What Bullets will destroy or pock A500 targets?

[bsekf]

Our Club is looking at A500 steel targets. We have used mild steel in the past and they get pocked and/or pierced. Just what cartridges will pock or pierce 1/2inch A500 steel?

 

[okie]

a bunch of guys gave some pretty good info on this on a recent post...

Do solid copper bullets destroy gongs?​

 

[Will Henry]

This is case where speed kills and the velocity is more critical than is bullet construction. WH

 

[Twdmar]

Bullets going really fast are hard on targets, as are ones with really hard bits like steel or tungsten in them.
One target manufacturers website reccomends 100 yds or more standoff for a 55gr bullet from a 16" 223 and 300yds for a 204 ruger to avoid damage.

 

[Darwin]

If you’re looking for zero damage 2600 fps.
110 v max at 3600 leaves a crater.
FYI. I have 5/16 Ar 400 at 1k. Never seen more than 1700fps, zero damage.

 

[Dgd6mm]

The steel companies usually have a chart to lead users in distance, speed, and cartridges to keep from damaging the AR500 steel.

 

[coford]

Distance is very important. When we put up new AR500 steel we shot it at 600 to see what happens. At 600 yards we have shot 50 Calibers, .338's, 7 mags, 284 Shehanes, a 22-250 at 3800 fps, and steel core .223. The only damage we really saw was one target did crack at the ears after several 1000 rounds. AR500 is very tough but steel core ammo, tungsten core ammo, and solid copper can damage it over time. We no longer allow the 50 calibers, .338's, steel core, tungsten core, and solids at our steel range - they can still shoot paper.

Of course the further away you are the lower the damage level. At 1000 yards and beyond I have never seen any AR500 damage.

 

[Topstrap]

I have an AR500 gong at 200 yards that we've regularly dinged when checking zero with a 338 Lapua and a 375 Cheytac. Gonna hit it with a 284 Shehane later this week. Still looks like new. 6XC and 6.5x47 just knock the paint off. Surprised me. Any closer I'm sure it'll start dumpling.

Topstrap

 

[STOMP442]

We use AR 500 targets for our local prairie dog match and the general rule of thumb is impact velocities under 2800fps generally leave no damage at all. We have shot them with everything from .17 Remington to .50 cal. At 200 yards the 17 Remington will dimple pretty good and the 50 cal just splashes off. Here is a typical Impact mark at 200 yards with any standard cartridge. This was shot with either a .260 Ackley or 6.5x55.

 

[Jeff Porter]

If you’re looking for zero damage 2600 fps.
110 v max at 3600 leaves a crater.

I tried to make a spinner with mild steel once a long time ago was banging away with 110 Vmax from a 30-06 and the thing wasn't moving... walked down and had a nice group of holes in the steel.

 

[JB10]

A friend of mine shoots a 3/8 in gong with his 50bmg at 300 yards with no poke through. It is hooked to a chain so it swings. It is bowing the plate pretty good. Now his friend one day brought out his 408 chytech with copper projectiles and i watched that go straight through. He also has a 1/2in swinging plate. The 50 does not affect that plate at all at 300 yards.

 

[Fuj]

A 22-250 pushing 4 grand will pock mark 1/2" AR-500 real good
at 100 yards, Some at 200 and nada at 300. My 183 gr 7mm doing
2830 only takes off the paint at 100.

 

[Lance21]

I put 5 rds through 3/8 ar500 using 100 gr ballistic tips out of a 257 STW at around 3900 fps at 440 yards.

 

[dc.fireman]

Bullets going really fast are hard on targets, as are ones with really hard bits like steel or tungsten in them.
One target manufacturers website reccomends 100 yds or more standoff for a 55gr bullet from a 16" 223 and 300yds for a 204 ruger to avoid damage.

We have hanging steel targets & steel silhouette targets at 200M, and knockdown steel plates at 25Yds, and 20 Yds. The rules for the Club are simple: no steel core penetrator ammunition is to be fired on any steel target considered club property. No Magnum loads or rounds in excess of 1200 fps are to be fired on the knockdown plates.

People do it anyhow. One of our most 'shot up' 200M plates, was literally held together by the 'swiss cheese' holes - but it lasted for 15 years of constant abuse before we replaced it with a new one.

The knockdown plates infrequently need to be re-welded on to the roller mechanism, after the stress fractures give way.

YMMV.

 

[maxscm]

243 Super Rock Chucker with 80 grain Bergers will punch a .243 Diameter hole in AR500 gongs at
100 yards.
(25-06 necked down to 243 then fire formed.)

 

[SEM]

at 25 yards I shot an impressive group open sights 257 TCU 60 gr hornady FP do not know speed 3/8 ar 500 plate 6" round I rang it one time missed the next three finally rang it on the last round when I walked to the gong I was amazed at the tiny group all had penetrated completely the last shot turned the group into a 3/8" group, I had shot the same gong with the same 257 TCU using Sierra 87 gr sp at least 40 times just before and thousands of pistol rounds, The target maker Hang Fast sent me a new one I was making another order I just explained what happened not complaining or asking for a replacement. At our range we do not leave any gongs up closer than 200, Seems like every other trip I end up re hanging some, One time a few years ago some dick weed or weeds stole the 500 yard gong hope he got a hernia it took 3 of us struggling to hang it 3/4 ar plate made a neat low pitch hum when hit hard, now a much smaller 1/2" plate swings better but just a ting

 

[Fuj]

223 with 75 gr at 50 yards will drill holes through them.

No way at that distance are you going to put that stated round
thru 1/2" of AR-500. In IPSC side shoots we would have speed
match's at that distance. Fastest time to knock down 5, 1/2" thick,
6" AR-500 plates. Tie breakers went to a 4" plates.

 

[mousegunner]

Nicked a notch on the corner of a A500 plate at 200 yards with a .223 75 BTHP, all center hits were nice and flat.

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

Is the AR500 the accepted standard in steel targets?

 

[dantiff2]

Notice the limit on all these plates: Velocity

High Caliber Targets Thickness Comparison​

1/4" Thickness​ Usage All pistols except 44 Magnum Maximum Bullet Energy (at target) 700ft lbs Maximum Bullet Speed (at target) 2850 fps	3/8" Thickness​ Usage AR15 - .308 or similar Maximum Bullet Energy (at target) 2100ft lbs Maximum Bullet Speed (at target) 2850 fps	1/2" Thickness​ Usage 338 - 50 BMG Maximum Bullet Energy (at target) 4000ft lbs Maximum Bullet Speed (at target) 2850 fps