Thread: DIY Steel Targets

Wanting to hear any suggestions for sourcing steel as how best to mount to set up some centerfire steel targets ? Looking to build my own KYL target as they don’t ship to nz, look like a lot of fun and a great challenge.

Search on this forum, there’s a heap of info.

message @Cowboy06 on here or email srdupontengineering@gmail.com hes rifle ranch targets - hes in south canterbury.

I build KYL targets in centerfire amd rimfire and can ship to wherever in Nz. Visit Rifle Ranch Targets on Facebook.

Go to your local scrap dealer or heavy machinary place and see if they have any old growsers or leading edges off of bulldozers that they've replaced, pretty sure they're the right grade of steel and cheap as chips. Cut to size and put some tabs or holes in it.

You need AR500 or AR550 steel or else youll get deep pits that are sharp on your hands and can ricochet bullets and lead back. Also after a while bullets shoot through them and they need welding to repair. Realshooting steel is virtually unmarked by a 308 bullet even at 50m.

Got mine made up a Realsteal in Upper Hutt

Thanks for the comments guys! Really appreciate it, will look into all the options you’ve listed.

If you let me know the sizes for the targets ie. diameter of target part. I can see how much some 6mm AR is and get my brother to cut out on water jet. Be cool to make one for myself as well

Steel Targets NZ in Palmerston North is a delight to deal with.

Originally Posted by McNotty

If you let me know the sizes for the targets ie. diameter of target part. I can see how much some 6mm AR is and get my brother to cut out on water jet. Be cool to make one for myself as well

6mm would be a bit thin for anything big I would think.

I scored some blades from a sheet metal shop (off of a press brake I think)

not sure of the grade, am yet to shoot em up.
I hope they are good, 25mm thick and about three meters long....

Originally Posted by Savage1

6mm would be a bit thin for anything big I would think.

My bad, didn’t read OP properly. Happy to get 10mm AR500. It’s not actually that expensive. $40 for a 300mm round AR500 gong through fletchers. Shouldn’t need a very big piece to cut all the targets from.

i know my 243 has punched through a gun city AR plate at 210mtr, only 1 out of 3 did, the others did leave a mark.
long skinny bullet with little frontal area.
Z

Originally Posted by McNotty

My bad, didn’t read OP properly. Happy to get 10mm AR500. It’s not actually that expensive. $40 for a 300mm round AR500 gong through fletchers. Shouldn’t need a very big piece to cut all the targets from.

Thats cheap for a 12 inch cut plate if that's correct I would be interested in some.