will Match Hunters or 310 APBs damage steel targets?

[madcityhoosier]

I'm talking about AR 500 steel... the targets that are designed for taking rifle rounds. I'm concerned that the aluminum tip on the MHs and APBs will damage the steel, but I'm looking for comments from those who have shot these bullets at steel. What have you seen?

I've got a 12" round AR 500 that has taken all sorts of 5.56 rounds and many 200SSTs from my RemPac... none of those did anything but mar the paint. A week or so ago, I hit the plate with a full formed Remington 300 .458 at about 2400fps impact velocity, and it left a small dent. I have a feeling the aluminum tips will do even more damage.

[Alabama]

I have no experience shooting steel plates with a Parker but the copper is a stronger material than the alunimun.

[deadeye]

I can't vouch for ar 500 steel or 310's but 327's on 1" steel not much damage to steel gong,but I had a 2"x2" gong completely blown away from the weld & went through the target board & approx. 3 ft behind target-talk about fpe's ///"wwaaaaaaaaapppppppp" I don't think the aluminum tip is the damage maker.

[hankinsrfls]

I did a test a little while back with the 275 BE with a muzzle velocity of 3000 FPS. I was shooting a piece ad AR500 steel the was just under 3/8 thick. Placed firmly against a back stop the bullets would put one heck of a dent in the plate. Almost sheared a hole in it. I later drilled two holes in the plate and hung it up with a small chain for each corner. I shot it repeatedly with no visible damage what so ever. I then decided to shoot it with a few other calibers I have to see what this plate could hold up to... First was my 338 Lapua Mag with 300 grain Bergers and a ML of 2900 fps. These bullets did no damage to the plate. Next I used my 300 Varminter. This rifle shoots a 125 grain BT. at 3850 fps. At less than half the weight of the other bullets but at much higher velocity the little BT's burned a hole through the plate almost as if you had drilled it. I read once when looking into getting a bunch of these targets that bullets under 3200 fps would not do much damage, bullets over 3200 fps would damage the targets.. These numbers are for hunting type bullets, I'm sure FMJ and all copper bullets would have a different effect on the targets.

[7mmfreak]

I've only shot the 300MH at steel with a MV of about 2200fps and they did not damage AR500 targets at 200-300yds. The 275s I have shot at 2400fps with the same negligible effect. If your target is fixed, not hanging or spring loaded, it might incur more damage as the target may have enough inertia that the bullets momentum will not move it but instead transfer all of its energy. I have put mall dents in AR500 at 300m with M855 rounds against fixed steel so metal tipped/cored bullets can damage AR500. I don't have anything excessively large or fast enough to have tested it much more.

I shoot with MGM's Eastern Seaboard rep and can ask him. I know when I did a gov't purchase a couple years ago from them they told me not to shoot them with any penetrating ammo because it would damage them (M855 dented others as noted above) and void the warranty.

[deadeye]

good points posted above-my gongs I would call poorly made bought about 15 yrs ago. I will redo with chain sometime later,i have noticed more damage with a hit right on the edge of plate. these plates have had several 327mh's & 275mh & 275be hits.







without free-hanging or a slight downward angle this can happen especially w/ .45 acp short range.

fragg.me/video/bullet-ricochet-head

[hankinsrfls]

Deadeye..

AR plate is very hard to weld... I've been told 7018 rods will work the best and to run a little on the hot side..

[linebaugh]

I've shot a half inch AR500 plate at 100yrds with a 7mm 190gr Matrix bullet at 3150fps start velocity and it hardly leaves a mark. Perhaps the 3200+ comment is spot on?
I never shoot mine on a solid backstop. Mine are set up to move or spin.

[ET]

Thought this might be helpful.

www.cliftonsteel.com/tensalloy-blue-ar500.html?gclid=CI6cs6Xn4r0CFYhaMgodemkADA

When welding such materials a good preheat is recommended to sweat out moisture to reduce possible cracking.


Ed

[madcityhoosier]

All of my steel targets are allowed to swing freely on chains or old baler belts, so that's not an issue. My original question was calling into question the aluminum tip on the MH style bullets. I suppose if the SS109 bullet with its steel penetrator doesn't really affect AR500, then that aluminum tip won't hurt it either.

I don't think I have the testicular fortitude to get a MH up to the required muzzle velocity to impact a steel plate at 100 yards with over 3200fps remaining velocity. I have some fresh AR500 plates to shoot, so I'll report back if I find any unusual wear from the MH bullets.

[mk111]

I would ask the target. Shoot it with one round and find out. If there's a hole weld it shut. Then you know for sure. Just saying. I also free hang my steel targets on chains.