Homemade steel shooting targets

Target shooting and range information. Competitive shooting, ranges, competitions, clubs and events. Free shooting targets.

Homemade steel shooting targets

Post by sneaker » 09 Nov 2017, 2:46 pm

Hi guys,

Is there anything practical you can use for cheap homemade steel targets?

I have bought the steel joinery stuff from Bunnings but it turns to swiss cheese straight away.

I don't know about metal working and suppliers and stuff, are there places that sell that strong target steel just as a material rather than a fancy product that'll be cheap?

Cheers.
User avatar
sneaker
Private
Private
 
Posts: 76
New South Wales

Re: Homemade steel shooting targets

Post by bladeracer » 09 Nov 2017, 3:04 pm

sneaker wrote:Hi guys,

Is there anything practical you can use for cheap homemade steel targets?

I have bought the steel joinery stuff from Bunnings but it turns to swiss cheese straight away.

I don't know about metal working and suppliers and stuff, are there places that sell that strong target steel just as a material rather than a fancy product that'll be cheap?

Cheers.


I did look at making my own but steel is not cheap.
For pretty much any centre-fire rifle bullet you'll need hardened steel, like an AR400+.
For .22LR 5mm mild steel plate is just fine.
Practice Strict Gun Control - Precision Counts!
User avatar
bladeracer
Field Marshal
Field Marshal
 
Posts: 12655
Victoria

Re: Homemade steel shooting targets

Post by bladeracer » 09 Nov 2017, 3:10 pm

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1-5sc-NRA-IHMSA-Metallic-Silhouette-Targets-20pc-Small-Bore-Rifle-Knock-overs-/250974148125

I bought these early this year - A$108 delivered to my door for rimfire silhouettes.
I think they were about one-third the price that STS wanted here in Oz.

I couldn't come close to making them for that sort of money.

I don't actually shoot at them much as it destroys the bullets. I prefer to shoot at paper targets the same shape and size and be able to recover the bullets.
Practice Strict Gun Control - Precision Counts!
User avatar
bladeracer
Field Marshal
Field Marshal
 
Posts: 12655
Victoria

Re: Homemade steel targets

Post by marksman » 09 Nov 2017, 7:04 pm

if you can get the cutting edge off a bulldozer blade that is worn out it is work hardened enough to not dent or be penetrated by bullets
railway track sliced is another good one
“If you do not read the newspapers you are uninformed. If you do read the newspapers you are misinformed”. Mark Twain
User avatar
marksman
Colonel
Colonel
 
Posts: 3660
Victoria

Re: Homemade steel targets

Post by bladeracer » 09 Nov 2017, 7:12 pm

marksman wrote:if you can get the cutting edge off a bulldozer blade that is worn out it is work hardened enough to not dent or be penetrated by bullets
railway track sliced is another good one


Dozer blade is a good idea, but hard to work with.
Railway track doesn't seem to me that it would stop bullets, at least not the web.
Practice Strict Gun Control - Precision Counts!
User avatar
bladeracer
Field Marshal
Field Marshal
 
Posts: 12655
Victoria

Re: Homemade steel targets

Post by Tripod » 09 Nov 2017, 7:44 pm

Plow disc's make great long range gongs.
Tripod
Corporal
Corporal
 
Posts: 269
Tasmania

Re: Homemade steel targets

Post by Noisydad » 09 Nov 2017, 8:20 pm

Tripod wrote:Plow disc's make great long range gongs.

Plus 1! They make a great clang too!
I use a lot of 5-6mm mild steel and chequer plate for home made silhouettes but even my muzzle loaders and other BP rifles dent the hell out of "em to the point that I turn them around next time to "hammer" the dents out again. 8 -10mm is better.
There's still a few of Wile. E Coyote's ideas that I haven't tried yet.
User avatar
Noisydad
Warrant Officer C1
Warrant Officer C1
 
Posts: 1383
Victoria

Re: Homemade steel targets

Post by Rikta » 10 Nov 2017, 12:21 am

depends on distance youre shooting it at and what with etc, for 223 you can use anything from 3/8" mild steel plate at 200m and above, but any closer will need to be 1" plate. as for bigger faster rounds like large magnums, you will need something serious like bisalloy
Rem .270
Howa .223
Ruger 22lr
Lanber 12g
Rossi 410g
Rikta
Lance Corporal
Lance Corporal
 
Posts: 134
Western Australia

Re: Homemade steel targets

Post by Tripod » 10 Nov 2017, 7:31 am

300Win Mag and 338 Win Mag are fine on Plough disc's at 300yrds+, I haven't tried any closer as they are a big target. They do punch straight through the 10mm mild steel I welded over the hole in the centre of the discs at that distance though
Tripod
Corporal
Corporal
 
Posts: 269
Tasmania

Re: Homemade steel targets

Post by Member-Deleted » 10 Nov 2017, 10:48 am

I made this one a couple of years ago
top bar slides out of bipod legs and targets slide off top bar ''all pipe''
Rectangle one is ply bolted to small angle so ply can be changed
Small one is 4'' 10mm bisalloy 450
Larger one is 8'' 16mm bisalloy 450
You know when you hit them with large caliber they do a loopty loop over the top bar
I think off hand all up it cost me around $100- $140 to make myself
Best part it can be broken down and put in a sedan and will last for a long time
Member-Deleted
 

Re: Homemade steel targets

Post by Member-Deleted » 10 Nov 2017, 10:49 am

Sorry boys forgot the pic
Attachments
20150727_142934.jpg
20150727_142934.jpg (155.1 KiB) Viewed 11896 times
Member-Deleted
 

Re: Homemade steel targets

Post by Wobble » 10 Nov 2017, 11:17 am

bladeracer wrote:I did look at making my own but steel is not cheap.


Yep.

Thick, quality steel is expensive.

If you had the skill/equipment to do your self you'd save a few bucks on labour, maybe.

Targets by STS as an example aren't that expensive, really I'd just grab one.

More effort that it's worth trying to DIY I think.
Weatherby Vanguards in .300 Weatherby Magnum and .243 Winchester
User avatar
Wobble
Corporal
Corporal
 
Posts: 268
Western Australia

Re: Homemade steel targets

Post by sarki » 13 Nov 2017, 11:40 am

I'd say just buy an STS target too.

Buy once, cry once.

It'll last you basically forever.

Just don't shoot any crazy velocity stuff at it.
Dear Santa,
Please bring me a Desert Tactical Arms SRS-A1 Rifle in .338 Lapua Magnum.
I'll be good with it, I promise!
User avatar
sarki
Lance Corporal
Lance Corporal
 
Posts: 153
New South Wales

Re: Homemade steel targets

Post by Phatcat » 18 Mar 2018, 1:21 pm

Champion AR500 300 x 300 is $65 at gunshops
Phatcat
Recruit
Recruit
 
Posts: 2
Victoria

Re: Homemade steel targets

Post by Oldbloke » 19 Mar 2018, 4:12 pm

I reckon one of these would do the trick. You can just pick them up where there has been maintenance work carried out sometimes.

Railway shoulder plate.JPG
Railway shoulder plate.JPG (25.57 KiB) Viewed 11570 times
The greatest invention in the history of man is beer.
https://youtu.be/2v3QrUvYj-Y
Member. SFFP, Shooters Union.
SSAA, the powerful gun lobby. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Hunt safe.
User avatar
Oldbloke
Field Marshal
Field Marshal
 
Posts: 11192
Victoria

Re: Homemade steel targets

Post by sungazer » 19 Mar 2018, 7:00 pm

Phatcat I am after a 600*600 12mm thick piece of 500 Bis. Any recommendations on where and how much?
sungazer
Sergeant Major
Sergeant Major
 
Posts: 1525
Other

Re: Homemade steel targets

Post by bladeracer » 19 Mar 2018, 7:21 pm

sungazer wrote:Phatcat I am after a 600*600 12mm thick piece of 500 Bis. Any recommendations on where and how much?


I know that Metalcorp in Morwell can supply Bisalloys.
You're looking at three times the price of mild steel plate.
They can do me a 2400x1200mm sheet of 6mm mild for $300 so Bisalloy would be close to a grand, or two grand for a 12mm sheet.
Practice Strict Gun Control - Precision Counts!
User avatar
bladeracer
Field Marshal
Field Marshal
 
Posts: 12655
Victoria

Re: Homemade steel targets

Post by Member-Deleted » 19 Mar 2018, 9:49 pm

Sungazer in 2015-2016 I was buying 500 Biss 12mm - 2400x1200 in QLD for $695 + GST per sheet normal steel sheet ( mild )
was $560+ GST you should be able to pick a piece up from a digger bucket or dozer blade repair shop if you have one close
by as Biss is a common wear plate for that work
Don't know if this helps but that was the prices in QLD back then I doubt whether it would have gone up much as steel prices were going down
when I sold out

Cheers
Member-Deleted
 

Re: Homemade steel targets

Post by YoungBuck » 19 Mar 2018, 9:56 pm

Not sure if this is something that you might be interested in or not but this guy makes his own, I think around $350 from memory.
https://youtu.be/mJvuVZIHBUw
It'll shoot the fleas off a dog's back at five hundred yards, Tannen, and it's pointed straight at your head!
User avatar
YoungBuck
Corporal
Corporal
 
Posts: 436
Victoria

Re: Homemade steel targets

Post by duncan61 » 19 Mar 2018, 10:37 pm

That bizalloy is tough stuff.It took a 7mm Rem Mag 175gn failsafe at 20 metres and it made a slight dent.Mild steel ends up with a 20mm hole
.22 winchester .22hornet .222 .243 7mm rem mag cbc 12g
User avatar
duncan61
Officer Cadet
Officer Cadet
 
Posts: 1905
Western Australia

Re: Homemade steel targets

Post by Growler » 20 Mar 2018, 4:20 am

I'm picking up a piece of 40mm plate from a mate next week, reckon that should stop SP .303. Heres hoping anyway
Just the necessity
User avatar
Growler
Private
Private
 
Posts: 58
South Australia

Re: Homemade steel targets

Post by bigfellascott » 20 Mar 2018, 11:49 am

grandadbushy wrote:Sorry boys forgot the pic


Noice job GB - set up to be portable too by the looks of it.

I'm thinking of making something that I can sit over a star picket (round tube with an arm off it to hang a target that can spin around) simple and easy to set up and can knock out a few and put them at all different ranges to test the skills out a bit. :drinks:
User avatar
bigfellascott
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
 
Posts: 5289
-

Re: Homemade steel targets

Post by bigfellascott » 20 Mar 2018, 11:54 am

I punched a hole through this 10mm Hardox 500 plate with the 22.250 at around 80-100m from memory - all the other hits are from 222, 223, 308, 338 lap, none of those even scratched it! :unknown:

I guess speed and diameter of the projectile have to be considered too. :drinks:

Image
User avatar
bigfellascott
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
 
Posts: 5289
-

Re: Homemade steel targets

Post by Gaznazdiak » 20 Mar 2018, 12:23 pm

I'm just about to start building one from railway track plates. Going to weld 6 together in a 3 x 2 arangement to give me a 600 x 600 plate. They weigh 5kg each so it won't blow over in the wind here.
Going to make a frame to hold it at an angle to deflect the rounds downwards.
I'll post the results
The pic is 50gn and 70gn .223 from 100m
Attachments
0001.jpg
0001.jpg (1.84 MiB) Viewed 11173 times
fideles usque ad mortem
User avatar
Gaznazdiak
Warrant Officer C1
Warrant Officer C1
 
Posts: 1379
New South Wales

Re: Homemade steel targets

Post by Gaznazdiak » 26 Mar 2018, 9:01 pm

Started the steel target today, didn't get far, ran out of bloody welding rods and the ones I did have were damp but I got the deflector started, just have to fill the holes.
I'll start on the frame and target stand when I get new rods in town next week.
Attachments
Webp.net-resizeimage (6).jpg
Webp.net-resizeimage (6).jpg (546.86 KiB) Viewed 11138 times
Webp.net-resizeimage (5).jpg
Webp.net-resizeimage (5).jpg (571.05 KiB) Viewed 11138 times
fideles usque ad mortem
User avatar
Gaznazdiak
Warrant Officer C1
Warrant Officer C1
 
Posts: 1379
New South Wales

Re: Homemade steel targets

Post by Member-Deleted » 27 Mar 2018, 9:28 pm

Gaznazdiak , mate if the rods are wet and the flux is still on them just put them on a tray and put them in an oven on
medium heat for a couple of hours and they will dry out and return to usable rods
Just be careful whilst handling them while they are wet the flux may fall off
Member-Deleted
 

Re: Homemade steel targets

Post by Gaznazdiak » 28 Mar 2018, 9:11 am

Hi granddad
Yeah, I buggered a few by knocking off flux by being careless while it was soft. Never thought of sticking them in the oven. I left them in the sun for a few hours, I don't think it dried them enough though, as you can see from the dodgy finish.
That's my excuse anyway :mrgreen:
fideles usque ad mortem
User avatar
Gaznazdiak
Warrant Officer C1
Warrant Officer C1
 
Posts: 1379
New South Wales

Re: Homemade steel targets

Post by Member-Deleted » 30 Mar 2018, 11:08 am

Well gaznazdiak don't worry about how it looks I've seen far worse from tradesmen and its held together fine
yeah mate they are pretty delicate when they are wet but still good when dry

cheers
Member-Deleted
 

Re: Homemade steel targets

Post by sungazer » 30 Mar 2018, 1:08 pm

I put them in the oven even if its been a long time since Ive used them esp the cheap ones . Make for much better striking.
sungazer
Sergeant Major
Sergeant Major
 
Posts: 1525
Other

Re: Homemade steel targets

Post by Member-Deleted » 30 Mar 2018, 8:53 pm

If you want to keep rods for a long time because you only use a few every now and then
Get an old fridge that doesn't work and fit a lead light into the inside of it preferable about 8'' from the bottom put the rods on the racks
switch the light on and close the door that light has enough heat coming off it to keep the rods dry for as long as you like
providing the light is on, the one I had in the workshop would be 2 days on 1 day off to save power although a 50 watt light doesn't use
much power
I used this way for special rods I had to buy in and only use 2-3 out of a box , I can't recall loosing any

Just something if anyboby is interested
cheers
Member-Deleted
 

Next

Back to top
 
Return to Target shooting - Competitive shooting - Shooting ranges