1/4" plate steel OK for targets?

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - 1/4" plate steel OK for targets?

Posted: 2/24/2006 5:06:59 PM EDT

I currently have access to several sheets of 1/4" x 4' x 8' plate steel. I've been wanting to make some handgun targets for awhile. Is 1/4" ok or does it need to be thicker? I never measured the steel iv'e shot in the past.

Posted: 2/24/2006 5:11:44 PM EDT

[#1]

Maybe for .22 on a swinging rig but anything bigger will make a dish out of it in a short time.

Posted: 2/24/2006 5:19:54 PM EDT

[#2]

Quoted:
Maybe for .22 on a swinging rig but anything bigger will make a dish out of it in a short time.

+1

1/4 is too thin to be very durable.

Posted: 2/24/2006 5:21:40 PM EDT

[#3]

I think mine is 3/8 CRS. IIRC

Posted: 2/24/2006 5:35:25 PM EDT

[#4]

1/4" will work..........for a while. It's going to get beat up sooner or later, depending on what you are shooting. It might last a while longer if you are using it for poppers. 3/8" is probably the min. I would use for 9's and .45's and 1/2" for magnums. I have a bullet trap made from 1/2" and it will not dent from .45's.

Be aware that steel targets or trap increase the noise level. I had to stop using my trap because the "clang" of .22 bullets hitting the steel sounded like ricochets to the neighbors. Now I just shoot into logs or timbers.

Posted: 2/24/2006 7:13:29 PM EDT

[#5]

Quoted:
1/4" will work..........for a while. It's going to get beat up sooner or later, depending on what you are shooting. It might last a while longer if you are using it for poppers. 3/8" is probably the min. I would use for 9's and .45's and 1/2" for magnums. I have a bullet trap made from 1/2" and it will not dent from .45's.

Be aware that steel targets or trap increase the noise level. I had to stop using my trap because the "clang" of .22 bullets hitting the steel sounded like ricochets to the neighbors. Now I just shoot into logs or timbers.

I have used my 3/8 on 9mm. .40, .45,and .270. 5.56 and 30-06, and a small indentation is all it has caused, about a .030 indentation. It is a spinning target.

Posted: 2/24/2006 7:17:19 PM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
I currently have access to several sheets of 1/4" x 4' x 8' plate steel.

I'd like to get my hands on a few sheets of 1/4" x 4' x 8'.

I'd like to line the walls of my gun room with it.

Posted: 2/24/2006 7:22:19 PM EDT

[#7]

Handguns at +150 feet shouldn't be a problem ... closer than that and you'll end up with slugs coming back at you. Even at 100 yards 1/4" mild steel plate is like butter to .223 and .308.

I've shot lots of USN steel plates off of work done aboard ship. Only a 1" thick plate will stop .308 and not for long as repeated shots in the same area will put a hole though in a couple of boxes worth of effort at 100 yards.

Get yourself some AR400 or AR500 and we'll talk.

Posted: 2/24/2006 7:23:52 PM EDT

[#8]

0.2" thick plate hit with a .223 at 100 yards.

Posted: 2/25/2006 4:13:37 AM EDT

[#9]

Not recommended. It won't last long, but more importantly you'll have a pretty good "bullet reflector" pretty fast. Those cool divots you get become "lead corner reflectors" and you'll have a lot of crap coming back at you.

3/8" AR400 will last a very long time for pistol, even at close range. 3/8" AR500 will last forever for pistol. 3/8" AR500 will last a while for rifle. 1/2" AR500 will last a long, long time for rifle.

I have some 1/2" AR500 I shoot up close and personal with 5.56 and at 50M+ with .308 and it's holding up good.

aa

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - 1/4" plate steel OK for targets?

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