shaneman153a 39 Posted March 18, 2010 Report Share Posted March 18, 2010 M'kay, so I've decided to turn the canyon I always hunt into a long shooting range, with steel plates. Ranges will be from 350 - 1000yds. Here's the dilemma - I'm not going to drop $160 for a set of four "approved" A500 steel targets that are already cut out. I'm probably going to go with the cheapest 1/2" steel I can get, and cut them out myself. I'm not going to use AP ammo, and the biggest thing they'll ever see is likely a 300 RUM. The minimum range is 350 so I'm really not worried about the hardness of the steel causing an unsafe condition. Any steel freaks know what kind or how thick I should use? Now, would 2MOA circular cutouts be too ambitious? 1.5? My goal is to get better. I know F class uses a 5' wide target. That's not an option, and defeats the purpose. What do you folks think? Here's the canyon: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ktcm7271 999 Posted March 18, 2010 Report Share Posted March 18, 2010 Use any grade of cold rolled, clean it thoroughly with acetone or rubbing alcohol, and paint it with a good outdoor paint-Krylon is a good inexpensive choice. Stay away from hot rolled because it rusts much quicker and the quality of the grain may cause it to break or shatter from repeated impacts. I laser cut plate steel a lot and I am very familiar with the properties of the steel. Hot rolled stuff has a lot of inconsistencies that make it a poor choice for just about anything. High grade tool or spring steel would just be overkill for this purpose. Hope this is helpful. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
akwatercraft 0 Posted March 18, 2010 Report Share Posted March 18, 2010 i use rail road tie plates ,,, they go under the track between the rail and the tie. they are 9 x 16 i use one for 200 to 300 and weld 2 together for farther out. no you cant take them right off the tracks but a walk around a rail yard or recently worked on tracks may turn some up,,,, nothing like dinging a 600 yard gong! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shaneman153a 39 Posted March 18, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2010 (edited) Use any grade of cold rolled, clean it thoroughly with acetone or rubbing alcohol, and paint it with a good outdoor paint-Krylon is a good inexpensive choice. Stay away from hot rolled because it rusts much quicker and the quality of the grain may cause it to break or shatter from repeated impacts. I laser cut plate steel a lot and I am very familiar with the properties of the steel. Hot rolled stuff has a lot of inconsistencies that make it a poor choice for just about anything. High grade tool or spring steel would just be overkill for this purpose. Hope this is helpful. Thanks. So I've done the math, and figured I need a 12x36" plate and found this: Steel sheet Really surprised how cheap it is, must mean it's not good enough! LOL Now I'm looking for 2x2x3/16" angle iron (I need 63 ft jesus!) This joint Angle Iron has pretty good prices it seems, but I can only find two kinds of angle iron, stainless, annealed ($55 for 6ft) or this A36 stuff. The reality of it is these frames are going to get hit, not as often as the targets, but often enough. Think they will work? i use rail road tie plates ,,, they go under the track between the rail and the tie. they are 9 x 16 i use one for 200 to 300 and weld 2 together for farther out. no you cant take them right off the tracks but a walk around a rail yard or recently worked on tracks may turn some up,,,, nothing like dinging a 600 yard gong! That's a pretty damn good idea, and I live by a train junction, it's on! Edited March 18, 2010 by Shaneman153D Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ktcm7271 999 Posted March 18, 2010 Report Share Posted March 18, 2010 A-36 will be fine, be sure it gets the same clean and paint that your plates do. Rail road plates are a great idea. Steel in general is pretty cheap until you get into the exotic stuff like aus-8, vg-10, galv-anealed, D-2, 12%+ chromium stainless, etc. I used to shoot dull circular saw blades with my uncle when I was a kid. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shaneman153a 39 Posted March 19, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 19, 2010 It dawned on me an hour ago that a rebar frame would probably take a hit better, and wouldn't hit my wallet so hard. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
eric1785 15 Posted March 19, 2010 Report Share Posted March 19, 2010 Thats looks like a nice place to shoot, Where in washington are you? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chevyman097 2,579 Posted March 19, 2010 Report Share Posted March 19, 2010 Wow I wish I had some place like that to shoot. All I get is east Texas hillbilly woods and pastures. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bigcec1 72 Posted March 19, 2010 Report Share Posted March 19, 2010 For a frame if you go to lowes or is it home depo either one one just does not charge for cut and thread I made some racks out of 3/4 pipe in the random vid thread I have. Some boaling pins hanging from it just get the longest 3/4 pipe and get them to cut it to size made two that stand about 5ft tallx5ft wide I can do a more detailed description if needed but I unscrew the pipe and take it with me after I shoot takes a whole 3 min hehe and put it all in a big pvc pipe with caps on each side Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hick 0 Posted March 19, 2010 Report Share Posted March 19, 2010 We shoot a 1/2 plate at 550 yards, a friends 7mm STW will blow throu it at that distance but my 7mm rem mag doesn't. I would think a 300 RUM hot load may blow throu also. I'm not sure if it matters to you how fast it gets wore out. I have no idea what kind of steel it is, just a chunk of scrap. We also made spinners with 1/2" rebar framing. Our next try at that we'll use a longer arm to get the axel farther away from the target. The 1/2" rebar didn't hold up to getting hit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vultite 57 Posted March 19, 2010 Report Share Posted March 19, 2010 if your going for a slightly weaker steel target, going safe with at least 5/8" or 3/4" would be good if your shooting centerfire rifle ammo at it. My friend opted for the expensive A500 targets and they are quite nice. unloaded 400-500 rounds of 5.56 and barely a scratch on them, and the classic "PING" sound at 200 yards is very noticeable...so whatever you use, give us a range report, and maybe even a video!! good luck, I'd be curious to know what works myself because I'm damn cheap hahahaha Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shaneman153a 39 Posted March 22, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2010 Thats looks like a nice place to shoot, Where in washington are you? I'm the the SE, small town called Hooper. I love that canyon, I've been hunting coyotes in it for the last 5 months. Whole lot of death being dealt there. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
eric1785 15 Posted March 22, 2010 Report Share Posted March 22, 2010 (edited) Is there alot of yotes out that way? Never heard of hooper, ive been out to kahlotus though! Edited March 22, 2010 by eric1785 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shaneman153a 39 Posted March 22, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2010 Is there alot of yotes out that way? Never heard of hooper, ive been out to kahlotus though! There was in the fall, but I think we've killed all the dumb ones. I'm currently expanding my hunting grounds toward Benge. Everytime I get on a stand and call up there, I get a pair screamin' in. Yeah Kahlotus is nearby, surprised you've heard of that! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
eric1785 15 Posted March 22, 2010 Report Share Posted March 22, 2010 (edited) Lol i had a cousin who used to be the mayor, we used to go out there alot! I live in eastern wa too so i know of some of the little towns got to love blastin those curious stupid ones. What caliber do you use? In the open i usually take my rem700 06. Edited March 22, 2010 by eric1785 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shaneman153a 39 Posted March 23, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2010 Lol i had a cousin who used to be the mayor, we used to go out there alot! I live in eastern wa too so i know of some of the little towns got to love blastin those curious stupid ones. What caliber do you use? In the open i usually take my rem700 06. Yeah I was using a .223 during fur season but now it's back to the Rem 700 in 7mm. Those 162gr AMAXs really put a hurt on them at long range! I've got a video of one I nailed at 500yds in the head (total luck, I was aiming at his vitals!) Do you still coyote hunt? Where do you live? Shane Quote Link to post Share on other sites
eric1785 15 Posted March 24, 2010 Report Share Posted March 24, 2010 (edited) O yea i love coyote hunting anytime! Day or night rain or shine! I live over by yakima but not in that shithole im out in the kuntry! Please send a link of the vid! Edited March 24, 2010 by eric1785 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shaneman153a 39 Posted March 25, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2010 Please send a link of the vid! It's stuck on my camera right now, I just got a computer with a firewire port so I'll be able to post it soon! It needs to be shared! Shane Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shaneman153a 39 Posted March 30, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2010 O yea i love coyote hunting anytime! Day or night rain or shine! I live over by yakima but not in that shithole im out in the kuntry! Please send a link of the vid! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ys_w6q-W0Oc Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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