what kind of steel for .223 target?

[brentn]

Just curious but what do you guys use for steel targets for .223 rifles? I would be using the standard 55grn FMJ's if I was going to shoot and nothing steel core.

Basically I want to setup a long distance target (150-200) yards and have a target left to go and pick up after a day of shooting. I also wanted to use metal because I want to hear my hits and not have to have a buddy spotting me with a scope telling me whats going on.

I was wondering what you guys use, and also if you do use metal what is a safe shape to use or what's the safest way to set it up and avoid ricochets.

 

[R.W.Dale]

double

 

[R.W.Dale]

steel being shot with high velocity rifles needs to have a brinell hardness at least equal to AR500

The easiest thing to do is order a strike plate from an outfit such as themetalman.com and build your own swinger frame

see this thread for more
http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=418309&highlight=steel

 

[Sunray]

"...want to hear my hits..." You won't. Even at 200.
"...standard 55grn FMJ's..." Milsurp ball or commercial FMJ's? They're not the same thing. What kind of steel do you have easy and inexpensive access to?
You really should come by http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/. You can't shoot an AR, assuming that's the rifle you have, just anywhere in Canada, either.

 

[R.W.Dale]

"...want to hear my hits..." You won't. Even at 200

I disagree, even wearing hearing protection to me hit's are very audible on steel swingers even out to 300m with centerfire rifles

 

[SavageMOA]

"...want to hear my hits..." You won't. Even at 200

I disagree, as well. I have steel set up at 250 for my .223 and even with hearing protection it's clearly audible.

I ordered my plates from www.handgunsports.com

Very inexpensive.

 

[bkb0000]

we've got some iron baseplates we shoot 556 at 200m- its too thick to ring, and we still hear it through ear protection. CRACK "hit!"

 

[brentn]

I know I can hear them at 150 because I was using a piece of railroad track with my sks and could hear it ding. With the steel jacketed rounds there was the occasional huge spark as well ;p However it didn't hold up at well, but I'm sure it's because of the type of jacketing.

Krochus, thanks for the link!

 

[Rollis R. Karvellis]

The Salute target is preaty good, after over 1000 hit's of which about 500 are .223, it is good shape, the spring that return it to upright are losing there shape though, and a pice of the base has a good crack in it.