What's the most effective plate target?

[MBTcustom]

I was talking to Jim the other day on the phone, and he was telling me that his wife enjoyed shooting a plate steel target where you knock down six round plates and then yank a string to set them up again, and go at it.
This seems like more fun than should be legal as I have never dinged a plate of steel with anything but a rifle, and that was at long range.

However, I ran it by a buddy of mine, and he told me that while shooting plates is an amazing training tool, he much preferred the hanging plates that don't fall down when you hit them but ring much louder. He contended that the positive reinforcement that came from the greater sound of the plates being hit was better than the sight of the plate falling down.

I have never enjoyed shooting anything like this, and I have a pretty good sized piece of plate steel left over from another project, and if I can do it, I would like to build a target like this! It seems like more fun than anything I have ever done before.
However, if it's better to just hang some plates from chains, and get after it, that would be much easier and cheaper than making the plates to be the falling type that I can set up by yanking a string.

I was hoping that some of you might have worked with both types of targets and could give me some guidence. If I'm going to do this, I'm only going to have time to do it once (maybe) and I want to get the most out of my effort.
What-d-ya-say?

[TES]

Chains break when shot....use a solid "J" hanger about 1/2" thick with a "blade cut" on the front facing the shooter. Then build a sturdy hanger for it....or the steel plate in the tire target. At least that collects the lead for you. Saw it on you tube and here somewhere.

Here it is...post #10

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?226581-Lead-replacement

[GARD72977]

I like targets that fall. When shooting the ML woods walk it is a lot of satisfaction to knock down the target. I have shot outlaw steel with a hand gun and some stages had ringers and others had falling targets. It was always more fun to shoot the falling targets like the speed rack or a Texas star.

I have made ringer targets (handgun) by drilling a hole very high on the target and using a carriage bolt through the target and a valve spring between the target and the stand. This send most bullets down and the ones that hit near bolt and spring have most of there power absorbed by the spring. A lot of bullets that hit high will come back 5 yds and just hit the ground.


In the end it is all fun!

[Whiterabbit]

My guns tend to recoil to much to stay on target. actually shooting over 500 yards for the first time recently a year or two ago was an eye opener, since I had enough time to recover and get back on target to see the splash. For guns like this, knock downs or milkjugs aren't much fun. Can't get the full effect of watching them go down. Ringers are where it is at.

If I were shooting a 223 or 22lr or 22 hornet or the like, something that had no recoil, I think I might like the knockdowns better since I could watch the whole thing happen.

[MBTcustom]

My guns tend to recoil to much to stay on target. actually shooting over 500 yards for the first time recently a year or two ago was an eye opener, since I had enough time to recover and get back on target to see the splash. For guns like this, knock downs or milkjugs aren't much fun. Can't get the full effect of watching them go down. Ringers are where it is at.

If I were shooting a 223 or 22lr or 22 hornet or the like, something that had no recoil, I think I might like the knockdowns better since I could watch the whole thing happen.

Sorry WR, I should have said I am looking at this for handguns only at 50 yards and less. No rifles.

[375RUGER]

I make mine swing and they are portable. Just imagine an A frame swing set (or gantry) that you can take down. Don't need any special steel just make it thick enough for the application. i.e. 1/4" won't last long when using a 44 mag but will last a long time with .22RF
My wife is wanting me to make a target that is mounted on a spring so it mostly falls over but then returns upright. And she wants it to stake into the ground too. Food for thought there.

[Whiterabbit]

Sorry WR, I should have said I am looking at this for handguns only at 50 yards and less. No rifles.

I could have been more clear, since I also shoot metal with the BFR. It makes no difference rifle or handgun. My handgun recoils too much to enjoy a falling target or even a dueling tree. ditto on black powder which I DO shoot at 50 yards. I like the sound over the reaction.

[dtknowles]

At a couple ranges that I have shot at they have plate racks. Six steel plate on the rack, plates fall over when hit by a substantial round, the plates are stood back up by pulling on a rope. I find shooting at these fun. If I was building my own range I would just have a set of swingers since that would be easier. The falling plate rack takes a beating and at my current range they have some problems even thought the manufacturer tried to shield the mechanisms.

I would put 5 plates on a rack instead of 6. At this range the plate racks are 25 yards so not many shooters can clean the rack shooting offhand. This makes it nice that the plates fall when hit so people can see who can really shoot. Light 38's are iffy but stock 7.62 x 25 are pretty reliable at dropping the plates. Heavy magnums can break them. For me slow fire with a .357 revolver if I miss a plate I am disappointed. When I shoot faster with a semiauto if can't clear the rack with a 8 round mag I am disappointed. They won't let me but I really want to see how fast I could clear the rack with my 9mm carbine with a red dot sight.

When I was able to shoot at an informal range where I could put out my own plates I built and bought some swingers and I had a few falling plates that I would set a various distances. I like reactive targets but I don't want to make a mess I would have to clean up. Plates are good that way. The falling plates needed a cold range to be reset but the swingers would take quite a few hits before they needed attention. My favorite target is still clay pigeons and I bought 3 sets of holders for them.

Tim

[Artful]

Falling plate rack is Mine but commercial made
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/rowdyfisk/Misc/P1050259.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/rowdyfisk/media/Misc/P1050259.jpg.html)

self reseting springer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbwcUybDjvk

[Artful]

Tumbling targets

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHNsAbNlyw8

self made hangers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsJJUmEV4Go

[dragonrider]

."Six steel plate on the rack, plates fall over when hit by a substantial round, the plates are stood back up by pulling on a rope"

I built two of these years ago for my club. I used bowling pin shaped targets made of T-1 steel which is very good handgun target material. Note that I said handgun. One of them is still at the club. the other is in my back yard not being used. The pins have been hit so many times that they broke off their mounting point. Can be repaired of course, just haven't done it. Used them for one on one competitions. Used them a lot. However it seems some people have no other purpose in the world except to be AH's because we could not leave the stands out for practice some fool would come along with his rifle and with his limited intelligence would think it was ok to fire away then scratch his head wondering why the targets just wobbled a bit but did not fall. And then try again several times. When he finally walks down to look and sees the holes he made in the target. By the way there was a sign hanging on the target that said, "Handguns using lead boolits only, no jacketed ammo, no rifles." So now the target sits in a storage container and gets no use at all. Tim I will try to get some pics of the one I still have perhaps it will help your quest.

[nekshot]

When I was young I had a 3/4 x 8 inch plate hung on a chain. At 80 yards standing free hand I could hit it 6 out of 6 for a few rounds on most shooting sessions till I tired.. However it shot back at me. Leaves used to fall from the splatter and alot of it was real close to me. I never used metal after that season of my life ended ( young and dumb).

[CLAYPOOL]

I have bought 4 of the new Caldwell brand Magnum Rifle Gong targets. They are designed to hang from chains. I am going to start @ a distance and see if I can use them for handguns at a safe distance. I know about splash back and other problems that can happen so calm down. I have a pipe frame that is a large triangle on each end that I used for hanging cattle oilers. I will suspend the gongs from that. They are Certified AR 550 Though-Hardened Target Steel and should stand up to use. If that doesn't work out I can always take it back in the field and use it for my200 or 300 rifle target.

[dragonrider]

Here are some pic of the plate rack that I built. Pin targets are broken off but perhaps they will help with your own design. click on the pic for a larger pic
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/PaulGauthier/target%20rack/th_020_zps896b35c3.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/PaulGauthier/media/target%20rack/020_zps896b35c3.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/PaulGauthier/target%20rack/th_016_zps8b190032.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/PaulGauthier/media/target%20rack/016_zps8b190032.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/PaulGauthier/target%20rack/th_014_zps3ab1389b.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/PaulGauthier/media/target%20rack/014_zps3ab1389b.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/PaulGauthier/target%20rack/th_019_zps3cc5cb44.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/PaulGauthier/media/target%20rack/019_zps3cc5cb44.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/PaulGauthier/target%20rack/th_018_zpse0d2f7a8.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/PaulGauthier/media/target%20rack/018_zpse0d2f7a8.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/PaulGauthier/target%20rack/th_017_zpscf540da1.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/PaulGauthier/media/target%20rack/017_zpscf540da1.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/PaulGauthier/target%20rack/th_013_zps50c23053.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/PaulGauthier/media/target%20rack/013_zps50c23053.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/PaulGauthier/target%20rack/th_015_zpsc17dbe38.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/PaulGauthier/media/target%20rack/015_zpsc17dbe38.jpg.html)

[jaysouth]

Railroad track (tie?) plates make good pistol targets. A club that I once belonged to had six of them hung by chains from an A frame rack. I don't think you can wear one out with cast boolits at handgun velocities.

Getting them requires some scrounging. The railroads salvage them as thoroughly as possible.

[429421Cowboy]

If it is noise you are looking for, I have found in making quite a few rifle gongs and pistol targets, that the most important thing in making that good solid "PING" is the hardness of the steel. A good 3/8" or 1/2 piece of T-1 will give a very satisfying ring, while a thicker piece of more mild carbon steel will give a dull sound when struck.
Granted, cost is a factor, and most of my targets are of lower carbon steel, but if I get my hooks in high carbon steel ever it gets turned to targets!

[destrux]

For what its worth a good source of steel plate that will withstand up to .300 win mag is the replaceable plates on the blades of farm plows. We were shooting junk out of the scrap heap one day and found out those suckers are tough. No number of hits with the .30-06 would leave even a ding.

[KYCaster]

It depends entirely on your objective.

If you want to blast away at fun targets and get immediate feed back with the least amount of effort, then hanging plates will serve the purpose just fine.

If, on the other hand, you seriously want to improve your accuracy and speed, falling plates will be much better.

The falling plate doesn't let you ignore a miss like the hanging plate....it's either up or down....no excuses.

Jerry

[MBTcustom]

It depends entirely on your objective.

If you want to blast away at fun targets and get immediate feed back with the least amount of effort, then hanging plates will serve the purpose just fine.

If, on the other hand, you seriously want to improve your accuracy and speed, falling plates will be much better.

The falling plate doesn't let you ignore a miss like the hanging plate....it's either up or down....no excuses.

Jerry

That's a really great post Jerry, thank you.
I think I'll start with a single hanging plate and go from there. I was given one that's about 7" in diameter by a friend, and I'm too busy to build a falling plate rack, so this might be the most bang for the buck.
I really want one of those falling plate racks though.......

[tomme boy]

Make sure the plate is hard enough to not leave any marks on it from being shot. It craters develop, it can sent bullets back at you.

[btroj]

Tim, based upon your self described handgun abilities have you considered finding one that moves quickly into the path of bullets?

[MBTcustom]

No Brad. I was thinking of starting with a 4' sawmill blade at 15 paces, then graduating myself to a manhole cover, then a cultivator disk, then a lawnmower rim, then finally this 7" steel plate.
Ambitious, I know, but you gotta have a dream ya know?
LOL!

[btroj]

15 paces? You are shooting a rifle, right?

[cbrick]

Surprised to see him looking for targets. :veryconfu

I didn't know he was shooter. [smilie=1:

Rick

[btroj]

He shoots, I think I saw something a few years back about his 44 mag......

[BSalty]

Something not mentioned yet is the dueling trees. I prefer those to both hanging and fall down steel with handguns. Although Mrs. Salty does not like them as much as her 9mm sometimes needs a double tap to get it to swing all the way around. But the 45 leaves no doubt when it is hit.