Range steel

[4xforfun]

I have a 48 X 48 X 3/8ths inch AR 500 plate at the 1000 yard line at my range, Sadly, it is going bye-bye. Would 1/4 inch AR be ok at 1K. Cals up to 338...maybe a 375 XC in the future.

Tod

 

[MikeT124]

According to one of the Dueling Tree mfg. 3/8" Ar500 is good up to 30-06 at 100 yards minimum, 1/2" is OK at 100 for up to 338LAP at 100 minimum, they don't recommend 1/4" for anything bigger than 17HMR at 100. I think you would be pushing your luck even at 1LK with some of the hotter cals.

Mike

 

[Eagle Six]

On one steel target website I visit, they list their 1/4 inch AR500 plates as maximum velocity 2850 fps and maximum energy as 700 ft lbs. Many center fire cartridges will exceed those figures at a 1000 yards.

 

[4xforfun]

On one steel target website I visit, they list their 1/4 inch AR500 plates as maximum velocity 2850 fps and maximum energy as 700 ft lbs.maximum velocity 2850 fps

"maximum velocity 2850 fps...Many center fire cartridges will exceed those figures at a 1000 yards"

Name ONE!!

From what I have heard......it is the high velocity (smaller cal's) that kills steel....even on thicker stuff.

 

[DHuffman]

I got some 1/4" at 600 yards behind a 1/2" piece of OSB to knock bullets down after they have gone through paper and backer.

When they tumble between the wood and steel it leaves a significant welt on the 1/4" steel.

I think if it's just a sighter plate you'll be fine but if it's going to be used as a paper backstop it's gonna get beat up pretty bad.

That being said it's been up for over 4 years now and still stopping bullets. It's probably caught a few thousand rounds, mostly 6mm 2900 +/- at the muzzle, some 6.5s a few 30s and some .338s

 

[DHuffman]

I had that same piece behind the backer at 1000 for a while and it showed the same wear but not nearly as severe.

 

[Tesoro]

If you got a 1000 yd plate that was 24x24in it would last longer. (!)

 

[luckyshot52]

Make sure the plate can move

 

[Eagle Six]

"maximum velocity 2850 fps...Many center fire cartridges will exceed those figures at a 1000 yards"

Name ONE!!

From what I have heard......it is the high velocity (smaller cal's) that kills steel....even on thicker stuff.

I should have specified the energy figure.

 

[moondog]

I have a 24×24 1/4" ar500 at 1200. It's definitely taking a curve with 338Imp.
At 1400 its still flat.

 

[vonb]

Not all AR500 steel targets are the same. I have some 3/8" AR500 targets that I setup at 50 yards for pistol and lever action (pistol caliber) fun. A 240gr flat nose slug from a .44 Mag traveling 1375 fps at the muzzle leaves a pockmark representative of the flat bose on the steel. That was surprising to me.

 

[Dgd6mm]

I have 2 12"x12"x1/4" AR500 plates. Both plates have been shot from 600 yards to 1000 yards with rifles under magnum cartridges. No damage at all. My Competition Match and .243 push 105 - 115 grain bullets at 3150 fps. The plates hang on 12" long or so firehose and swing freely.

 

[4xforfun]

I just bought a 48 x 48 x 3/8ths and three 24 x 24 x 3/8ths.

Better be safe than sorry.

Thanks,
Tod

PS Just found out that they are AR400, not 500. HOPEFULLY that won't matter at 1K plus