Shooting at paper targets and cardboard is probably what the majority of us spend our time doing at the range. Paper targets are cheap, easily transported, and allow us to readily record group sizes. It’s also a pain to continually replace if you’re on the range for an extended period of time. Especially if you’re shooting with another person.
Paper targets do have their place for precision shooting, working on accuracy, and zeroing sights. For all other target shooting, there are AR500 steel targets.
Shooting steel targets is one of the most satisfying sounds you’ll hear when shooting on the range! The satisfaction of hearing that "ring" or seeing that target bounce or fall is not only fun, but it builds your confidence as a shooter and helps create muscle memory for more consistent accuracy.
Two Major Benefits of Shooting Steel Targets
Steel Targets Allow For More Range Time
With steel targets, you can get more range time in a given day, because there is no wasted time replacing or repairing paper targets. The only maintenance required is to use a rattle can of spray paint to cover the impact areas and you’re back in business.
The Caldwell steel targets are powder coated making them even more resistant to the weather. Meaning you can leave your steel target set up on the range and not have to worry about setup and takedown every time you go to the range.
Steel Targets Stand The Test Of Time
Steel targets should be made of high-quality, heat-treated steel with a Brinell Hardness Number (BHN) of at least 500. The temperature metals are heat-treated at and the rate it is cooled after heat treatment can significantly change metal properties.
The purpose of heat treatment is to improve its strength, hardness, ductility, and corrosion resistance. Properly heat-treated steel provides exceptional strength, toughness, and impact resistance. The hardened steel must be strong enough to completely destroy a bullet upon impact. AR500 steel meets and exceeds these expectations.
What is AR500 Steel?
Not all steel targets are created equal. Anything softer than AR500 steel can deform and be penetrated with repeated bullet impacts.
AR500 steel is a grade of abrasion-resistant (AR) steel plate that is known for its hardness, toughness, and resistance to repeated high impacts. This grade of steel has one of the highest levels of hardness out of the common AR steel plate grades.
With a Brinell Hardness Number (BHN) of between 460-544, AR500 steel can retain its flat shape after heavy use, ensuring that bullets fully fragment on impact and are dispersed away from the shooter.
AR500 Steel Targets From Caldwell Shooting
Caldwell steel targets come with a bright easy-to-see yellow powder coating finish and in the form of several different shapes for competition, training, and recreational shooting. Made of hardened AR500 steel, these Caldwell steel targets can safely withstand thousands of rounds; literally. During their testing, they shot one of their steel targets 10,000 times with a .223 rifle to prove the durability you’re getting.
All Caldwell steel targets are rated up to a 3000 fps impact velocity and a 3500 ft-lb impact energy. These targets come in seven various sizes with three different hanging solutions.
Caldwell Shooting also stands behind their steel plates with an indestructible guarantee. If you manage to destroy one of their plates, they will send you another one for free.
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