!

April 7th, 2008, 08:30 PM	#5
SIXTO VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Here and There Posts: 10,091	They will dent and holes will start to appear, perhaps get a small plate of thicker material to beef up the bullseye will help. __________________ In a land of sheep, even a toothless wolf is king. Wake Up! The zombie invasion has begun years ago.

April 7th, 2008, 08:33 PM	#6
MattLarson Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Central Florida Posts: 2,491	7 yards it a bit too close, IMHO. Particularly as those dents and pits start to appear - you're asking for some chunks to come back your way. Matt __________________ Hope is not a plan.

April 7th, 2008, 08:41 PM	#8
MattLarson Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Central Florida Posts: 2,491	For the young prospective shooter with the .22, I'd strongly advocate one of those cheap self-healing plastic swingers / spinners. In my experience, the lowly little .22LR loves to bounce back off hard targets. Matt __________________ Hope is not a plan.

April 7th, 2008, 08:49 PM	#9
ridurall Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: SW Oklahoma Posts: 735	By the way I can still hit the 260 yard target with my Redhawk 45 Colt. I've got it loaded with 300 JHP running a bit over 1100 FPS. I've got 72 inches of drop at that range and when I allow for it off a rest it makes a satisifying ring on the gong. It's especially satisfying when you figure it's a chest sized target. __________________ Life member NRA since 1983 I normally carry a Sig Pro .40 in a Crossbreed IWB but when necessary will switch to: Baby Eagle .40 W/Kramer holster Bersa Thunder380 Kel-Tec P3AT Skyy 9mm

April 8th, 2008, 04:37 PM	#10
HK Dan Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Iowa Posts: 209	For a short term target it outta work , Bill. I think you'll be disappointed at the performance of 1/8" cold rolled steel versus those 230 grain ball rounds. Dan __________________ "You can't miss fast enough to win."

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