steel targets?

[skydve76]

Does anyone know a resource around here to get a steel plate to shoot at?  Ive seen the stuff at lowes and ace but not big enough or not thick enough.
Well be shooting 308 and 300 wm at it, 200. yards plus.  Anyone got any experience with what I need and here I can get it locally?

[bkoenig]

Does anyone know a resource around here to get a steel plate to shoot at?  Ive seen the stuff at lowes and ace but not big enough or not thick enough.
Well be shooting 308 and 300 wm at it, 200. yards plus.  Anyone got any experience with what I need and here I can get it locally?

I don't know of any place you can get it locally, but you need hardened steel.  Even thick, unhardened steel can be dangerous because it can deform and cause pockets that can funnel the ricochet back at you.  AR500 steel is the standard.  I know Wideners has it for sale online.  The smaller plates seem decently priced:

http://wideners.com/itemview.cfm?dir=1020

[FarmerRick]

Douglas County gets most of it's road grader and plow wear bars and other specialty steel from Nebraska Welding located just south of Millard, NE.

http://www.nebraskaweldingltd.com/

I don't know if they would have what you want or what the price would be, but I would try to get it locally at a place like that as shipping on steel plate would be mighty pricey.

[Mudinyeri]

When I was doing more fabricating, I bought most of my steel from Cat's Supply in Fairbury.  When I needed a small order, there was a guy that advertised on Craigslist here in Omaha.  His shop was west of 84th Street a few blocks north of L.  I'll see if I can find his contact info.

[skydve76]

Appreciate it.  Almost thought about picking up a 1/4 " plate from lowes.  Sounds like that would be a bad idea.

[maanbr]

Centerfire rifles will punch right through 1/4" plate, even 1/2" with some .30 cals, and make it dangerous to shoot at in the future and to even handle.  You're best bet is to google steel targets and get on that is properly designed to take rifle fire.  That will be the hardened AR steel.

A local shop may carry the type of steel needed, but for them to fabricate it into the target you want you'll probably not save much in costs..

[skydve76]

How about this?  Would it stand up to 300 wm at 100 yds?

http://cgi.ebay.com/3-8-AR500-Steel-Target-12-x20-/170637765619?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27bacdabf3

[FarmerRick]

How about this?  Would it stand up to 300 wm at 100 yds?

http://cgi.ebay.com/3-8-AR500-Steel-Target-12-x20-/170637765619?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27bacdabf3

"Use for rimfire, handguns and rifles up to 308.  For rifles use no closer than 100yds, pistols 10yds."

Looks like the answer is NO.  1/2" may work, but not 3/8".

[Mudinyeri]

I couldn't find the guy's contact info and he doesn't seem to be advertising on Craigslist any more.