building spinner metal target.

mustang

i'm building a metal spinner target for pistol shooting. i have the frame done. i just need to weld the discs on, but i don't know how thick they should be. i have some 3/16" and some 5/8 thick metal. how thick do i need for it to hold up to a 357 or a 45?thanks

sandman2234

Well, the 3/16 stuff won't hold up. I built one for twenty-two's and somebody used it as a backstand to hold up a piece of plywood with targets on it. What was left of the 2x2 angle iron frame and the spinners wasn't pretty after taking hits from a .44 magnun at about 25 feet. One thing that the "old guys" had a problem with was being able to see the metal with open sights. Orange dots with adhesive stuck on them made it ok, but they don't last long. Was trying to figure out a way to make it more visible but haven't come up with a suitable answer. Thought about installing a piece of delron (plastic) in the center of the target as a sighting device. 1/4 worked ok for .22's

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Have Gun, will travel

Dave3

This won't help the spinning target but I found the best dang targets in the world and they are free. 20oz plastic soda bottles filled with water. you will defanitly know if you hit one and most young men I know have a nice colection of them in the back of there pick up or on the passeger side floor board. They don't blow over in the wind either.

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"Protect the Right to Protect yourself"

whiteclouder

Use oranges. Clean, easy to see, spectacular when hit square and they make the range smell good. Not reccommneded for public ranges cuz they are also MESSY. Clouder..

Rembrandt

Go with the 5/8....prolonged hits on thinner material will deform thinner metal to a "cup shape"....make sure you don't butt weld the swinging arm to the outer edge of the target, put the arm at least mid way down the back side before welding. Use flat material on edge for the swingers arm, don't use cold rolled round. [This message has been edited by Rembrandt (edited 12-16-2001).]

Judge Dread

3/8 minimal 5/8 perfect but watch out for thoose .223& .222 "hot" loads even that will not hold up ,remember to use soft steel if you use hardened steel you will have ricochets all over the place "quite dangerous"

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Ignis Natura Renovatur Integram

mustang

i used the 5/8's. it worked good! i tried it out w/ my 9mm. it stood up well. now i just need to paint it. i was going to use the 3/16 but before i cut it up i tried the 357 on it, and it left a nasty dent. so i cut the 5" circles out of the 5/8. but it sure got heavy. the 9mm just bearly swings it around. well it depends some on where you it it, on the top or on the bottem of the arm. thanks for your advice! i may have to try the oranges, do you think the wife will miss them?

Orphanedcowboy

I built one and use 5/8 inch, and someone came along and used it for their 300 Win Mag, I had to rebuild it and I used 1" and it is still intact, I used an old skillet on my 500 yd range for a gong, seemed to work reasonably well, made plenty of racket anyhow.

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Orphanedcowboy@msn.com

roysha

To make the target more visible, we use to keep a can of fluorescent orange spray paint handy and just spray the circles once in a while. Worked well for us, however be sure to have some protection from any wet paint for your vehicle. Had a lot of orange streaks running up and down the back of the truck.