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Need suggestions for a 1-mile target.

A

Alpine 338

Lumberjack
Full Member
Minuteman
Jun 26, 2010
2,585
1,771
NW Colorado
We found a spot to hang a target at 1-mile. Typically we hang full-size IPSC steel targets and 10x10" steel plates with nylon webbing between T-posts. This has worked well, but think we will have a difficult time seeing the hits at a 1-mile distance, especially with a 308 ...hey, I'm going to try at least. At the shorter distances (i.e. 1100 to 1200-yards) we can see the steel move if we don't see the splash. We'll mostly be shooting 300WM and 338LM at the 1-mile distance, but who knows what we my try? I don't think we'll get the bigger full-size IPSC steel targets to move much at that distance, so I was thinking about an array of nine 10x10" steel plates hung in a three wide, three long pattern with nylon straps. If you hit one plate, it will cause the whole array to ripple.

What do you think?
 
Re: Need suggestions for a 1-mile target.

Forgot to mention, becuase of the tree's, vegetation and rugged terrain, we are limited to size and weight of the target to what we can carry, but luckly, with this 1-mile spot, we can get to it with a ATV or UTV. But we have some other spots like 1300-meters, we would like to hang a target, but will have to hump that in.
 
Re: Need suggestions for a 1-mile target.

I know when i wear my electronic ear muffs you can hear the steel ring. Another thing you can do is put some silver metal tape and it will flash when moving in direct sunlight. I use a strip along the bottom of my steel plates. A 338 will still make it bounce at a mile.
 
Re: Need suggestions for a 1-mile target.

I use a 14x14 3/4" steel plate for 1760 yards. I also have a 30x30 1/4" plate when I got to 2000 plus. Both the plates are painted white and you can ussally see a hit with a high enough powered scope. I have a hard time hearing bullets hit passed 1350 yards even with electronic ear muffs.

How far are you from Rock Springs WY?....I have a range set up on BLM off of WY430 south of Rock Springs about 15 miles that has a nice sand hill you can see splashes and have enough room for 2300 yard shooting.
 
Re: Need suggestions for a 1-mile target.

I'm about 4-hours from Rock Springs. Go there (actually Green River) for work every once in a blue moon. You've got some good wide open places to shoot out there.
 
Re: Need suggestions for a 1-mile target.

Alpine,
If your hanging the plate, I'd say get 1/4" plate, ar 4-500, you would get some movement out of that with the 308. Plus you might hear the ting better with thin plate.
The 338LM shouldn't dent it at that distance.
Here at 1850 and beyond we use rigid mount T-1 steel, nothing has damaged it, but it absorbs alot more than hard plate, no ring, less paint splash, hard to spot a hit with mirage.
Anyway, sounds like a fun dilemma to be in!
Miles
 
Re: Need suggestions for a 1-mile target.

If you are having a piece of steel cut I would suggest sizing it twice your anticipated level of accuracy. A example would be a 1MOA accuracy, 2 MOA target which would be about 37" square. The wind can be a big problem out past 1000 yards. Double check my math.
 
Re: Need suggestions for a 1-mile target.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mtscott</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If you are having a piece of steel cut I would suggest sizing it twice your anticipated level of accuracy. A example would be a 1MOA accuracy, 2 MOA target which would be about 37" square. The wind can be a big problem out past 1000 yards. Double check my math. </div></div>

You're mostly right here, you can hit the target easier, but does it make you a better shooter.
At our range, after 1200 yards we shoot full size IPSC's, mounted on stands that are average height. They never become moa because they stop at 2075 yards. I can speak from experience that a hit is a hit, and we are complacent because of it. Yes, we try to get to the center of the target with follow ups, but with the wind we shoot in, it is a waste of ammo and barrel.

I'd love to shoot at targets 6" from the ground with a berm behind them, no vegatation in front either. After 600 yards most of our targets are set so we can see the base of the stand, so they are on mounds or knolls. It can be a shooter's nightmare, and a spotters.

It is still the same, you either miss an moa target by 1", or you are on a 1.2 moa at a 2 moa target.
My thoughts.
Miles
 
Re: Need suggestions for a 1-mile target.

I shoot on BLM in similar conditions. Typically I shoot a full size IPSC or a 1/2 meter square both AR500. As you state the wind is largest problem.
 
Re: Need suggestions for a 1-mile target.

Thanks for the input guys, I think I'm going to go with a full size Mil E target. I would like to go with 1/4" AR400 or 500, but I think here in Colorado all I can get is 3/8" or 1/2"
 
Re: Need suggestions for a 1-mile target.

What about an old,empty oval shaped heating oil fuel tank?
Free standing,fairly light to move,it'll sound like a drum when hit and your recycling!
 
Re: Need suggestions for a 1-mile target.

I ended up finding a 26"x39" - 3/16" thick piece of T1 steel. We shot at it with 300WM's today at 1640-yards, and found it easy to see our hits (and misses) at that distance, but no ring could be heard. It was an easy target to hit, except for the changing wind direction and speed caused some misses. Sunday we'll move out to a mile, and I'm going to try it with my 308, with a goal of consecutive hits.

At 1640-yards, I'm dialing 15.5-mils of elevation with my 208-gr AMax / 2830-fps load. My FDAC called for 15.3-mils using the 220-gr SMK / 2850-fps card at 1500-meters, so I'm pretty happy with that so far.
 
Re: Need suggestions for a 1-mile target.

I have attached a plate to the target that is off to the side and covered it with tinfoil. When the target is hit it moves the mirror (tinfoil) and you can see it pretty well
 
Re: Need suggestions for a 1-mile target.

As IronWorker 1177 suggested, we applied a strip of silver metal tape across the top of the target, but I only saw it's reflection a couple of times because of cloud cover, or the target being in the shade when we were shooting at it.
 
Re: Need suggestions for a 1-mile target.

We use an 20x 20" 3/8 piece of steel

IMG_0125.jpg


works good for us, not a loud ring but audible!

Click on image for vid
 
Re: Need suggestions for a 1-mile target.

Follow-up. 3/16" thick piece of T1 steel at one-mile.

FYI - Berger 230-gr Tacticals out of a 300WM, and SMK 250-gr out of a 338LM put small dents in the steel. Amax 208-gr out of a 300WM only knocks the paint off the steel.
 
Re: Need suggestions for a 1-mile target.

I always do 19 inches by 22 inches. Average size of mans chest or so Usmc says lol.
 
Re: Need suggestions for a 1-mile target.

we use 24x24" piece of AR500 steel that is 3/8" thick. Hang from a very cheap and effective rebar stand. The steel is predrilled from our vendor and we can easily put in eye hooks or whatever to hang on the rebar, in such a way that the steel leans forward, and the splash from the fragmentation sprays downward mostly. That creates more hit signature, esp if you hit with the 308 (requires real luck) the bullet is hitting at a very steep angle.

Also you really need to set this target in an area surrounded by very dry dirt, otherwise you'll never spot your hits and at that distance, whether 338LM or 308 you're gonna waist alot of ammo trying to get on and stay on target. You simply can't spot if there is vegetation or wet dirt around the target.
 
Re: Need suggestions for a 1-mile target.

DSC_0046.jpg


I've been using 10x17" 1/2" thick AR500 which is a serious challenge at a mile. I would suggest something twice as large to start with and move down as you gain proficiency at that distance.
 
Re: Need suggestions for a 1-mile target.

for our entire group, 10x17 would be more than a serious challenge. It would be frustrating burn of expensive ammo. But maybe our skills, eqpt and conditions require our larger 24x24 plate.
 
Re: Need suggestions for a 1-mile target.

There is no doubt shooting a Larue sized target at 1,760+ is a challenge. I shoot in the desert with some folks that own a self-resetting Larue and that gives me a workout, especially when you go to 1,800 and beyond.

Even though my 18x24 steel is larger, once you to get to 1,800 + and especially 2,000 yards and beyond they are all hard to hit, as even an imperceptible shift in wind at the firing point can drift you off target.

That is what makes it a challenge and gives you that feeling of satisfaction to get that hit.

Jeffvn
 
Re: Need suggestions for a 1-mile target.

We just bought some 1/4 plates to mirror the same Big Dawg plate I bought and really like. But at 1K, it doesn't budge and is heavy to run up a mountain.

I will be trying the weekend. How you hook them up really matters too. A center "firehouse' attachment that my fireman friend made, dances better than my two position attachment approach. You get left and right wobble as well as swaying back and forth.
 
Re: Need suggestions for a 1-mile target.

actually a fridge makes a poor mile target because it's likely you won't hear the hit. AR500 steel or other hardened steel is good because you can hear the ring, which for me is a satisfying evidence of a hit. Painted white, the AR500 also provides good visual feedback as the bullet splatters and leaves a nice dark mark which is visible through a 25x scope.

btw, we shot at our 3/8" AR500 at 50 yards with a 223 and those 223s left nice dimples in the AR500, while a 338LM at 500 yards does not. fwiw.
 
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