Yeah
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The tracer part generaly leaves the projectile on impact.
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I would suggest that that may be the case on the rare occasion, but not the norm. In one of the videos you can see an example of that happening where there is what looks like a firefly whizzing around at low altitude close to the target. However the majority of the ricochets are full projectiles just based on the speed and trajectory of the flight. No tracer material on its own has the mass to carry that flight path.
Either way, it is still a situation where high speed materials are leaving the safety of the backstop.
Would be interesting to test this i.e. put the targets in a tunnel and see where all the projectiles or projectile fragments go.
Crappy photos as its raining and they are taken under fluro in the workshop but you will get the idea.
Here is what we came up with for our steels. These are deliberately designed to be mounted low to the ground for range safety rules specific to our range, but you could mount them on longer uprights if you choose. Having them mounted low to the ground means that the ground spike is largely protected from stray bullets. One of the criteria we set for the design was for it to be low maintenance.
Ground spike is made out of 25x25x3mm MS angle iron with the vertical spikes approx 200mm long for ground penetration. The riser above the horizontal bar can be whatever length you want depending on how high you want the target off the ground.
The mounting bracket that is welded to the back of the AR500 target plate started out as a piece of 35x35x4mm RHS 50mm long welded to a 50mmx3mm flat bar across the top at the correct length to give the RHS a 20 deg angle to the target plate. From this prototype we then got some brackets laser cut and folded to better support the RHS and give a greater weld area and hence strength. The bracket closes off the top of the RHS so that the vertical riser on the angle iron ground spike cannot pass through.
When mounted on the spike, the target cannot rotate and will not bounce, will not come off the stake but has enough movement to allow impact energy to dissipate and to provide a degree of 'ring' on impact.
These have withstood close range impacts with a 50AE and it didn't shake the spike out of the ground. We have come up with an additional spreader bar that can go over the vertical riser on the ground spike before the target plate is fitted to provide extra recoils resistance but it has never been needed.
The laser cut brackets work very well and are ideal when making up larger numbers of targets but aren't necessary if you are only making a couple of plates - box section and flat bare will work.
Attachment 51507 Attachment 51508
Images showing the shape of the laser cut bracket and the welded assembly with the 35x35x4 RHS welding in place.
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Close ups of bracket assembly.
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Bracket welded in place on the back of the target, giving a 20 deg mounting point.
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Ground spike and ground spike with target plate mounted. If you look closely, you can see a lead line on the ground spike just below the target plate matching the plate angle, resulting from the bullet splatter. There is no damage to the ground spike unless you hit it directly with a bullet. In service, after 20 rounds, you will find a 1-1.5m long trench form under the target plate where the bullet splatter has been directed down to the ground by the 20 deg plate angle.
Hope this helps.
Is the sound as good as a swinging plate? Can be a c unit to hear at distance with muffs on and i doubt yhat would show much movement
Haven't had any issues at 100m. That said, for longer range I would suggest using a spring wire with a flag on it clamped to the top of the plate. When the plate is hit, the plate movement will disrupt the flag for easy identification. The plate bracket is not a tight fit on the ground stake so the top of the plate can push back 15-20mm under recoil, but the 20 deg angle causes the plate to fall forward again due to weight and center of gravity.
Have you tried anything larger than a .223 on them hotbarrels? I am guessing a magnum calibre will be pretty hard on the welds?
No magnums tested. Weld stress is why we went for the laser cut and folded bracket - it puts the majority of the structural welding into the 250 grade plate rather than the AR500. It is also why the fit of the bracket to the ground spike has some play. Is surprising who much energy a bit of movement dissipates.
Yep, I have seen structural steel welded to the back or AR500 be snapped after a few shots with a magnum calibre at 500 yards and they were hanging targets free to swing backwards. As I am sure you are aware any welding to the armour plated steel will reduce its hardness in the heat affected zone around the weld.
I assume the target cannot twist around the ground spike?
Hardox is weld able but you have to piss around with preheat and more importantly maximum interun temps.
The other thing is most people don't have consumables that can handle it.
We run a 620mpa nickle alloy wire that seems to spec up to hardox ar500.
I might have to try it one day.
Not a cheap wire either. But we keep it in stock at work for 500ma bar for structural work.
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Everything is a compromise. As I said this is how we have chosen to do it since we can put out up to 20-30 targets for an afternoons shoot, and then have to knock it all down again to clear the range. Speed of setup and knock down is critical, as is low maintenance and maintaining a 20 deg target angle regardless of what size and shape of target being used. And, we don't shoot magnum rifles, (or bolt guns for that matter).
Yes, welding on any hardened plate will effect it's as rolled hardness and UTS. Keeping the heat input as low as possible is critical. AR500 is weldable with the correct weld procedure specification (WPS) and a competent welder.
No, the target cannot twist on the ground spike since it is an angle iron inside a close fitting RHS.
Hardly seems worth welding it
Your little brackets look like a good set up.
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I like the looks of this type, shamelessly copied the image from elsewhere.
Looks very simple and robust.
Attachment 51613
Had a bloke on the farm set up a range using old harrow discs. Been a while since I've bothered looking at them so I'm not sure whether it worked or not, I usually just ride straight past it on the way to look for some deer :D
Oh man, these look so cool.
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The mounting system is sound, and useful as long as it does not swivel with impacts, the shape of the gong we can avoid.
The Human torso is never an aim point for us, and never will be, we do not have or use weapons.
As recreational hunters and rifle enthusiasts we imply and infer through our intentions and actions to hunt game animals only.
Now that looks like the biz @Moutere
Digging up an old thread, but on the hunt for a couple of gongs 300mm2 - 500mm2 sizing. Any idea on the cost or easiest place to get these around Auckland? Cheers.