Do solid copper bullets destroy gongs?

[rockhound78]

Our Buffalo is mild steel and copper bullets will usually make quite a crater and sometimes stay in buried in the Buffalo. In our T1 targets, they will do more damage than cup and core. Our AR500 plates are not affected

 

[okie]

Our Buffalo is mild steel and copper bullets will usually make quite a crater and sometimes stay in buried in the Buffalo. In our T1 targets, they will do more damage than cup and core. Our AR500 plates are not affected

thanks!

 

[Gargoyle]

A bit off topic, but relevant...Don't mix plates on a range. Mild & hardened steel. You can't even trust the Pope to follow the instructions of "Rifles fire on the Right side plates, pistols for the Left side plates!" Everybody is a Pvt. Pile around steel plates!

 

[wboggs]

It's really the speed. A 22-250 or 20VarTarg at 3700fps will go through ar500 like a hot knife through butter. Most steel matches have a speed limit for a reason. That being said, my 1200 yard steel is getting a bit of a curve in it from the heavy hitters. When I shot a few of the lathe turned 6mms, I didn't notice any difference on the plate. As said above, impacts are harder to see.

A 220 swift at 4000 or more will penetrate at short range. I never tried it at long range

 

[XTR]

Last time I looked steel matches had a speed limit of about 3150 or so to preserve the targets.

 

[moondog]

A 220 swift at 4000 or more will penetrate at short range. I never tried it at long range

I tried my 20 VarTarg at 400 yards and it was fine on 5/8 ar500. It shed enough at that distance though.

 

[moondog]

Last time I looked steel matches had a speed limit of about 3150 or so to preserve the targets.

Raton has a 3000fps speed limit for the last couple of years

 

[wboggs]

Last time I looked steel matches had a speed limit of about 3150 or so to preserve the targets.

Forgot to mention that I recently shot 500 AR with some .264 hammers at 3700
at 100 yds. Did not even come close to penetrating.

 

[okie]

Raton has a 3000fps speed limit for the last couple of years

thanks

 

[okie]

Forgot to mention that I recently shot 500 AR with some .264 hammers at 3700
at 100 yds. Did not even come close to penetrating.

wow--i would have expected them to go through

 

[Gargoyle]

Forgot to mention that I recently shot 500 AR with some .264 hammers at 3700
at 100 yds. Did not even come close to penetrating.

but how does that plate look? Pock marks?

 

[wboggs]

wow--i would have expected them to go through

I was shocked myself. I shot the .220 swift years ago and maybe the steel wasn't AR 500. Someone who owns one should test it for us.

 

[wboggs]

but how does that plate look? Pock marks?

Yes pock marks. I didn't want to risk it with a good plate. Do you think it makes a difference?

 

[Gargoyle]

Yes pock marks. I didn't want to risk it with a good plate. Do you think it makes a difference?

Not as long as you keep the pock marked, dinged, or holed plates at distance. Don't ever shoot at one close. Those can all spin a bullet 180 degrees right back at the shooter.

 

[Liven The Dream]

?

Would depend?
The type Steel made of !
We have them from 200 to 1367 and no problem at all .
Once in awhile the rebar hold then gets shot away.

 

[wboggs]

Not as long as you keep the pock marked, dinged, or holed plates at distance. Don't ever shoot at one close. Those can all spin a bullet 180 degrees right back at the shooter.

Thanks for the info. Did not know that.

 

[Dave in WI]

Speed kills....LOL
The company I bought my hardened steel targets from said keep it below 3000FPS at the target and they will play together nice!

 

[Gargoyle]

Thanks for the info. Did not know that.

You bet! I found out in 2004 when I took a 45 ACP slug right between the eyes at 20yds. I picked out copper jacket fragments for 6 months. My plates had holes in them.

 

[Ray123]

Speed is probably the key to making divits in AR 500 steel ...the 17 Remington at 4800 fps with a tiny 15.5 gr copper bullet was tryed once to see if it would... it did, with only 15.5 grs. left a nice digit in the AR 500. Should try the 50BMG with Armor piercing...but I didn't want to mess up the AR 500 steel for science...but it does penetrate alot of mild steel with 265 gr of US 869.

 

[Carl S]

Hardox is the steel you want for gongs.15-20mm thick will cover most applications.