Making targets

[PeterK]

Hey guys, I have a question about making targets and wasn't sure where to put it so I hope this is the place. What I have is some thick steel thats used for steel buildings, I wanna say its 3X6 and 1/4 or 3/8 in thick that I wanna cut into like 5 or 6 in chunks to use as targets on a stand out of wood 2X6's. I would be shooting them with my 40 cal with Berry's Plated bullets. Am I asking for trouble with ricocheting off? they would not be fastened down, I don't think, unless I should and angle them so anything would ricochet down. Please let me know what you think.

Peter

 

[Chubbs103]

The hardness of that steel is going to be just as important as the thickness. I use 500 brinell plates that I purchased from wideners. They handle everything up to and including rifles pretty well. Anything from the construction industry will likely not handle rifles. Make sure you have at least 100 yards if you are going to try.

Angled down about 15deg will help them last. Allowing them to swing is even better. If they dent, stop using them. Anything but a flat surface is asking for trouble.

Please make sure to use eye-protection.

Chubbs

 

[H Richard]

The dents and cupping can cause bullets to spit back towards the firing line. I have witnessed shooters being hit by lots of back splatter on worn out targets.