[jerseygti337]

I recently picked up a 3/8 ar500 target from fazzios and shot it with my 30/06 with regular soft points at 100 and it left about 1/16-1/8" dimples in it. I never shot steel before but I didn't expect it to leave a dent. Is this normal?

 

[jerseygti337]

Should also add it was hanging from chains to swing free.

 

[BenedictGomez]

Yes and yes.

 

[Zone9DeerSlayer]

^^^^^Ditto!!

Love shooting steel just something satisfying about hearing that "ping sound" report back.

 

[jerseygti337]

So would it be ok to shoot at that distance with hot 45/70 loads and some 223?

 

[MrHarleyGuy]

at least 1/2 AR500 for 30/06. still can shoot the snot out of 3/8 though....

 

[mark_anthony_78]

1/2" AR500 at 100 yards simply laughs at 55/62 grain .223 FMJ (from a 16" barrel AR). Scratches the paint off but the bullet is vaporized with no dings on the plate.

 

[fish_hunter]

Any steel fabricator or salvage yard will make you some targets at a fraction of the cost or just hook up with a guy who welds and blow some holes through a 1/2 or 3/4 plate remnant to hang from a tree. I use 1"

 

[mark_anthony_78]

Any steel fabricator or salvage yard will make you some targets at a fraction of the cost or just hook up with a guy who welds and blow some holes through a 1/2 or 3/4 plate remnant to hang from a tree. I use 1"

Assuming they use hardened steel, yes... Mild steel is unsafe to shoot due to unpredictable ricochets or returns from an uneven surface.

A good AR500 steel target runs from $10 - $50 depending on the size. Hardly breaks the bank considering handguns and "small" centerfires won't even scratch them over many years of use.

 

[jerseygti337]

I have access to tons of scrap steel and have torches but everything I read says to use ar500 as a minimum. So for $30 I'll have some piece of mind in knowing I shouldn't have any ricochets.

 

[fish_hunter]

A5 steel is very common at least in my industry I have an endless supply of it.

 

[mark_anthony_78]

A5 steel is very common at least in my industry I have an endless supply of it.

Is A5 the same as AR500?

 

[fish_hunter]

Yes that's just what we refer to it as it is just carbon steel pretty common in steel buildings marine industry etc where the steel has to maintain a load with little structural support such as spanning frames on barges or girders in buildings.

 

[mark_anthony_78]

OK, not doubting your original post, just clarifying. The comparison to mild steel is still important for someone looking to save a few bucks.