Thread: Steel Target Thickness

Have some plates made out of ar450, they are only around 4mm thick, I'm curious to what most people are using and any thoughts on how these might hold up to a centerfire?

One east way to find out..... if your making holes / deep craters just move further back!

Hang them at a 15 or degree angle that reduces the amount of damage massively. That said most seem to be around 8 mm but they angle will help.

Originally Posted by Cooper

Have some plates made out of ar450, they are only around 4mm thick, I'm curious to what most people are using and any thoughts on how these might hold up to a centerfire?

At 100m, most centre-fires have the velocity chew up the AR450 plates. Suggest move them out to 200m.

Think I will just try all these ideas, give one a go at 200 and see how it goes, have one artistic one in particular that will be perfect for the job

You’ll go through it or make very big dents at 200m with most calibers. Usually 10mm but 450 will crater at 100m
What you have will be perfect for rimfire targets.
If they are big plates you should be fine with non mags at about 800m onwards. .223 should be ok from 300m maybe.
I’m talking as far as making no surface damage as that can cause ricochet.
I’ve seen 300wsm blow clean through 450 10mm at 100m
I’ve seen 338 lapua blow clean through 5mm 450 at 500m.

I have an AR500 10” gong which is about .5” thick. Was advised not to shoot it at less than 200m, or 300m with magnum chamberings. I guess your thinner AR450 would prefer 300m or more. As you have it, try it and see. If no good just get an AR500 and be done with it. I think I paid US$50 for mine when living over there. NZ rort will likely at least treble that for you.