Steel Plates

Anything shooting related including law and procedure questions.

Moderator: dromia

Forum rules
Should your post be in Grumpy Old Men? This area is for general shooting related posts only please.
Post Reply
Message
Author
dave_303
Posts: 1258
Joined: Fri Aug 05, 2011 5:49 pm
Contact:

Steel Plates

#1 Post by dave_303 »

For those who shoot steel, how do you hang your plates?

I originally used to a frame and now use steel bars and a pair of chains + d links. I'm finding that the d links are warping over time. Does anyone have any solutions for this?
User avatar
safetyfirst
Past Supporter
Posts: 2651
Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2014 8:41 am
Contact:

Re: Steel Plates

#2 Post by safetyfirst »

New links every so often......
stuarta
Posts: 66
Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2015 4:53 pm
Home club or Range: Bicester Town pistol and rifle club
Contact:

Re: Steel Plates

#3 Post by stuarta »

I have never shot at steel plates but have often wondered how safe it is, is there a risk of ricocheting rounds?
User avatar
bradaz11
Sporadic Site Supporter
Posts: 4722
Joined: Mon Jun 02, 2014 1:23 am
Home club or Range: The tunnel at Charmouth, BWSS
Location: Bristol
Contact:

Re: Steel Plates

#4 Post by bradaz11 »

at BWSS matches, the plates have a bit of angle iron welded to the back of them (the tips against the plate to form a V shape) and they have stands made out of bar or tube , with a bit of flatstock across to form a stop. the bar goes up inside the V, and as the stop is flatstock, it allows the plate to move side to side a little bit.
When guns are outlawed, only Outlaws will have guns
User avatar
safetyfirst
Past Supporter
Posts: 2651
Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2014 8:41 am
Contact:

Re: Steel Plates

#5 Post by safetyfirst »

There is a risk yes, there are usually minimum distances dependant on caliber, eye protection is absolutely mandatory, the plates are usually either angled down or swing so that an impact will allow the shrapnel to be angled toward the ground.

If you shoot enough steel you will be hit sooner or later. Good clothing, eyes and ears are the order of the day.
hitchphil
Posts: 903
Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2012 11:56 pm
Home club or Range: Bisley - Mostly
Contact:

Re: Steel Plates

#6 Post by hitchphil »

I welded a old towbar bolt to the back & drilled a holes in a sheet of ply to mount two; one above the other & a hole for rope behind the top steel to hold them in place behind. - then you can use 2 nuts / washers to bolt them hard on & tune them too! Ping Ping! plink plink! ding ding!
Quality control of Scottish Ethanol. & RDX/HMX

& my fav chemical is :-) 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine.......... used to kill frogs.... but widely consumed & in vast quantities by the French? Eh?
Lancs_Oakley
Posts: 116
Joined: Sat Oct 21, 2017 8:02 am
Home club or Range: Diggle
Contact:

Re: Steel Plates

#7 Post by Lancs_Oakley »

90% of the splash goes sideways so its not that bad but you should always have a good 10-15 degree downward angle.
As above eye protection is a must for close range stuff.
You could get some better quality d links as the cheap ones are just mild steel but you can get much higher quality ones.
Have a look at GS Products. They are in Birmingham.
User avatar
Mattnall
Site Supporter Since 2016
Posts: 2863
Joined: Wed Mar 06, 2013 5:32 pm
Home club or Range: Harlow TAC, NRA, BSRC
Contact:

Re: Steel Plates

#8 Post by Mattnall »

We use 6" and 8" plates with two holes in the top corners and another two centre top and bottom. This gives us flexibility on how they are hung - by chains (swingers), from a corner (diamond) from the centre (square) etc.
We have two ways to suspend them, one from chains in the corners off a hanging bar and frame and the other is to use road spikes and these are the most versatile, easily moved or set up and different hanging positions, and a lot easier to transport.
Arming the Country, one gun at a time.

Good deals with Paul101, Charlotte the flyer, majordisorder, Charlie Muggins, among others. Thanks everybody.
Triffid
Past Supporter
Posts: 407
Joined: Thu Feb 27, 2014 2:36 pm
Home club or Range: Wey Valley
Contact:

Re: Steel Plates

#9 Post by Triffid »

Checkout Hickok45 - he 'd done a video on shooting steel safely.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GpKZzt29BM

Triffid
Hunter87
Posts: 893
Joined: Mon Jul 13, 2015 11:11 am
Contact:

Re: Steel Plates

#10 Post by Hunter87 »

Triffid wrote:Checkout Hickok45 - he 'd done a video on shooting steel safely.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GpKZzt29BM

Triffid
Never heard of her.
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 7 guests