A range buddy of mine has an AR 500 plate, and a .308 copper jacket, lead core from a 16 inch barrel AR 10 burned right through at 100 yards.

Steel is nice, but it needs to be good quality AR 500, and I wouldn't shoot rifle at it under 100 yards.

It also matters how the plate was mounted. If the plate was on chains, it can swing when hit, to dissipate the impact. If it was placed on the berm, or against the wood as in the picture and it can't move, there is an even greater likelihood of penetration.

Thank you for the link.

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:
Search the Internet for “steel targets safety” and numerous results will come up that discuss factors relating to safe distances, acceptable cartridges, types of steel, etc. One is here:

https://www.actiontarget.com/h...shoot-steel-targets/

Thanks for all your help, Gentlemen. I think I have more questions than answers now. I definitely learned a lot.

A match where they didnt check ammo and had shooters using rifles on a steel plate of unknown construction at 50 yards? IMO the match director should stop trying to point fingers at the shooters, be happy nobody got injured by ricochet, and chock this one up as a valuable lesson in planning future matches.

I have some 1/2" AR500 and I won't let anybody shoot it with rifle rounds inside of 100 yards. Even then, I've seen some dimples. Close range stuff is limited to pistol calibers (I guess I'd also allow frangible, I've just never had anybody show up with any).