Thread: Gongs

Is the sound as good as a swinging plate? Can be a c unit to hear at distance with muffs on and i doubt yhat would show much movement

Originally Posted by Gibo

Is the sound as good as a swinging plate? Can be a c unit to hear at distance with muffs on and i doubt yhat would show much movement

Haven't had any issues at 100m. That said, for longer range I would suggest using a spring wire with a flag on it clamped to the top of the plate. When the plate is hit, the plate movement will disrupt the flag for easy identification. The plate bracket is not a tight fit on the ground stake so the top of the plate can push back 15-20mm under recoil, but the 20 deg angle causes the plate to fall forward again due to weight and center of gravity.

Originally Posted by hotbarrels

Haven't had any issues at 100m. That said, for longer range I would suggest using a spring wire with a flag on it clamped to the top of the plate. When the plate is hit, the plate movement will disrupt the flag for easy identification. The plate bracket is not a tight fit on the ground stake so the top of the plate can push back 15-20mm under recoil, but the 20 deg angle causes the plate to fall forward again due to weight and center of gravity.

Cant see the point in shooting a gong at 100 myself. The whole point for me is out past 400 I see it swing and hear a 'gong' sound.

Originally Posted by Gibo

Cant see the point in shooting a gong at 100 myself. The whole point for me is out past 400 I see it swing and hear a 'gong' sound.

It's for when the fog just won't lift and you get frustrated.

Originally Posted by Steve123

It's for when the fog just won't lift and you get frustrated.

For some of us the fog never lifts

Originally Posted by Gibo

Cant see the point in shooting a gong at 100 myself. The whole point for me is out past 400 I see it swing and hear a 'gong' sound.

Rapid fire IPSC 3-gun

Originally Posted by hotbarrels

Rapid fire IPSC 3-gun

Ah got ya. Distinct difference then

Have you tried anything larger than a .223 on them hotbarrels? I am guessing a magnum calibre will be pretty hard on the welds?

No magnums tested. Weld stress is why we went for the laser cut and folded bracket - it puts the majority of the structural welding into the 250 grade plate rather than the AR500. It is also why the fit of the bracket to the ground spike has some play. Is surprising who much energy a bit of movement dissipates.

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?

Hardox is weld able but you have to piss around with preheat and more importantly maximum interun temps.
The other thing is most people don't have consumables that can handle it.

We run a 620mpa nickle alloy wire that seems to spec up to hardox ar500.
I might have to try it one day.
Not a cheap wire either. But we keep it in stock at work for 500ma bar for structural work.


Sent from the swamp

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.

Hardly seems worth welding it
Your little brackets look like a good set up.


Sent from the swamp

I like the looks of this type, shamelessly copied the image from elsewhere.
Looks very simple and robust.

Had a bloke on the farm set up a range using old harrow discs. Been a while since I've bothered looking at them so I'm not sure whether it worked or not, I usually just ride straight past it on the way to look for some deer