I purchased a 12" AR500 1/2" gong to shoot. I will be shooting my 45LC, 475L, and 500L at this gong. All hardcast bullets. Ranges from 50 to 150 yds. I'm heading to lowes today to buy the supplies to make the frame. My intent is to hang the gong with chains from the frame. What do I need to know to be safe or should I have a different plan? Thanks in advance for the advice.

That's what we shoot at the range here. Hanging steel targets that are on chains. Works just fine, and I've used 22 rimfire, 45 Colt, 454 Casull (sp?), 460 S&W, and 500JRH with not one problem.

I'd say knock yourself out and go with your idea! --Yeah, pun intended...

Bad,

I would stay with the plan, but keep an eye on what is going on. With any steel setup, you'll know pretty quickly what the bullets are doing. With a hanging gong, you should see a lead splatter/deposit forming below the gong, with use. The lower to the ground, the more obvious it would be.

And you can adjust the angle of face by tweaking the attachment of the chains. With the through holes, I always use hardened carriage bolts, and with washers/etc on the back, the gong can be made to hang slightly tipped forward from perpendicular. I prefer this over using those locking chain extension type rings through the holes in the gong, as these tend to make the face hang dead nut vertical. I think this is more critical at closer than 50. But hard cast, no matter how hard, are gonna be pretty well powdered by any steel that does not allow penetration.

Craig

Go for it

Get good bolts and fairly heavy chain like Craig said, as you are shooting some thumpers. Hang at an angle and resist the urge to shoot it up close just to see what it will do. All that lead has to go somewhere and the splatter can come back 15 to 20 yds and WILL DRAW BLOOD. By a couple of extra bolts and nuts and a can of paint and have a ball. Conveyor belting works very well for hanging targets also or the old belting off of a round hay bailer. With the conveior belting you don't worry about shooting it into.

Good suggestion, Craig.

BTW if you shoot enough of the bigger rounds you will eventually break a chain, so buy a chain splice link or two and throw it in the tool box.

Like this:

Rod,

Most excellent picture, showing what I was describing. I sure wish I could weld. My latest portable steel hanger looks about like a large tinker toy, with rebar. I have wooden hubs at the tops to fit the cross rebar and legs, and I really need to get steel blocks fabricated.

My pile of "well that was a good in theory" steel target parts, is rather large :^(

Craig

Haha, ya. I have a pretty good size pile of it myself ;-)

Well, the shooting god's tossed me a jinx, to ponder. I was at my shooting hole on Sunday. I had a metal target hanging, and a couple of those poly self sealing figures. I had my jack and cube, beside my gong. About 30 yards out.

On one shot at the cube, on the ground, I rolled the cube with my shot, and saw a puff of something hit some pine needles about about 5 yards in front of me, to my left. I looked down by my left foot, and there about two feet in front of my foot laid the plated 250 rnfp that I just fired from my Colt. The nose of the bullet looked like it hit a rock. I never saw that, only the block rolling back.

Never had that happen before, from steel or other targets. Almost got "doinked" by the shot on a poly block. I thought of this thread, and had a bit of a chuckle as I looked at the bullet......

Craig

Glad you didn't get lead poisoning

You and me both, brother. Note to self: No shooting or motorcycles wearing flip flops. Oh wait, I don't own any flip flops........;^)

Craig

A friend shoots cowboy shoots and I have been to two as a spectator ,once with the grandson. Was hit by bullet pieces both times 5 to 10 yards behind the firing line One piece drew blood on the grandson. They shoot steel way to close for me, won't go to another. When I shot metallic silhouette I saw bullets come back to the firing line at 50 meters. I don't shoot steel inside 30 yds. anymore.