Used brake rotors for targets?

1965Jeff · May 2012

Since I have to replace my truck's rotors, I was wondering if anyone has used these as a hang-up target for 100-200 yd ranges? If the core payment is less than 20-30 dollars these would make a pretty cheap gong target... I have tried used drums but most anything will shoot through these. Since the surface on a rotor isn't flat I probably wouldn't recommend shooting at them from close range due to spalling ricochets, but at fairly long ranges should be safe enough to avoid anything zinging back at me.

Teach · May 2012

Cast iron makes a lousy target for anything more powerful than .22 rimfire. You might get away with cast lead bullets from a medium-power round like a .38 or .357 if you don't shoot closer than 100 feet or so. FMJ or any centerfire rifle round I can think of will shattter the rotor pretty quickly. The big orange "gong" shown in some of the SE shoot pics and videos is a "stump jumper", the center disc of a tractor's bush hog. It's made of fairly heavy steel, over 1/4" thick. It's got several .30 caliber holes in it from being shot from 200 yards with various centerfire rifle rounds. The small one is a forged steel boat engine flywheel nearly 2" thick. It's full of dents. It you want a reactive target to last awhile, get tempered steel at least 1/2" thick, and shoot it at moderate ranges. Closeup shots will result in lots of splashback to the firing line.
Jerry

ghostsniper1 · May 2012

cpj wrote: »

Fyi, they held up to many 7.62x54 FMJ rounds.

I would have liked to see a closeup of those little gongs after that day. They took a poundin from everybody.

1965Jeff · May 2012

Thanks for the info on the inexspensive steel targets, will investigate google on those. I have 8x8 3/4in steel target that has been around for many years, only penetrated by a 180 gr nosler partition from a 300win mag. 30-06 will dimple it and I just turn it 180 every now and then. I welded a plate over the hub hole from scrap and bent a chunk of rebar to act as a holder, nothing much going on this PM so I think I will haul new target to the pasture and see how it holds up against the AR...:tooth:

Fisheadgib · June 2012

Actually those plates were 6"x3/8" and I paid 17.00 each for them at Widener's and all four came in a flat rate box. In the next few days I'll post a pic of them as I was supprised that there aren't even any dents in them. I'll redo them with heavier chain before I use them again but otherwise I was very happy with them. I was curious to find out what the heaviest caliber they had been hit with. I'm going to buy a couple more of them in the 8"x1/2" thick version. I think hanging loosly on the chains helped keep them getting damaged although they are AR500 steel.

HAWKEN · June 2012

If you miss, you can always claim that your shot went through the center hole, LOL.......Robin

bruchi · June 2012

Do a search on ebay for AR500 this are fine to shoot with all common handgun and most rifle rounds and last forever! You will be surprised at the great prices and most sellers will stuff as many as will fit on an USPS Flat Rate box making shipping dirt cheap.

bullsi1911 · June 2012

cpj wrote: »

Weidners has some 4inch x 3/8 hardened steel targets for about 15 bucks. I know for a fact they are....bullet proof. We shot the heck out of them at Jerrys last weekend. WELL worth the money.

Link?