Thread: Gongs

Yep, I have seen structural steel welded to the back or AR500 be snapped after a few shots with a magnum calibre at 500 yards and they were hanging targets free to swing backwards. As I am sure you are aware any welding to the armour plated steel will reduce its hardness in the heat affected zone around the weld.

I assume the target cannot twist around the ground spike?

Originally Posted by Gillie

Yep, I have seen structural steel welded to the back or AR500 be snapped after a few shots with a magnum calibre at 500 yards and they were hanging targets free to swing backwards. As I am sure you are aware any welding to the armour plated steel will reduce its hardness in the heat affected zone around the weld.

I assume the target cannot twist around the ground spike?

Everything is a compromise. As I said this is how we have chosen to do it since we can put out up to 20-30 targets for an afternoons shoot, and then have to knock it all down again to clear the range. Speed of setup and knock down is critical, as is low maintenance and maintaining a 20 deg target angle regardless of what size and shape of target being used. And, we don't shoot magnum rifles, (or bolt guns for that matter).
Yes, welding on any hardened plate will effect it's as rolled hardness and UTS. Keeping the heat input as low as possible is critical. AR500 is weldable with the correct weld procedure specification (WPS) and a competent welder.
No, the target cannot twist on the ground spike since it is an angle iron inside a close fitting RHS.