Need Steel Target Suggestions (.223/5.56NATO Rifle). Gong?!? - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

jeff221 · 03-30-2007, 06:43 PM

Ok folks, need some guidance from you AR/AK people. Here's my deal:

My father lives on a farm less than a mile away, I go and shoot at the farm. I have been shooting my AR at 100 yards at a steel target I used for handguns...

As you can imagine, it didn't turn out well. I've completely destroyed the target faces. So, I'm in the market. With that being said, I've looked into a few different models/makers and wanted to see if any of you have a product you've used and have had success with.

Was thinking about these:
PortaTarget - 12" Gravity Target - $220
http://www.portatarget.com/products/product_fm.html

DSWeld - 10" - $125
http://www.dswelding.com/featured-items.html

MetalTargets.com - 15" Circle Gong - $140
http://www.metaltargets.com/SpinningTargets.htm#Gong

I just want to get something that I'm not going to destroy in 1,000 rounds... any thoughts?

40SWXDSHOOTER · 03-30-2007, 08:18 PM

I would go with the 10" @ $125.
I might even get two, so I could work on target indexing, but I'm a 3-Gunner.

Odin · 03-30-2007, 09:04 PM

I'm in the same boat as you. Parents have a farm and I can get close to 1k in range. Been looking at these targets for a while. http://www.lvsteeltargets.com/main.htm They can take a beating from a 50BMG!!!

BBunin · 03-30-2007, 11:14 PM

If they can take a .50, then a .223 won't even budge them.....

**einheit 13** · 03-31-2007, 03:41 AM

make your own from scrap 'pig iron' or heavy steel sheet pieces from the local scrap/salvage/recycling yard. I have 2 14"x14" squares that I shoot at 150m and 350m with my 'big guns'. They have taken well over 5,000 rounds each from all kinds of guns and calibers. They last about 2 years, depending on ammo.....AP , EP, and API bullets. Costs about $25 each to make plus my time. I also make them hang with a slight angle towards the rear, [3" off plumb -bottom away], this helps deflect the bullet down on impact and helps extend the target life.

**magnumize** · 03-31-2007, 04:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by einheit 13

make your own from scrap 'pig iron' or heavy steel sheet pieces from the local scrap/salvage/recycling yard. I have 2 14"x14" squares that I shoot at 150m and 350m with my 'big guns'. They have taken well over 5,000 rounds each from all kinds of guns and calibers. They last about 2 years, depending on ammo.....AP , EP, and API bullets. Costs about $25 each to make plus my time. I also make them hang with a slight angle towards the rear, [3" off plumb -bottom away], this helps deflect the bullet down on impact and helps extend the target life.

Hey Einheit,got any pics of your rig?I also am interested in this type of setup.

**einheit 13** · 03-31-2007, 05:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by magnumize

Hey Einheit,got any pics of your rig?I also am interested in this type of setup.

looks just like the ones above, except I use wood saw horses. Weld the plate to a piece of rebar or pipe. Nail blocks to to horses to trap the bar/pipe so it will pivot and not fall off. I like the wood horses 'caue its easier to replace legs when fliers hit them as opposed to steel.

jeff221 · 03-31-2007, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Odin

I'm in the same boat as you. Parents have a farm and I can get close to 1k in range. Been looking at these targets for a while. http://www.lvsteeltargets.com/main.htm They can take a beating from a 50BMG!!!

Thanks for the link Odin, that's almost excately what I'm looking for (on the chain). I've got all the other materials at that farm to make something to hang it from. So, that's perfect.

I thought about making one, and actually right now we've got an old tractor wheel weight (about 4" of solid steel) sitting out leaning against a tree stump that we've been sticking sticker targets too, but I think a gone in the long run would be better (plus, it's becoming farming season, he's going to want his wheel weight back).

Odin · 03-31-2007, 09:18 PM

I'm thinking about picking up a couple of the 1/2" steel 12" hanging circles. Chains are no problem finding on the farm. Hopefully they can last longer the cheapo MTM targets I was using. 62 grain steel penetrators made it look like swiss cheese.

JohnnyBra · 04-02-2007, 08:17 AM

My friend put together a homemade target out of scrap that I'm planning to duplicate.

For the main target surface, he used a railroad tie base. They're easily found around rail-road tracks. Near my house, there was a railroad track removed a few years ago, and there are literally hundreds of them laying around. Big solid, heavy piece of steel, hanging by chain from a iron pipe with 2 sets of legs, much like a swingset. Everything was scrap, so no cost at all.

03-30-2007, 06:43 PM	#1
jeff221 XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Northwest Indiana Posts: 2,364	Need Steel Target Suggestions (.223/5.56NATO Rifle). Gong?!? Ok folks, need some guidance from you AR/AK people. Here's my deal: My father lives on a farm less than a mile away, I go and shoot at the farm. I have been shooting my AR at 100 yards at a steel target I used for handguns... As you can imagine, it didn't turn out well. I've completely destroyed the target faces. So, I'm in the market. With that being said, I've looked into a few different models/makers and wanted to see if any of you have a product you've used and have had success with. Was thinking about these: PortaTarget - 12" Gravity Target - $220 http://www.portatarget.com/products/product_fm.html DSWeld - 10" - $125 http://www.dswelding.com/featured-items.html MetalTargets.com - 15" Circle Gong - $140 http://www.metaltargets.com/SpinningTargets.htm#Gong I just want to get something that I'm not going to destroy in 1,000 rounds... any thoughts? __________________ Springfield XD40 Sub-Compact Bi-Tone (.40S&W) Springfield XD9 Tactical Black (9mm) Springfield G.I. Milspec Stainless 1911-A1 (.45 ACP) Kimber Raptor II 1911 (.45 ACP) Kel-Tec P-3AT (.380 ACP) Charter Arms "Off Duty" Revolver (.38 Spl) Ruger 22/45 Mark III (.22 LR) Smith&Wesson M&P15A 16in AR-15 (.223/5.56 NATO) BushMaster Carbon-15 (.22 LR) BushMaster XM15 E2S 20in AR-15 (.223/5.56 NATO) Stoeger P350 Tactical Pump Shotgun (12 Gauge) Winchester Black Model98 Canon (10 Gauge)

03-30-2007, 09:04 PM	#3
Odin XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 555	I'm in the same boat as you. Parents have a farm and I can get close to 1k in range. Been looking at these targets for a while. http://www.lvsteeltargets.com/main.htm They can take a beating from a 50BMG!!! __________________ MK12 Mod1 SPR XD45 Tactical XD9 Service

03-30-2007, 11:14 PM	#4
BBunin XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 2,029	If they can take a .50, then a .223 won't even budge them..... __________________ . When seconds count, the police are only five minutes away. ------------------------------------ MY PARTIAL TOY LIST XD-9 5" (Production) XD-40 5" (Limited10) SA 1911 Loaded (Limited10/SingleStack) STI Spartan (Limited10/SingleStack) Kahr PM9 (CCW) KT P3AT (CCW) Remington 11-87 (Trap) Remington 870 Express (HD/Trap) Misc Rifles for fun and hunting

03-31-2007, 03:41 AM	#5
einheit 13 XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Virginia, C.S.A. Posts: 5,672	make your own from scrap 'pig iron' or heavy steel sheet pieces from the local scrap/salvage/recycling yard. I have 2 14"x14" squares that I shoot at 150m and 350m with my 'big guns'. They have taken well over 5,000 rounds each from all kinds of guns and calibers. They last about 2 years, depending on ammo.....AP , EP, and API bullets. Costs about $25 each to make plus my time. I also make them hang with a slight angle towards the rear, [3" off plumb -bottom away], this helps deflect the bullet down on impact and helps extend the target life. __________________ Once is happenstance, twice is coincidence, the third time is enemy action “It is the lack of will power, and not the lack of arms which render us incapable of offering any serious resistance.”

03-31-2007, 09:18 PM	#9
Odin XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 555	I'm thinking about picking up a couple of the 1/2" steel 12" hanging circles. Chains are no problem finding on the farm. Hopefully they can last longer the cheapo MTM targets I was using. 62 grain steel penetrators made it look like swiss cheese. __________________ MK12 Mod1 SPR XD45 Tactical XD9 Service

03-30-2007, 08:18 PM	#2
40SWXDSHOOTER XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 891	I would go with the 10" @ $125. I might even get two, so I could work on target indexing, but I'm a 3-Gunner.

04-02-2007, 08:17 AM	#10
JohnnyBra XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Glen Daniel, WV Posts: 124	My friend put together a homemade target out of scrap that I'm planning to duplicate. For the main target surface, he used a railroad tie base. They're easily found around rail-road tracks. Near my house, there was a railroad track removed a few years ago, and there are literally hundreds of them laying around. Big solid, heavy piece of steel, hanging by chain from a iron pipe with 2 sets of legs, much like a swingset. Everything was scrap, so no cost at all.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode