This Ends the Caliber War

[bearcreek]

Don’t worry, a fudd will be along shortly to comment on this satire post, “doesn’t matter what you shoot, if you can’t hit what you’re aiming at it don’t matter”. Always that guy when discussing anything ballistics, serious or satire.

Took less than two hours after you posted.

It doesn’t matter what you shoot, if you can’t hit what you’re aiming.

 

[bearcreek]

I have 2 Allen 10 inch AR500 gongs that also busted in the same spot twice each. I need to take em to the local welding shop and have either more holes cut or some sort of hanger welded back on them.

A chain link welded right to the steel works good.

 

[Rubone]

I'm sure the target simply gave up in embarrassment after being struck by a plastic pistol made in Croatia.

Made me laugh. I'll take my XD45 over a 1911 in a real gunfight any day.

 

[Mizar]

I believe that the square holes with sharp edges are the real culprit here, as they are an open invitation to stress fractures (why did they go the extra mile of making them square instead of round is beyond me), but it's a nice story - the mighty 45 strikes again!

 

[Resist Evil]

IMHO, the square tab on the target where it broke is a weak design. If I were to make a similar target, each tab would resemble a mantle clock silhouette. Without shoulders on the tab, it's weak.

 

[PWC]

2 ea 10K lb chain links heavy welded to back (weld fillet to the height of the link)

 

[bearcreek]

I believe that the square holes with sharp edges are the real culprit here, as they are an open invitation to stress fractures (why did they go the extra mile of making them square instead of round is beyond me), but it's a nice story - the mighty 45 strikes again!

They do that so that carriage bolts can be used to hang it. You're right though, the square holes are weaker.

 

[MrShooter]

Looks like you got your moneys worth out of that target! It took lots of shots with little damage until it finally gave up.

Time for a replacement.

Stay safe.

Time for a quick weld!

 

[Riomouse911]

Time for a quick weld!

I tried welding a hook to the back of a round AR-500 plate target, but the high heat must have softened the metal so the next set of impacts left craters. Ruined a new one first time out.

It may work up high where that loop attaches, though.

Stay safe.

 

[Simple Shooter]

It doesn’t matter what you shoot, if you can’t hit what you’re aiming.

Doesn't matter if you hit it or not. The wind from a close passing 230 grain hardball is more than enough to crack steel. Can't remember if I read that on the internet or saw it on The View.

 

[LocoGringo]

Doesn't matter if you hit it or not. The wind from a close passing 230 grain hardball is more than enough to crack steel. Can't remember if I read that on the internet or saw it on The View.

True story! I heard that too.

 

[21H40]

There’s less to argue about when it goes through the steel, like this 1” thick steel plate.

View attachment 1167930View attachment 1167931

I’m pretty sure that must have been something like 380 to go through steel so easily!!

 

[Jonesy814]

I tried welding a hook to the back of a round AR-500 plate target, but the high heat must have softened the metal so the next set of impacts left craters. Ruined a new one first time out.

It may work up high where that loop attaches, though.

Stay safe.

Yep, thats the problem with this type of steel. Being only 1/4” thick any welding will take the temper out of any area that gets too hot. I have 4 left and usually only shoot at 3 on a range trip. Got my wife a new porch swing a few years ago and I repurposed the old frame to hang plates from. Have room for 3

 

[JTHunter]

Why does everyone say better than a sharp stick?
I watch John Wick kill a man with a pencil and the other guy had a gun! I think it was a GLOCK???

Or with a teacup like Riddick.

 

[1KPerDay]

That target has been repainted quite a few times. There was likely a micro-fracture from numerous previous bullet strikes until the energy from the last one split the metal.

 

[Peakbagger46]

My LCP would have blown your pot metal target clear in half.

 

[LoonWulf]

It doesn’t matter what you shoot, if you can’t hit what you’re aiming.

It kinda does ...... especially if someone gets upset about it.

 

[Mizar]

Got my wife a new porch swing a few years ago and I repurposed the old frame to hang plates from.

That's a great idea - thank you for sharing it!

 

[Remington1911]

No, it won't spin if you run a bolt through the chain, I've done it. The plate will hang at a downward angle if the chain is bolted behind it.

Let me try to explain this, I really suck at this......if I was smart I would have taken a picture.

If it is hanging by one length of chain, say you put a bolt through the chain, then run it up and hang it on whatever it will spin.

If it is hanging by "two lengths of chain" you take one end of the chain, loop it over whatever it is hanging on then bring it back down to the target put bolt through both loose ends it will not really spin at all.

I wish I had a picture to explain it.

 

[Hugger-4641]

Let me also try to explain without a picture. You use one length of chain. Fasten both ends of chain to the hangar stand at least a foot between ends and hanging about 6" in middle. Then you bolt the target in the middle of the chain and tighten said bolt firmly to make that link tight against the target. The target will swing back a bit when hit but will not spin.

 

[CajunBass]

Some JB Weld will take care of that.

 

[Riomouse911]

Let me try to explain this, I really suck at this......if I was smart I would have taken a picture.

If it is hanging by one length of chain, say you put a bolt through the chain, then run it up and hang it on whatever it will spin.

If it is hanging by "two lengths of chain" you take one end of the chain, loop it over whatever it is hanging on then bring it back down to the target put bolt through both loose ends it will not really spin at all.

I wish I had a picture to explain it.

I use a 4” wide by 16” long piece of thin conveyor belt material to hang my torso-sized plates. (I got a 12” x 6’ length off Amazon so I am set for life.) Drill a hole 2” from each end, loop it over the cross beam and use a hardened bolt-nut and washers to attach it to the back side of the plate

It hangs at a slight angle so splatter goes down. When hit, it rings, swings with no spin, and the material can take dozens of errant hits without snapping on one shot like chain can.

Just a thought.

Stay safe.

 

[Outlaw75]

45ACP normally shatters all molecular bonds in anything it hits, so the target should have disintegrated. Also, OP does not mention 3/4 of the berm being obliterated. Finally, there is no evidence of any ruptures in the space-time continuum like you usually see after someone hits with 45ACP. I call BS on OP!

 

[Remington1911]

I use a 4” wide by 16” long piece of thin conveyor belt material to hang my torso-sized plates. (I got a 12” x 6’ length off Amazon so I am set for life.) Drill a hole 2” from each end, loop it over the cross beam and use a hardened bolt-nut and washers to attach it to the back side of the plate

It hangs at a slight angle so splatter goes down. When hit, it rings, swings with no spin, and the material can take dozens of errant hits without snapping on one shot like chain can.

Just a thought.

Stay safe.

Unless you hit the chain where it bolts to the plate the chain will last a good long time. When you see clint eastwood shooting the hangmans noose in half, that really does not work. It will move, we have tried it many times. Now if you hit the bolt, and it depends on what you hit the bolt with all bets are off, including on where the splatter will go, this includes carriage bolts.

Here is another fun fact, lots of targets have a "square hole" this is for the carriage bolt and the square "head" behind the bolt face. Put your chain behind the target and that will help you a bunch.

Hardened bolts, including wheel studs will not stand up to center fire rifle. Hand gun will be just fine with grade 5 bolts I have found. I just use the cheap hardware as you really have to try to hit the bolt, and it is way up there anyway you should not be shooting that part anyway, more likely for a crack.

Your idea would work well for keeping them pointed in the correct direction.

 

[Speedo66]

A shot from a .44 magnum would blow its head clean off.