Steel F-Class Target

[Auto-X Fil]

I have been shooting a 24" steel plate at 600yd for a while now. It's big enough that even if my drops are off and I totally blow the wind call, I can spot my "miss" on the steel and figure out what I did wrong.

Well, recently I had someone make up a magnetic stencil for it, so I can critique my groups against a known standard like the F-class target. Since I can see the rings and impacts through my scope, it's like having a target-puller at my house!

Target after stencil:

I don't have a photo of it shot, but I assume everyone knows how easy it is to see impacts on a painted steel target. I can see them easily at 10x, and pick out doubles on 20x. You F-class and BR guys with 50x scopes can probably see .223 hits on steel at 1000.

FYI, I got the steel here:

https://shootingtargets7.com/store/gongs/3-8/24-gong-38.html

If you look for sales and coupons it can be pretty cheap. If anyone is interested, I'm working on a second revision of the stencil and can provide contact info for the guy who made it.

 

[wholman]

would you be abel to see hits if target was black

 

[Auto-X Fil]

No, probably not. The impacts show up as lead on bare rolled oiled steel, which is pretty dark.

 

[wapiti25]

yes you can see @ 600 your hits if the plate is painted black with white rings. they appear light grey.

 

[people]

I was never able to see those hits on black painted steel. Granted 22x is not 50x.

 

[coford]

That is a great idea. I often practice on steel at our range by painting white dots on our large steel targets. It works OK for shooting groups and checking elevation differences on loads but is not the same as practicing hold off's and practicing on a normal target. If I had a stencil like this I could paint our steel targets and shoot away. Practicing hold off's in changing conditions would be easy as I have no problem seeing hits at 1000 on our steel targets now (when conditions aren't bad) through my scope. Any thoughts about making both 600 and 1000 yard stencils?

 

[Auto-X Fil]

My vinyl guy can only cut 23" wide, but I could make a 23x40 or something that would give 9-ring and a little 8-ring vertically, and out to the 7 horizontally.

That is a great idea. I often practice on steel at our range by painting white dots on our large steel targets. It works OK for shooting groups and checking elevation differences on loads but is not the same as practicing hold off's and practicing on a normal target. If I had a stencil like this I could paint our steel targets and shoot away. Practicing hold off's in changing conditions would be easy as I have no problem seeing hits at 1000 on our steel targets now (when conditions aren't bad) through my scope. Any thoughts about making both 600 and 1000 yard stencils?

 

[Mhall]

Just a heads up to anyone with a little torch or welder experience. I pay $65 for the same 24" square plate from a local steel shop. Haven't left a mark with 5310 ft/lbs at 600yds with a monolithic.

 

[Auto-X Fil]

Here are the updated stencils:

600yd, 20" tall by 23" wide:

1000yd, 23" tall by 36" wide:

Mine were a little hard to handle and tore easily, because I didn't radius all the corners, and had some very long cuts. I added more webbing and radiused all the corners this time around, so they should last longer.

 

[wholman]

does the plate need to be ar at 6ooy

 

[wholman]

at 600y the 10 ring is 6 ",9 is 12" the 8 is 18" is this corect

 

[Auto-X Fil]

Correct. 3" x-ring, 6" 10-ring, 12" 9-ring, etc.

Check out this post for determining what kind of steel to use. AR400 is fine at 600yd, but mild steel won't work with typical F-class calibers. 6mms are usually ok with 1/4", but 7mm or .30 cal might need 3/8".

http://www.scout.com/military/snipe...3403-steel-target-selection-for-sniper-s-hide

 

[Auto-X Fil]

Just a heads up to anyone with a little torch or welder experience. I pay $65 for the same 24" square plate from a local steel shop. Haven't left a mark with 5310 ft/lbs at 600yds with a monolithic.

That's awesome! 2x2 ft 3/8" AR450 from my local steel supplier is $112.

 

[powderbrake]

24"diameter and 36" diameter AR500 Steel targets (and mounting frames) are available from CMP llc
https://www.custommetalprod.com/shooting-targets/gong-targets

 

[boltman223]

Where I work we have AR400 and can get AR500. We also have lazer to cut them.

I've thought about seeing if there would be enough people on here interested to use up a sheet or possibly a drop.

I asked our sales guy about it a while back and if I remember correctly it was about $25 for a 12"x12" square.

Let me know what you guys think.

 

[Auto-X Fil]

Hello all - the stencil is now available for sale. There's a link in this blog post:

http://www.precisiontacticaleq.com/blog/2016/10/24/magnetic-steel-target-stencil