My new free target I built

[mwroseberry]

I'm lucky to have a father in law in a buisness where he has scrap steel and welders laying around. So I built this for myself on my day off. She has another coat of paint on her now and the target is painted white.

The disk is 3/8" plate. And the angle is 2".



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Merritt

 

[sst04]

Re: My new free target I built

Ought to make a nice Ring!

 

[dieselgeek]

Re: My new free target I built

Looks nice, congrats

 

[anothervr6kid]

Re: My new free target I built

that looks nice.

 

[KYS]

Re: My new free target I built

Hitting it with 308 out past 200 you will be ok but it will dent pretty bad. 3/8 inch mild steel won't last long.

Cold rolled 1/2 inch would be as thin as I would go. Even in AR500 I like to go 1/2 or 3/4 inch thick

 

[mwroseberry]

Re: My new free target I built

We'll see how she holds up friday. If it tears up the plate I'm out nothing and I get another piece of steel for the plate. It does have an ever so backwards slant which should direct most of the energy down and not straight through. We'll see as she's going to get shot by a 308, 7mm-08 and a 30-06 in a day or so.

Thanks,
Merritt

 

[1969GTOnut]

Re: My new free target I built

let us know how it works out

 

[mwroseberry]

Re: My new free target I built

Worked out great. At 300yard the steel was getting some pretty big depressions using my 308 so we went ahead and pushed it back to 400 and it didn't effect the steal one bit. Really I only made this target for 400-800yards anyway so it will serve it's purpose nicely. The framework however didn't fare so well. Had a guy with a 30-06 shooting with me and the ones that hit the framework punched through is as it was only 1/4" wall thickness angle iron.

Overall it will serve me well for my purposes but it won't do so well if I wanted to use it closer than 400 yards.

Thanks,
Merritt

 

[Tripwire]

Re: My new free target I built

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: KYS338</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Hitting it with 308 out past 200 you will be ok but it will dent pretty bad. 3/8 inch mild steel won't last long.

Cold rolled 1/2 inch would be as thin as I would go. Even in AR500 I like to go 1/2 or 3/4 inch thick </div></div>

Since hardness of steel seems to be worthy of note on this thread, it would serve to clear up a common misconception. "mild steel" and "cold rolled" are generic terms. Common "cold rolled" steel is no harder than "mild steel". The differentiation is in how it's manufactured. Common "mild steel" plate is actually hot rolled and the dimensions of the finished product are to a much more forgiving tolerance. "Cold rolled" steel is "hot rolled" steel formed to a final dimension by using pressure and dies in a non heated process to reach a tighter dimensional tolerance. For example, 1/2" hot rolled plate will vary in thickness and have a heavy scale on the surface. Cold rolled 1/2" plate won't have any scale and will measure exactly 1/2". Hot rolled has it's purpous where dimensional tolerance isn't that critical. Cold rolled is used where tolerance is more demanding. Hot rolled is fairly inexpensive, cold rolled due to the extra step in manufacture is more costly.

Niether one, in "mild steel", is a good choice for rifle targets unless you have access to a lot of it cheap and the ability to R&R the plates......

 

[1969GTOnut]

Re: My new free target I built

sounds like you guys had fun

 

[notquiteright]

Re: My new free target I built

With scrap prices what they are mild steel can work for you. I realize the stiff swing arm is popular but hanging the target with chain is a bit more flexible. It allows the target to react quickly and with a bit of practise the target shrug reaction will quickly tell you where on the target you hit. It also allows the target to move with impact and help it survive a few more hits.

Steel is fun and addictive, once you hear the ring its difficult to go back to paper.

Good luck

 

[mwroseberry]

Re: My new free target I built

yeah and with steel at much longer ranges you can see if you hit the target without the need of a spotting scope. You can go alone or with just another shooter and still get plenty of quality practice in.

Thanks,
Merritt