What are you using for targets?

Ticeman

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Going to get the Barrett 50 out to stretch her legs in the next couple weeks, planning on 1/4 mile, 1/2 mile shots and even up to 1 mile (if i'm feeling cocky). Was thinking about building a "gong", similar to the one on the "gong show" for those who remember, lol, about 42" in diameter 3/4 steel, paint it flourescent orange, and hang it with chains from a steel frame that is about 7' tall. I kinda like the idea as I will get instant visual feeback if I hit it. Anyone have anything similar? got any pics?
 
Don't have any pics of mine, but I built a mini swing set that holds up my 24"x24" 3/8 thick steel plate. Only use it for 1500+ shots. Just a little FYI, the thinner the steel the better (ding/ report) you will hear. We've shot mine out to 1.5 miles and could hear it easy with Amplified ear pro.
 
Going to get the Barrett 50 out to stretch her legs in the next couple weeks, planning on 1/4 mile, 1/2 mile shots and even up to 1 mile (if i'm feeling cocky). Was thinking about building a "gong", similar to the one on the "gong show" for those who remember, lol, about 42" in diameter 3/4 steel, paint it flourescent orange, and hang it with chains from a steel frame that is about 7' tall. I kinda like the idea as I will get instant visual feeback if I hit it. Anyone have anything similar? got any pics?

I hope you are a big dude. 42" diameter 3/4 steel weighs in at 295 lbs. I'm sure the .50 will move it, but damn. I was using a 3/8" 24'X24" plate for a while until I found a 1/4" plate of AR 500. I now use that for ELR. It swings easier and makes a nice gong noise when hit. It is also 24" X 24" and weighs 41 lbs. The .338 LM hasn't dented yet, although I don't think I have shot it inside 1,500 yards.
 
See if you can get your hands on some plowing disks. I saw a plan somewhere that had a piece welded in the hole and a chain attached to it. They are made of hardened steel and I think would make a real nice DING...
 
Here is what I use for my 338 Lapua and everything else. Haven't shot the 50 at it yet but I think the API round will do some damage to it. It is a 5/8" thick 18"x24" (not including head) standard IPSC size and weighs 80 lbs. I got it at the local steel yard and the guy torching stuff was nice enough to cut this out for me, cost me $15 including the tip I gave the torch guy. The stand is just an old saw horse. Even shot the saw horse a few times with the Mosin Nagant and the 338 Lapua, holds up like a champ!
 

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We have a 66% IPSC in 1/2" premium AR500 that would fit the bill nicely, the target is 21 inches tall and 12 inches wide.

You could also jump up to the 100% IPSC in 3/8" Premium AR500. ABout 30 inches tall and 18 inches wide. Those are popular for long range work.

BUT, 1/4 mile is only 440 yards away. So you probably don't need a super big target for that. Anything with that 50 cal, under 1200 yards or so, and a 66% IPSC in 1/2" should work about perfectly.

Thanks, please let us know if we can help.

Jake
 
This is what mine looks like. Super easy to transport and set up. Just drive the two posts in and hang the target in the notches at the top. I use rubber bungee cords instead of chain. I got tired of replacing chain, and the bungee cords seem to absorb shots and lost longer.



-J
 
i have a 3/4" ar500 plate that is 24 by 24" that I shoot at. It has a foldable tripod looking stand that is armor cladded. I have shot it with my 338 lapua at 50 yards with not even a scratch. ALTHOUGH.....watch out for those solid bullets are anything over 3200 or so fps. I shot a 300 weatherby mag with solid brass bullets that made some pretty nice little craters. No deforming etc but maybe 1/8 divets that were 1" wide. It also shot right through 3/8" armor at 200. The 50 is a mean little piece. I would shoot it at scrap if I were you. I have seen way too much armor blown through with those to waste 400$ on a target and blow through it.
 
I have 3/8" ar500 steel and at 100yds with a 300grn 338 @ 2825fps it doesn't do anything but knock off the paint. At a quarter mile with a 50 it should hold up decent. I'd probably bump up the thickness to 1/2" though. That's a heavy payload.

Xdeano
 
I mean...like a few of you stated...1/4 mile is only 440 yards.You could use about anything. That not far. If you were at 1500+ i would say a 2' to 3' would be ideal. Sure you should hit it every time..but when sighting in it gives you a better idea of where you are.
 
7 x 10 inch pieces of cardboard that come between Life Cereal 3 pack boxes. Same size a a vital hit on a man sized target. Dig my stick on 1" dots out of the trash in the target pits at the range. Good out to 600 yards. Then I go big and shoot at a 22 inch black dot painted on a 24 x 72 inch sheet of plywood out to 3600 yards.
 
I use a 12"W x 16"H 3/8" AR500 silhouette. Have shot it at 497, 502, 613 with my .223 so far.

I have now worked up a load for the .250 AI, .25-06 AI and .300RUM for 700-1700 yd. shooting.

Hanging at 502 yds. (Camera w. 300mm lens at full zoom)



Hanging at 613 yds. (Camera w. 300mm lens at full zoom)

 
I use several sizes of 1/2 inch thich AR500 steel. I hang this from a simple wooden sawhorse so it's easy to transport. The biggest obstacle was attaching the steel plates to the sawhorse as everything was getting cut by the bullet shrapnel splatter. I aquired a used firedepartment hose and cut it to sections and hang the AR500 steel from it with the hose bolted into the sawhorse. It's been great and have hit it with everything from .22 to 300 WM without a dent.
 
All I have are pictures of the targets at 500, 600, 700 and 823 in my back yard

Everything is AR500 other then the 9" gongs and the head on the headhunter

Miniature Hostage targets at 500 and 600
3”x 5” diamonds
5” rounds
8” rounds
12” Squares
JC’s Hostage target – a high use target, tends to get a lot of use
A couple 9” gongs
A homemade Head hunter target with the 12” square as a chest plate


We have steel for another private range to accommodate shooting to 3600 yards as far as 1 moa targets.
Total on this range
Six 5” square targets ½” AR500
Three 6” square targets ½” AR500
Three 12’ Square targets ½” AR500
Three 100% IPSC targets ½” AR500
Two 24” square targets ½” AR500
One 36” square target ½” AR500

We can shoot the 12” square ½” thick AR 500 at 700 yards with the 50 cal shooting the 750 Amax’s and not affect the plate other than the paint. Good Steel


Cheers
 

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I use ceramic food plates. You know, what you eat off. I can get them for 25 cents. They're about 12 " in diameter. Depending on where I place them, they explode- which is cool-or a piece will break off and I can then shoot the remainder.I set 'm at 1267 yds. The wind is a challenge.But a challenge is what I want.
 
This is a 20" Disk Blade "Farm used first" the cracks are from running over rocks in the field. You can buy these at any farm equipment dealer or even most tractor supply stores. I usually have a little of tape over hole. They ring well. very cheap even new only like $25. Hell just ask a local farmer if you can. they might have a used one laying around. The only time I have seen one brake is when the outside blade is cracked like this one and you turn the disk around with it in the ground.

 
disk blade, great idea, very practical & cost effective
+1 to shamrock

personally, i have an ar500 plate cut by LVsteeltargets
14068312326_22e46fe688.jpg


gosh, wish i had thought of the disc idea. could have saved a bunch... but still, my target rocks.
75 lbs
 
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I got an old plow disc also,free from my father in law. Works great! It's some hard steel, I broke 3 drill bits to get holes to hang it from. This is also a pic of my best ever group at 1000 yards, not centered on the target but I was pretty stoked.
 
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