Cobra 76 two 2,677 Posted March 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2013 Yeah I was thinking the same Big John! Figured for some peeps a quick stop by Wallyworld and a hacksaw would just be easier. I'm gonna check with a local scrap yard and see what I can find for steel rod or even square bar stock. Well a few hrs later and about 45 minutes walking the tracks, and here I am back from my first mission with a bag o "rusty gold", as the Pickers would say! I Managed to find two good plates and another steel door off some kind of box.... already setup to swing! Coolness... And of course a few spikes and other small hardware that will work for small targets if hung from a steel rod or chain. Prolly coulda found more but noticed some dude watching me from behind a local business and decided I should mosey on and quit while ahead. Now time to go make some nice pock marks and splats on em... woohoo! Oh and speakin of Rusty Gold..... I had to pull over and snap a few pics of a local guys antique farm machinery collection in a nearby field. Man I love this old iron! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
U.S. Pratorean 1,234 Posted March 3, 2013 Report Share Posted March 3, 2013 Pound the spike through the top center plate hole and suspend with chain or in lieu of the spike, a carraige bolt with nut. Hang from rebar or just have someone hold the chain......................... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
zenman223 460 Posted March 3, 2013 Report Share Posted March 3, 2013 Heres my homemade reactive targets, nothing special just some random scrap steel I found laying around. While they dont look like most peoples targets they work great and are very portable, everything comes apart. The poles come off the stands, the cross bar comes off and the targets just hang on the cross bar. I like it. Are you able to shoot whatever caliber you want at that steel? FMJ's as well? No its just some mild steel plate, sourced for free. I have exactly ZERO $ in this setup. Everything was rounded up for free one way or another(legally of course) It handles 9mm 40 and 45 FMJ's just fine and thats really all I wanted to make it for. Eventually I'll get a piece of AR500 for my rifles but this serves me well for handguns. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Big John! 2,062 Posted March 4, 2013 Report Share Posted March 4, 2013 Heres my homemade reactive targets, nothing special just some random scrap steel I found laying around. While they dont look like most peoples targets they work great and are very portable, everything comes apart. The poles come off the stands, the cross bar comes off and the targets just hang on the cross bar. I like it. Are you able to shoot whatever caliber you want at that steel? FMJ's as well? No its just some mild steel plate, sourced for free. I have exactly ZERO $ in this setup. Everything was rounded up for free one way or another(legally of course) It handles 9mm 40 and 45 FMJ's just fine and thats really all I wanted to make it for. Eventually I'll get a piece of AR500 for my rifles but this serves me well for handguns. Awesome! I never really thought of even trying to use mild steel. It's on now. I may have to build a reactive trailer to take to the range so I don't have to carry a bunch of heavy steel every time I go. Hell if I made something like that, my range would let me store it there. All I would have to do is hook it up and haul it down to the berms and have at it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Maxwelhse 1,285 Posted March 4, 2013 Report Share Posted March 4, 2013 Be careful with the railroad scrap... From what I understand, the biggest problem is how you get rid of it later if you decide you don't want it any more. The recycling centers won't touch it... So, if you ever don't want it anymore, just take it back to the train tracks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RED333 1,025 Posted March 4, 2013 Report Share Posted March 4, 2013 Be careful with the railroad scrap... From what I understand, the biggest problem is how you get rid of it later if you decide you don't want it any more. The recycling centers won't touch it... So, if you ever don't want it anymore, just take it back to the train tracks. Yep, I dug up a bunch and tried to scrap, no way, the guy said. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Big John! 2,062 Posted March 8, 2013 Report Share Posted March 8, 2013 My AR put the hurt on it with xm193's. It's still going though... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beretty 37 Posted March 10, 2013 Report Share Posted March 10, 2013 My AR put the hurt on it with xm193's. It's still going though... I'm suprised the AR didn't punch through that. In my experience, a 7.62x39 round will penetrate railroad plates about 3/5 of the time. x54R cuts through them like butter. DDpleks 12 ga Monolits, that are advertised as penetrating engine blocks, leave a nice dent. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Maxwelhse 1,285 Posted March 10, 2013 Report Share Posted March 10, 2013 Be careful with the railroad scrap... From what I understand, the biggest problem is how you get rid of it later if you decide you don't want it any more. The recycling centers won't touch it... So, if you ever don't want it anymore, just take it back to the train tracks. Yep, I dug up a bunch and tried to scrap, no way, the guy said. Around here they'll call the sheriff on you... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
U.S. Pratorean 1,234 Posted March 10, 2013 Report Share Posted March 10, 2013 My AR put the hurt on it with xm193's. It's still going though... I'm suprised the AR didn't punch through that. In my experience, a 7.62x39 round will penetrate railroad plates about 3/5 of the time. x54R cuts through them like butter. DDpleks 12 ga Monolits, that are advertised as penetrating engine blocks, leave a nice dent. Interesting. x54, 30.06, x39 and.308 don't even come close to penetrating these. Impacts are 2-4mm deep at the most. 5.56 even less. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beretty 37 Posted March 10, 2013 Report Share Posted March 10, 2013 (edited) My AR put the hurt on it with xm193's. It's still going though... I'm suprised the AR didn't punch through that. In my experience, a 7.62x39 round will penetrate railroad plates about 3/5 of the time. x54R cuts through them like butter. DDpleks 12 ga Monolits, that are advertised as penetrating engine blocks, leave a nice dent. Interesting. x54, 30.06, x39 and.308 don't even come close to penetrating these. Impacts are 2-4mm deep at the most. 5.56 even less. Mine had a lot more rust but they were still solid. I would assume that they changed metals through the years? Edited March 10, 2013 by Beretty Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Long Shot 1,287 Posted March 10, 2013 Report Share Posted March 10, 2013 (edited) This is one of my favorites. Old medium sized oxygen bottle cut off and a chain welded to the top. I just hang it on a tree branch over a cut bank. Slugs really get it ringin and a swingin. Drums loaded with Centurion single ball ammo is just a kick. It holds up to pistol and shotgun slugs with just dents and no penetration. Some rifle hits go through the first wall and drop out the bottom. I like it because the bell tone report back is better than any flat plate could be especially at long range. Farther is gooder I guess because you gotta wait for it. That delay as the rifle shot echo dies down and then the bell tolls always brings on a round of shit eating grins. ETA, Edited March 10, 2013 by Long Shot 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Big John! 2,062 Posted March 10, 2013 Report Share Posted March 10, 2013 This is one of my favorites. Old medium sized oxygen bottle cut off and a chain welded to the top. I just hang it on a tree branch over a cut bank. Slugs really get it ringin and a swingin. Drums loaded with Centurion single ball ammo is just a kick. It holds up to pistol and shotgun slugs with just dents and no penetration. Some rifle hits go through the first wall and drop out the bottom. I like it because the bell tone report back is better than any flat plate could be especially at long range. Farther is gooder I guess because you gotta wait for it. That delay as the rifle shot echo dies down and then the bell tolls always brings on a round of shit eating grins. ETA, It won't let me put up a photo Pm'd you my e-mail address so I can post the pic for you. I want to see how this one works. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Long Shot 1,287 Posted March 10, 2013 Report Share Posted March 10, 2013 This is one of my favorites. Old medium sized oxygen bottle cut off and a chain welded to the top. I just hang it on a tree branch over a cut bank. Slugs really get it ringin and a swingin. Drums loaded with Centurion single ball ammo is just a kick. It holds up to pistol and shotgun slugs with just dents and no penetration. Some rifle hits go through the first wall and drop out the bottom. I like it because the bell tone report back is better than any flat plate could be especially at long range. Farther is gooder I guess because you gotta wait for it. That delay as the rifle shot echo dies down and then the bell tolls always brings on a round of shit eating grins. ETA, It won't let me put up a photo Pm'd you my e-mail address so I can post the pic for you. I want to see how this one works. Pic sent. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Big John! 2,062 Posted March 11, 2013 Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Capt Nemo 882 Posted March 11, 2013 Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 If you know of a hydrostatic test facility near you, that's the place to get dead gas cylinders. Also, look at scuba cylinders. ALL old aluminium scuba from 1992 and earlier need to be scrapped due to alloy problems. The alloy can fail explosively. Let's recycle! For fun, one facility on the lakeshore near Chicago had a launch ramp for decomissioning cylinders. They'd fill them, put em on the ramp, and sledgehammer the valve, launching the cylinder out into Lake Michigan. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cobra 76 two 2,677 Posted March 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 AR 15 hits on the RR plates.. with a couple of deeper craters from x54R. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beretty 37 Posted March 11, 2013 Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 Where are you guys finding such nice RR plates? They look like they belong in a locomotive museum. I still don't think surface rust would make the results vary, as I'm seeing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Big John! 2,062 Posted March 11, 2013 Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 AR 15 hits on the RR plates.. with a couple of deeper craters from x54R. IMAG6161.jpg IMAG6165.jpg 1-IMAG6168.jpg I like how your FMJ's are hanging outta there. Now go shoot those bastards out. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
saltydecimator 482 Posted March 11, 2013 Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 this is from a co called blue rhino targets. liek 1500 bucks though... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
U.S. Pratorean 1,234 Posted March 11, 2013 Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 Where are you guys finding such nice RR plates? They look like they belong in a locomotive museum. I still don't think surface rust would make the results vary, as I'm seeing. Also the plates I have are twice as thick as these and larger like the ones BJ posted. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Big John! 2,062 Posted March 11, 2013 Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 Where are you guys finding such nice RR plates? They look like they belong in a locomotive museum. I still don't think surface rust would make the results vary, as I'm seeing. Also the plates I have are twice as thick as these and larger like the ones BJ posted. I have a few of the thick and a few of the thinner ones. If I keep the AR away from them, they don't even knock the rust off. I forgot slugs the other day or I would have tested them. Next time fer sure! I need to head over to the RR and see if they'll let me take a few off of their pallet of them. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gunfun 3,931 Posted March 26, 2013 Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 Not mine, but some good ideas in this vid! Just need to make them outa metal. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gunfun 3,931 Posted March 26, 2013 Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 I think I want to make this one It is compact, simple and beautiful Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MD_Willington 11 Posted March 26, 2013 Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 Exploding Pumpkins? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Big John! 2,062 Posted March 28, 2013 Report Share Posted March 28, 2013 Ok... Here's my family of RR targets and rebar stands I welded together. I bolted the chains on so that I could bolt on other plates after they wear out without having to buy more chain. If the coil spring works like I'm expecting, I know where to get plenty more. I smacked it with a hammer in it sounded pretty damn cool. The orange paint is only on there cuz there are many other similar stands at my range and I plan to just leave em there so I'll easily know which are mine. I'll take a darker color paint with me just in case the primer doesn't show the hits well. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gunfun 3,931 Posted March 28, 2013 Report Share Posted March 28, 2013 Dang. I knew there was a good use for the springs I took off my car. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Big John! 2,062 Posted March 28, 2013 Report Share Posted March 28, 2013 Dang. I knew there was a good use for the springs I took off my car. I have a feeling I'll be making more of those. I used to do off road fabrication and have a pretty unlimited source for coils. I just need to try this one out first and see if the plate is big enough. I want to make some swingers next. Gonna try to test these out tomorrow, but it's supposed to possibly rain. So may have to wait till Sunday. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MT Predator 2,294 Posted April 12, 2013 Report Share Posted April 12, 2013 Reviving this topic. Here's what I scored at work today. 1/2" Titanium plate that was subjected to Explosive Cutting Charges. Got them on one of the ranges the EOD school uses here. (I work Range Support). I think I will use them as is like pistol poppers and just stick them in the sand. I will try various rifle calibers as well to see what they can withstand. When I was in Afghanistan, we found ruins of an old Soviet Field Hospital and there was an area out the back door with shit tons of clothing scraps, belt buckles, and the Titanium plates they used for body armor that they had obviously discarded during the Triage of Casualties. The plates are around 1/8" thick and my buddy found several with .22 sized holes through them, either 5.45 or 5.56 so we know that thickness isn't effective. Here's my scraps. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Big John! 2,062 Posted April 12, 2013 Report Share Posted April 12, 2013 Shoot em up and let us know! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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