Ok here’s the deal. I want to buy a steel target for pistol and rifle training. I have the funds for only one target. What would you buy. I was thinking 8 inch gong. That is a good size for offhand with the AR at 100 yards. If this acceptable for drawing from concelement pistol at 25 yards? Id like to stretch both rifle and pistol farther but want to improve myself at these distances first. I can static mount it for pistol and hang between some chain for rifle. Would anyone reccomend an IPSA style for this instead. I’m not high speed or trying to break into competition. Just a guy who wants to improve. Thanks for the help
How much is just enough? And what companies are you looking at? I’m curious to see how everyone else responds, but the thing that I always try to keep in mind for reference is that the average human head is about 8 inches in diameter (or so I’ve heard).
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
That, or a torso shaped plate should do you good.
Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk
Ive read in this forum that keeeping all your shots offhand in an 8 inch circle is desirable. That’s why I picked 8 inches. About the size of an NRA B8 I believe. I have not picked an specific company. Looking at them all.
Not to dig into your finances, but how much are you trying to spend? AR500 plate is CHEAP IMO. I think I pay $24 for 8x8 and $30 for 10x10 AR 500 with holes pre drilled. The place I buy from said he can get anything I want in 48 hours and prices will be comparable. I would guess you have a local steel shop that can get you AR500 plate cut to what you want for a decent price.
Got maybe another $25 into some fence post, chain, and bolts.
I have a 100 yard plate setup and a 400 yard plate and have right at maybe $110 into the whole setup. The one at 100 we can walk down to and shoot pistols at it if we want.
I agree…8 inch gong made out of 1/2 inch AR500 steel. That’s mainly what we shoot, from a wide variety of distances, both pistol and rifle. Be aware that not all AR500 targets are equal. Some of the lower quality (cheaper) steels gongs are cut with a plain old plasma cutter. The AR500 loses its temper around the cut edge and it can chip pretty badly. The better targets (more expensive) are cut with a water jet or underwater plasma. We use 1/2 inch. 3/8 might be “good enough”, but we shoot from a lot closer than the usually-recommended 100 distance.
I was looking at shoot steel.com and they are plasma cut. I know they are not a lot but my spending amount is that small. I think eight inch to start. With mounting it in two ways my cash will be gone. But I’ll be ringing steel!
i’ve bought quite a few AR500 gongs in 8 and 10 inches off ebay for really cheap, usually like 20-30 bucks each shipped. they work great and come pre-drilled. in my opinion if you get a couple 8 inch gongs you can work many different drills with rifle and pistol.
Lots of good suggestions in this thread for brands and where to buy
https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?141699-Best-Steel-plates-for-Targets&p=1785994#post1785994
bigdogsteel.com was recommended by a good friend of mine, who uses their steel all the time. They have some less-costly options.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
After looking at different sites I’m going to with two 8 inch gongs. One is 3/8 and the other is 1/2. One for pistol and one for rifle. I know I could do rifle with the 3/8 but want something bigger for the 300 win mag for hunting! Thanks again for the help
Wideners still has them (8" rounds) for $35. We have had them out at the range a couple times and they have been perfect.
Sent using Tapatalk
http://www.custommetalprod.com/shooting-targets/static-targets/product/290-idpa-23-size-torso
2/3rd IDPA AR500 targets at $95
I have a couple of the shootsteel.com round targets. I use the 2x4 hangers they sell. Great for rifle and pistol.
The whole torso shaped target intrigue me but I am concerned about which size to use. What are the reason for so many scaled down versions. Is it like reduced size targets for different yardage like a reduced 200 yard target setup at 100? I see many training videos use the full size torso to training. Which would be the best for pistol and rifle at ranges up to 200 yards. I might not be able to afford it now but maybe in the near future. Thanks
I go with 2/3rd size targets mostly as the are more close to actual torso sizes on the average person. The Full Size targets are like shooting at a 400lb fat man. Plus the 2/3rds are generally lots cheaper.
I’ve got 3 8" 3/8 ar500 gongs with hanging loops that I got from eBay for $30 shipped each. I’ve been shooting them for a year at close range with everything from .22 to .308. They’ve held up tremendously. I wish they were torsos but for the money you can’t go wrong.
8 inches is the generally-accepted lethal zone for center of mass shots and that is true no matter the distance you’re shooting from, so it’s what I like to shoot. Because we shoot from varying distances, including 5.56 at less than 50 yards, we’ve found that the 1/2 inch AR500 is preferable to the thinner and cheaper stuff.
There’s your problem… I would get something that is resettable for pistol and has multiple targets like a plate rack. Then one long range square.
These guys make good stuff. They are in VA if you are ever around that way.
We use 1/2" thick 8" discs in all our classes.