On 2/25/2017 9:13 AM, wrote:
On Tuesday, November 7, 2000 at 9:50:34 AM UTC+2, Ben Jackson wrote:
I picked up a chunk of 1/2" mild steel plate at a scrap yard with
the intention of turning it into various pistol/rifle targets.
What is the best way to treat it after welding it up to prolong the
life of the target?

Case hardening sounds like a good idea. Can I do that with just a
rosebud tip on a OA torch?

Any pointers on target construction welcome. -- Ben Jackson
http://www.ben.com/

I've shot steel gongs extensively and if you make the gong to big and
heavy the inertia is to great, thus every round you fire will cause
more damage I've found that if you make a 1/2 inch plate less than
40 cm diameter and you hang it at a slight angle(allowing it to face
downwards) the bullets ricochet into the ground thus exerting less
energy in your gong and prolonging its lifetime,

OR ask a friend on a farm or at a scrap yard for a Disc implements
,old discs and weld something to cover the hole in the middle and you
have a higher carbon steel gong already nice and round ready to shoot
and cheaper than sheet metal. I also found that they outlast the mild
steel sheet metal gongs by far. And on low velocity cartridges
ricochets are not dangerous I have been hit a few times and I would
compare the worst to bee sting just be shore to wear eye protection,
but if you suspend your gongs at the right angles downward the chance
of ricochets coming back at you are very small.

Jan Griesel



What cartridges will you be using? Consider low power reloads,
Sections of tire treads will reduce the damage.