Steel gong for AR 15, How thick?

[solman]

I was at the range yesterday and had the pleasure of shooting at another members steel gong. He had one at 100 yds and another set up at 200 yds. It was a lot of fun watching them move and no need to keep changing paper targets. I noticed that the gongs did not not ring and was wondering if they were too thick or what not. I know he said they were AR500 steel but he wasn't sure how thick.
I was thinking of doing a similar set up but would like to hear them "ring" as well when hit.
Anyone know the recommended thickness for .223 and where to buy them at the best price?
Thanks

 

[bainter1212]

3/8" or 1/2" will be fine at 100 yds or more.
The 1/2" will stand up to magnum rounds and the 3/8" won't.

His had to be pretty thick to not ring.

 

[Robert]

Mine are LV Steel poppers made from I believe 1/2 AR500. They don't really ring like a bell but you can tell when they are hit. My 270gr 375H&H loads didn't do any noticeable damage at 100 but you could tell when I hit the target. It moved back near a foot...

 

[MachIVshooter]

For 5.56 at 100 yards and further, you can get away with 1/4". Harder hitting cartridges will deform them, though.

 

[Steve in PA]

I have two 1/2" AR500 plates I bought from Widener's a few years ago. I've shot them as close as 50 yards with my AR. No problems.

 

[loose noose]

My swinging gongs which are 3/8" AR500 swing like crazy when hit with any of my .223's but then again you get a thud, not a ringing. Both are 10" diameter. I've got a huge Popper that is designed to go down and come back up, using a 45-70 Marlin, using the heavy load 405 grain Hammer Head rounds, at up to 500 yards. That one is 1/2" and that one just goes thud also when hit and seems to take for ever for it to go down. Incidentally the Popper is shaped like the upper torso and goes from head 12"X22"x15" and is 3' high. Had it made specifically for that about 10 years ago.

 

[joem1945]

The club has them in 1/2" A500 steel. WWII M2AP will put a hole in them at 150 yards. They hold up against everything else for a while. Eventually they get so brittle they break or split.

 

[JohnnyFlake]

I really don't think that Gong Style Metal Targets are made any longer. They use to be, back in the day, but I have not seen one in over 30/35 years. Gong Steel Targets, as I recall, were 3/8" Steel and maybe about 12" in diameter. It was a Concave/Convex shaped piece of metal, with about a 2" depth on the concave side. It was hung with the Convex side facing the shooters.

The standard metal plate targets of the day, will not make a Gong sound when hit, but they do make a sound.

 

[chris in va]

It also depends on how they are mounted. I have a 1/3 scale IDPA silhouette target mounted with a T bracket onto one of those barb wire fence posts and it just sorta thuds when hit. My thicker but smaller round 8" on a grade 8 bolt rings loudly.

 

[Walkalong]

The thinner the better ring they give, but also don't hold up as well. 5.56 is going to be very tough on 1/4" AR 500 steel, and penetrator rounds will inflict a lot of damage. 3/8" AR 500 is better, but 1/2" is best for fast bullets. Even my 1/2" plate showed a very tiny bit of damage from a 7MM Mag at 100 yards.

If you want a really nice ring you may have to compromise, accept a little damage, and simply replace it more often. The thinner stuff is pretty cheap.

 

[loose noose]

Brings back memories of a short time ago I bought a rectangular pop-up target that had "1/4" AR 500" steel that would take repeated hits from a .223 at 100 yards. Well I set the target up at 110 yards and fired one shot. Got a nice ringing and looking thru the scope I noticed a rather large hole, not a ding. BTW the hole was the measurement of .30 caliber or bigger, and the round I fired was a 52 grain HP/BT by Hornady. Needless to say I took the target back to that little gun shop and the owner gave me a new target. Works fine on .22 caliber, I'll be darned if I'll use it on the .223 or larger calibers. Incidentally it cost me $69.99, I told him I'd be careful telling people that it would take repeated hits with a .223. Next time I came in the shop I noticed he was no longer selling them. Don't believe they were AR500 grade steel.

 

[jakk280rem]

I have 3/8" AR500 steel plates. My 18" barreled ar will hole them at 100 yds with m193. M855 will not penetrate. And m193 out of 16" @ 100 yds will not penetrate. If I had to do it over, I would buy 1/2"

 

[jmorris]

I use 3/8" ar500 for up to 300 wm. Don't shoot at it closer than 100 yds and never use AP but that should be pretty obvious.