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The Army likes them:AJMD429 wrote:Please let us know how they hold up. ...
An explanation of why Armor Plate is better than Gunshow Mild Steel:DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
COMPANY D, 2nd BATTALION
5th SPECIAL FORCES GROUP (AIRBORNE)
FORT CAMPBELL, KENTUCKY 4223-6214
1 MARCH 2004
SUBJECT: Test and Evaluation
1. This test and evaluation is for Auto Reset Popper,by Metal Spinning Targets, http://www.metaltagets.com, Mr. David A. Kasinski.
2. Test was performed using standard Army M885, 5.56 ball and M118, 7.62 Match grade ammunition. M885, 5.56 ball were fired from Colt M4A1, (14.5" barrel); FN 2000, (16" barrel), (Test Prototype); M118, 7.62 Match grade were fired from M24 Sniper Weapon (Remington 700); Knight Armament SR-25.
Tests, distances and weapons:
M855, 5.56 ball, 100m; 200m and 300m with M4A1 and FN 2000.
M118, 7.62 Match grade, 300m: 500m; 700m and 850m.
Results from testing:
In the FN 2000 and the M4A1, effective visual reaction to the force of impact is seen as well as heard. It is in fact more visible at 100m than it is at 200m or 300m. At 100m the target is spotted (mark of impact of the bullet), the "clang" of impact is heard and the popper sways back and resets. At 200m the target is spotted, the popper sways back slightly and the "clang" of impact is heard. At 300m the target is spotted, the popper sways back slightly and the "clang" of impact is heard.
In the M24 Sniper Weapon and the Knight Armament SR-25, effective visual reaction to the force of impact is seen more then heard. At 300m the target is spotted, the popper is thrust back and resets, and is heard in a delay of time. At 500m the target is spotted, the popper is thrust back and resets, and is heard in a delay of time. With both the 700m and 850m the target is spotted, the popper sways back and resets, and is heard in a delay of time.
3. Initial testing was performed at Fort Campbell Ranges and user reaction to the target system was common across the board. "User friendly, simple and effective training tool, unlike the LaRue Mechanized Silhouettes, requires no battery recharging, all you have to do is repaint the surface when excessive spotting. Movement and setup is a one-man job, unlike some systems that require a two-man lift, and movement is a major tasking."
Several actual comments follow.
"If the standard military qualification ranges utilized this type of target, soldiers would get immediate feedback and would greatly improve their shooting abilities and confidence."
"This is the type of target that I'd like to have at my home for my use and hunting preparation."
"Best metal I've ever used, more cost effective than bulky mechanical targets, and better feedback than paper, not to mention no walking."
"The best made, best use, lowest maintenance popper target available."
Synopsis - The Metal Spinning Target's, Auto-Reset Popper is superior and more cost effective than current target systems being purchased. The quality control and design is simple and extremely effective for a wide range of applications. As with most things, the more gizmo's and gadget's you add to them, the more fragile, expensive, and hard to fix, this is the best tool for reactionary shooting.
4. Recommend purchasing 25 Auto-Reset poppers per Battalion for deployment range building. Ranges would consist of M4A1 - 100m; 150m; 200m; 250m and 300m for 5 lanes. M24 - 300m; 500m; 700m; 850m and 1000m and variations in between. This would give each Battalion the flexibility to design and setup variations, challenging and improvement scenarios. Also recommend researching dueling trees and plate rack systems for use and positive reaction training for operational teams.
The "HV" gongs from metaltrgets.com are all brinell 500+.Why Steel Targets Live or Die—by Mike Gibson
Mike Gibson is the owner of Mike Gibson Manufacturing (MGM), one of America's leading suppliers of hardened steel training targets. ALL standard MGM targets are offered with 500 Brinell hardness steel, suitable for rifles up to 300 WM (at distances past 150 yards or so). Quality steel targets are not inexpensive. Therefore you want to buy a product that will stand the test of time and survive hard use. Mike explains the features that are important for durability and long target life.
MIKE: I don't have the time or space to address every conceivable factor impacting the life (and death) of steel targets. Nor will I deal with the highly technical side of bullets impacting steel, such as how deep did each bullet penetrate a specific type of steel. I don't care how deep one bullet penetrated a piece of steel. I want to know what thousands of rounds will do to it! Hopefully the following information will simplify this target business, and eliminate some of the "mystery metal" characteristics that tend to surround targets today.
Steel Hardness and Target Durability
Hardness is of course the single most critical element affecting target life. The hardness of steel is most typically measured on one of two scales. Brinell or Rockwell. Rockwell is used primarily in machine shops. Brinell would most commonly be used in a welding or heavy equipment repair shop. There are conversion tables available, but we have not included them here.
Someplace back in time, maybe 50 years ago, U.S. Steel developed a product affectionately known as T-1, designated by the ASTM (American Society for Testing Materials) as A-514. Some time after that, shooters decided it was a great steel to use for targets. It did a great job then, but there are better products out there now. The catch is, virtually all of them are heat-hardened steels, so there are some complications related to repairing them.
The easiest and best way to repair damage to steel targets is to purchase steel that isn't easily damaged. Pretty basic, but frequently overlooked while trying to save a relatively inconsequential amount of money. That's why we use the 500 Brinell hardness material on everything we sell.
Mild Steel (like I-beams, angle iron, channel, pipe is 112-163 Brinell. T-1 (ASTM A514) which has been the target steel of choice for years, has a Brinell hardness of 235-293. All our standard targets are 500 Brinell (460-540). This converts to roughly a 52 on the Rockwell scale. ARMOR PLATE is 500 Brinell, and has been ballistically tested and certified.
You will notice that each material has a range of hardness that is acceptable to the manufacturer and the ASTM (American Society for Testing Materials). I suspect that, with the exception of the Armor Plate, this is because each material is designed for a particular application or purpose. The hardness will affect that application, but hardness is not the primary design criteria. It is easy to see that the harder material is, the better it will stand up in a target application, as long it is not brittle. Some steel (like tungsten carbide) is harder, but you can break it with a hammer. Target steel has to have the right amount of hardness, coupled with the necessary chemical properties to make it tough, and able to stand up to the impact and vibration a target is subjected to.
Ability to Move Extends Target Life
Two other major factors to consider in target design are weight and movement. Physics: An object at rest tends to stay at rest. If your target is too heavy for the bullet to move, or is designed to not move, the target face has to absorb 100% of the bullet energy, and is consequently going to sustain more damage than a target that can fall down, or is spring loaded. The same is true for a stationary target. We have seen penetration much deeper on a 3/4" 500 Brinell immobile target, than on a 3/8" target of the same hardness, that could move. There are some applications where you have to go thicker, simply because the bullet carries enough energy to penetrate the target plate.
Target Ratings
We've designed our targets for safety and for maximum action for the type, velocity, and distance of your target practice.
Model: Rated For: Minimum Distance: Plate: Birnell Rating
Magnum: 9MM, 10MM, 40S/W, 357, 44S, 44M, 45ACP,45LC & equivalents. 25 yards: 230
Rimfire: 22 ONLY: 25 yards: 230
High-Velocity: .223, .308, .30-30, .30-06 .45-70 & equivalents.
At point of impact, terminal velocity can not exceed 3200 ft/sec. 100 yards: 500+
If you have any questions about choosing the right model for your needs just ask!
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Our Guarantee
If you shoot any caliber closer then 25 yards you may be hit with bullet splatter.
If you shoot any rifle calibers closer then 100 yards the target will be damaged.
If you use steel core ammo or belted magnum rifle calibers the target will be damaged.
If you do not paint and lubricate your target's moving parts it will rust and will stop functioning properly.
We also guarantee that if you use your target properly and it fails due to a manufacturing flaw we will repair it at NO COST TO YOU.
