Metal gongs, what to use?

[muleman69]

What metal will ring the loudest at long range(wanting to build some gongs) Have built several but need more ring

 

[azshooter]

Bigger plates have more ring to them i.e. 8" square vs 24" square and hang them by 2 corners. Check out shoot steel.com


Paul

 

[alinwa]

Bigger plates ring louder. But bigger plates are stupidboring to shoot. So I hang little plates with a remote trigger bar which hits a worn out 24"-36" diamond saw blade from a concrete coring/sawing company.

If I could access the supply line I'd buy 10-15 metal gas (argon/CO2/OX/acet) tanks in the 36"-54" tall sizes and cut them down for gongs....

but I CAN'T

So I ding sawblades.

 

[Sniper338]

ar500 steel.. just buy em...

thicker doesnt always ring louder

 

[Dusty Stevens]

this one didnt ring

 

[JRS]

Mount the plates solidly to a frame. A loose mount will dampen vibration.

 

[Wingnut00]

We use AR-450 for our personal targets. 10" x 10". Hung off two nylon straps. It's only 3/8" plate so we don't shoot it under three hundred yards with any caliber over 3200fps but we can hear em ringing to 1200yds really easy. Even hear em ring with a 22lr at 300yds pretty easy.

 

[Riesel]

Depends on how much ear protection I got on and which way the winds blow. Ring Louder with suppressor and one level of ear plugs.

 

[muleman69]

ar500 steel.. just buy em...

thicker doesnt always ring louder

What would be a good size at 800and 1000 that would ring well?

 

[rijndael]

What would be a good size at 800and 1000 that would ring well?

For what caliber? My .308 doesn't ring a 1/2" all that well, but the 6XC does.

 

[muleman69]

For what caliber? My .308 doesn't ring a 1/2" all that well, but the 6XC does.

300wm mostly

 

[Knotwild]

Just use a T1000 Target Hit Indicator. I have trouble hearing a suppressed 77gr. .223 hit a 3/8 20"x12" AR 500 at 500 yds. Or move up in cartridge horsepower - I can hear my 6.5 clearly. I am thinking about the T1000 as the answer to my problems.

 

[moondog]

T-post hangers will ring the best! anything mounted on a strap, conveyor belt, old fire hose etc.
will dampen the noise. AR 500. Ck out J.C. steel plates and their hanger system.

 

[X-Caveman]

We’ve got AR500 & AR550 targets, steel hooks, stands, t-post hangers. We are also pay advertising to support this great site and offer 15% discount to its readership. Use code 6MMBR15 at checkout to get it.

fieldandcaveoutfitters.com

You can find us on Amazon, too.

 

[rijndael]

Do you need it to ring or do you just need to confirm a hit?

If you just need to confirm a hit, the hanging steel is better because you can see it swing from the impact. You can also get away with a thinner piece (easier to carry) since it's moving on impact. Personally, I'd rather see it swing. I'm often shooting with others and their shots coincide with when I should be hearing mine ring.

If your target will be fixed, I'd get 1/2" for a 300WM. I'd also look for a setup that's reversible, so if your steel starts to bow, you can flip it around.

 

[Sniper338]

What would be a good size at 800and 1000 that would ring well?

Depends how good you shoot... You will end up with wanting several different sizes and a variety... but something... start shooting and add to your collection...


800 - 8 inch

1000- 10 inch

thats a start.

 

[dsculley]

Once read an article about a guy that makes his gongs from disc blades. He said they make a nice, loud ring.

 

[cinch29433]

Plate that is fastened to a stand will clank more than ring. Schedule 80 pipe with a 1/2 inch bolt or bar welded to the top will ring like a bell. Old discs from the disc ya use after plowing a field work great if ya can find them but have hole to deal wth and gotta be turned concave away (speaking from crazy experience).

Do not hang pipe side by side to each other. Keep them staggered or you could be explaining to the ER folks and then the law about how a bullet cut your friends wrist and forearm...

 

[xswanted]

What would be a good size at 800and 1000 that would ring well?

Shoot big targets. Make a small center in them with paint.

I like a 2moa target with a small bullseye on it.

That way if you’re missing the center you have more gong to hit and make corrections.

 

[rijndael]

Shoot big targets. Make a small center in them with paint.

Agreed. I like to bring 2 targets, one big one small.

If you can't see the bullet impact on the berm, or something else behind the target, it can be very difficult to get on target in difficult weather conditions (wind/snow/etc).