Thread: Diy gong info wtd

Hi guys, at work i have a bunch of steel plate 20mm thick a mag drill and a welder eho will work for beers I want to have a go at long range gonging on a mates farm.
Anyone had a go at making them themselves and what sizes would you recommend? I'm thinking 300x300 two holes at the top small length of chain from holes to hanger. Any info would be helpful cheers

What type of plate? I use two warrahtahs and high tensile wire but 20mm might be a bit heavy for that

What grade of steel plate have you managed to get your hands on? Just asking as this will determine how long it will last.
My gong is a 250mm square with holes at the top corners. Chain attached with shackles. I have seen a better design where the chain is attached to the back of the plate about 80mm down from the top edge. This gives the plate a slight downward slant, so the bullet splatter heads down, and the chance of a bullet coming back are greatly reduced.

Mild steel no matter how thick will be cratered by most centrefires out to around 300 m, and close bits can come back at the shooter, so at a minimum bis 80 hardness is recommended (wear steel is a trade name as well i think). Your size is about right its 12 moa at 100, and 4 at 300 yds. Fire hose or conveyor belt makes the best hanger, and angle the attachment point so the plate hangs at about 10 deg over vertical so bullet splash is directed downwards, this also reduces damage to the plate surface.

If you are just using mild steel, you are pretty much wasting your time mate, no matter the thickness. With mild steel you will destroy the gong first session.

Do yourself a big favor and get hold of some wearplate. Mine are Hardox 450 12mm, others use bizalloy, all just different brands of wearplate. The bullets just disintegrate on the surface and dont damage the plate at all. Will last forever.

I have two plate sizes, a nice big 500x500 with a 2-3" bull painted in middle. (nothing worse than missing a small plate at range and not having a clue where you have missed. Much easier to get everything sorted if you have a bigger plate, so you can still see the splash from say 700 yards, then make adjustments and shoot again.

Then i have an 8" plate for when you want to make it a bit more challenging.

I hang a chain between two wharratahs and then hang the gong off the chain with D shackles and steel spring carribeaners

I went for 200mm discfor portability . A lighter plate moves more on impact So abs0rbs less energy for craterng. As said its not so good When I miss! A big piece of paper on plastic corfUte is best for that.

It needs to behung from something stretchy . I've used old Climbing rope, I use a tight figure 8 Knot fixed by mild steel bolt and big Washer on the back of the plate which gives a nice down angle.

There is this thread mate.
http://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co.n...ng-play-13813/

I use a steel frame with a vertical pin that the chain loop just drops onto. I move mine around every time so needed a portable solution.
12mm Bizalloy and the only thing to dent it was a few Barnes at 100 has had RUMs hitting them from 100 too and no issues

PS the frames don't look that pretty now

Awesome info boys thanks for that! we have some 20mm 300x300 mild steel cleats that attach the steel beams to concrete spandrels kicking around site that i was hoping to use as they are going to get binned (wrong size etc) I'll ask the steelys for some wear plate now. I like the 10mm over vert for bullet splatter idea! Also @Gibo I don't know how I missed that thread when searching, my bad ill have a good read now cheers

10mm Hardplate is perfect

@Blisters

The 20mm Mild plate will easily last for hundreds of rounds

It will crater, but you won't shoot holes in it.

The down side is if you want to move them then it will be heavy

I'd use it without hesitation.

Cheers
Pete

This is ours 16mm Biz 400. Conveyor belt straps.

Originally Posted by Blisters

........... and a welder eho will work for beers .....

All welders work for beersies

Originally Posted by Tommy

All welders work for beersies

Universal currency

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Use whatever you have available if its free. 20mm mild will last a while, will last longer beyond 300. Conveyer belting is the best by far, bolt it down the back face as suggested to give the plate a bit of a lean, and we use a piece about 150 wide, no need for fancy 2 straps or narrow pieces, bullet goes straight through it, whereas chain blows apart with a decent hit.