ShootSteel.com SRRT Target Review

[TheSierraDrifter]

[tonyxcom]

Man that thing is wasted.

[L84CABO]

Yea, that's a bit more than just a dimple. That's "chunky" and not going to be a safe target for long.

But to be honest, that's better than what I would expect a AR500 target to look like at 60 yards. 3000 fps is the top end of what they can handle and if you were shooting 55 grn ammo at 3200 fps, 60 yards probably isn't far enough for the round to drop below 3000 fps. Speed kills steel targets, not the size of the round.

However, their sales pitch certainly indicates that your target should hold up. Personally I just don't think it's possible. But they're advertising it so they should stand by it.

[tonyxcom]

Here is my MGM target. Again, I have shot at this with 55gr 556 from 15y. Mostly Xtac so not sure what that chronos at.

The 9mm impacts show what kinda angle it hangs at.

[TheSierraDrifter]

Here is my MGM target. Again, I have shot at this with 55gr 556 from 15y. Mostly Xtac so not sure what that chronos at.

The 9mm impacts show what kinda angle it hangs at.

When you were shooting it with the 5.56 at 15 yards, was it hanging free, similar to a gong? Or bolted to a stand?

[tonyxcom]

It has a bracket on the back the goes on a 2x4. You can see pictures here

http://mgmtargets.com/ipsc-targets/bc-c-zone-sup-reg-sup-target-with-2x4-bracket-and-base

[whipkiller]

Wow, those are some pretty big craters.

I'd bet a dollar that a hardness test on that target would not spec out at AR500.

[cwilliams]

Yep. That target is toast. I'm definitely interested to see if they warranty it.

[NPFreedom]

How would one go on to test the hardness of steel? Is there a thing we can get to test it?

[cwilliams]

ShootSteel.com SRRT Target Review

From what I recall the hardness test is done with a tungsten rod that is pushed into the steel at a certain amount of pressure. The resulting dimple's depth is then measured and the hardness is determined based on that and whatever scale they use.

Edit - this is how it is done at the factory, not the companies who purchase the steel. They can only go by what their supplier tells them it is.

[whipkiller]

From what I recall the hardness test is done with a tungsten rod that is pushed into the steel at a certain amount of pressure. The resulting dimple's depth is then measured and the hardness is determined based on that and whatever scale they use.

Edit - this is how it is done at the factory, not the companies who purchase the steel. They can only go by what their supplier tells them it is.

Yeah, that's pretty much it, but if memory serves me I think the indenter is a ball rather than a rod.

For softer materials the indenter would be a steel ball, for harder material it would be Tungsten Carbide.

@ Wirespeed; Yes you can buy testers but they're spendy.

http://www.grainger.com/product/8TC74?cm_mmc=PPC:BingPLA-_-Lab%20Supplies-_-Material%20Testing%20Equipment-_-8TC74&ef_id=VY1nMQAABSqECr4N:20150708211358:s

You could also send it a testing lab but it would probably cost more than the target.

I went to one of these labs during some fastener training, and the coolest thing was when they "Tested" a 2" Grade 8 bolt for us by pulling it until it snapped. It shook the whole building and was LOUD even with ear pro on.

This target has been hit with .223, 5.56, 30.06, 7.62 X 39, 8mm Mauser, even .22LR, some of those from probably 25 yards or less.

Granted, I have it set up so it hangs at an angle, and swings, but the only noticeable marks on it are if you hit it on the edge.

[cwilliams]

Yeah, that's pretty much it, but if memory serves me I think the indenter is a ball rather than a rod.



For softer materials the indenter would be a steel ball, for harder material it would be Tungsten Carbide.



@ Wirespeed; Yes you can buy testers but they're spendy.





You could also send it a testing lab but it would probably cost more than the target.



I went to one of these labs during some fastener training, and the coolest thing was when they "Tested" a 2" Grade 8 bolt for us by pulling it until it snapped. It shook the whole building and was LOUD even with ear pro on.



This target has been hit with .223, 5.56, 30.06, 7.62 X 39, 8mm Mauser, even .22LR, some of those from probably 25 yards or less.



Granted, I have it set up so it hangs at an angle, and swings, but the only noticeable marks on it are if you hit it on the edge.

Great info!

Love the story about the grade 8 bolt. Those suckers are strong. I still have one running on one of my targets that took a direct hit from a 150gr .308 bullet at 200 yards. It took a chunk out of it, but I can still get a wrench around it to tighten things up. I have yet to kill any grade 70 chain either after multiple direct hits from all kinds of rounds.

[TheSierraDrifter]

Yep. That target is toast. I'm definitely interested to see if they warranty it.

They have been great to deal with so far. They told me they will send me out a replacement target. Before they do that, I'm going to shoot at the other target (same model - I bought 2) to see if it is having the same issues so that they can replace at the same time if need be.

[cwilliams]

I'm glad to see they are standing by their products and especially their warranty.

Out of the two dozen or so steel targets I have, 9 of them are from ShootSteel. I keep coming back for more when they run at least a 20% off sale.

[TheSierraDrifter]

I have a few 66% IPSC targets I use for pistols and they are a lot of fun. Yeah, those sales are awesome.

They told me they test one target out of every lot they get, but didn't show any problems with theirs.