I found a pc. of steel probably 5/16 maybe thicker in the barn that I wanted to cut into to make a couple of targets. What should I be aware of as of ricochet? I'll be shooting my shield in 9mm. Thanks... Amallard

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MP SHIELD 9

Just my personal preference, but I would try to find a thicker piece of steel. I am sure that some folks here with more experience will be along to share. My steel target is 3/8" thick AR500.

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On the Oak Savannah

I've read that it's a bad idea as regular steel will dent and you could get a ricochet back at you. I was going to do what you want to do until I did some reading up on it so I bought an 8" AR500 steel target for $25 and it is a blast to shoot.
Have fun, stay safe

Fairly thick mild steel is ok for .22 LR etc, but it starts to be a problem in center fire calibers, even pistol calibers.

3/8" AR500 steel works well for handgun calibers and targets made from it are not all that expensive when purchased in unpainted form.

Face hardened AR500 steel is far preferable as it will resist cupping over time. Mild steel will also start to take on a curve over time and become slightly bowl shaped rather than flat. Both those traits increase the risk of a round coming back toward the shooter.

If you start to see serious craters in the target, stop using it, as those do focus the spall back toward the shooter with a subsequent hit.

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In general it helps to mount the target at an angle so that the bullets that strike it and the spall that results as they disintegrate are deflected downward rather than straight back. 15 to 20 degrees is enough.

Also be sure to wear eye protection as even with properly angled targets you'll still get fragments coming back. I've been hit with bits of copper jackets while standing 10 yards behind a firing line and 20 yards behind the target. None of them have every drawn blood, but I would not want to be struck in the eye with one.

Made this for $55. Shot with 9 mm, 45 cal, and .223 (at 100 m). You mount the gongs with long bolts with spacers so the chains offset from the back so the gong faces slightly downwards so any ricochet deflects towards the ground as BB57 stated. I mounted the chain like you see below cause I was cheaping-out.........mount the gongs with the chains like this \o/ vs how I did it /o\ to prevent twisting. buy extra chain as well.



I got my gongs from here: 2 Qty 8" Gong AR500 Steel Shooting Target 3 8" Thickness Plate Circle Round | eBay

and got the portable stand from Harbor Freight

Great info already posted -- but let me say CLEARLY here, if you have cratered up a steel plate, get rid of it. Yes, this is repeat information, but it's that important. A cratered steel target is damn near like willfully attempting to shoot yourself. "Dangerous" doesn't do it enough credit.

I literally send tens of thousands of bullets at steel annually, typically at 10-15 yards distance. Only a pocked-up target presents serious physical danger.

Steel is fantastic fun, but pass the word on the dangers of damaged targets.

Strongly advise AR 500 steel. Its maximum strength and hardness allows it to be thinner for the calibers it's intended for. Thinner "clangs" much louder. Thick ordinary steel and iron are much easier to dent or penetrate and don't clang or ring well.

hanks for the info guys I also done some more reading last night after I posted this and realized that wouldn't work I'll start looking for a couple of ar500 steal targets to place around in the back forty to shoot at.

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MP SHIELD 9

I shoot steel almost exclusively. All my targets are AR500 and I use frangible ammo.

Hardness is more important than thickness. This is why the AR500 is preferred.

Minimum distance for steel is:
10 yards for pistol rounds
100 yards for rifle rounds

Anything closer and you risk being hit by ricochets.

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Freedom isn't free.

Thanks Rastoff that was my next question I think I'm going to set it up with chains between two pine trees using lag bolts and ss bolts on the target along my ditch and shooting into the ditch bank.Does it matter what kind of chain and the diameter I use?

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MP SHIELD 9

No, the chain material is not really important. It's not as much of a ricochet hazard due to the small diameter of the metal and the free swinging nature.

Personally I'd use inexpensive chain. It shouldn't get hit much, but when it does, it's cheaper to repair.

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Freedom isn't free.

I got thick chain thinking it would stand up to stray shots. Bullets go through it like butter. The long distance gong at 100 m I was using to zero in my AR-15 got hit quite a lot but the close-up gong I used for pistol shooting came out unscathed. I may just use wire here on out.

That makes since MO I've got a whole spool I found in my dad inlaws barn after he pasted away It looks to be some kind of ss wire it may had been used as a hot wire for his goats before he got rid of them all the paper is gone off the spool its pretty stout.

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MP SHIELD 9

Sounds like you already came to your senses.

My thoughts were:
If it's just some scrap steel you found, it ain't AR500.
If it's for your 9mm Shield, you won't be shooting at it from very far.
Don't.

My FIL was with me and took his Springfield XDS .45 cal to break in and neither of us were hitting the gong, we were at least 15 m back. We had to move in closer to the recommended 7 m. If you're shooting for the first time, bring some paper or cardboard so you can see where your shots are landing (even with a spotter, it's hard to do sometimes). I didn't bring my paper targets and cardboard but I know better for my next outing.

I have these plates in 8", 6" and 4" and not a dent or a dimple from 9mm at any range. We've experienced no ricochet with them but a good bit of 'splatter' downward. But be forewarned if you are curious as to what a .223 will do to them, they don't even wiggle as the bullet punches a perfectly round .223 sized hole through them.

I shot my AR-15 at it at 100 m and it held up fine. I believe 100 m is the minimum range you're supposed to shoot rifle calibers at these.

What steel and what thickness?

Because I've shot 3/8" AR500 with .223 fmj from 50 yards and not sure what kind of conditions would be necessary to see this hole you speak of.

Yeah.....we (my friend that is) were 'significantly' closer than 100 m; probably a little short of 50. He'd have probably missed at 100 so the plate'd been safe.

After a little research I find this: AR400 Steel GONG Target | 22lr 9mm pistol Plate 8" from ShootingTargets7. Obviously my 400 versus the 500 make the difference. Don't even see the 400's on their website now (and it probably said handguns only).

I shoot a steel plate rack of six 8" plates at the outdoor range i belong to. They are on just about all the handgun ranges and min distance is 15yds and you can back up to 25yds max. being a paper target shooter at heart I carry a cheap can of black spray paint and give them a light coat when I start. i like to see where I am hitting as just knocking them over is fun but to easy. They should shot fast but the range has a 2 second rule.

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USN Retired/VN VET
M&P X5

Cratering / Dented Silhouette Animal Targets

Beer drinking buddy in Kansas had a simple solution to cratering /denting/curving of his Silhouette Animal Targets.

He turned them around every month ...

Seemed so simple after it was explained ...

Bekeart

So during the month he does not worry about hitting a dent and being hit be the bullet coming back at him? The next month does he aim at those dents to get them all pushed back flat. Don't sound like a good practice to me.

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USN Retired/VN VET
M&P X5

Not unlike the 4-year electoral cycle...

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de minimus non curat lex