Shooting at steel questions

[1894]

I will soon have 2 cracked flex- plates from a small block chevy. the first one looks like this :



The second one should not be as rusty as it only has 600 miles on it . The first had 58 k on it when the trans. was replaced and that is what it looked like at 62 k . So there is a bit of frustration that I thought could someday be vented with some 240 gn jsp s from my marlin as well as whatever else me or anyone else would like to shoot it with.

So my questions are :

1. Can this be done in a relatively safe manner ?
2. If so what would my options be ? Hanging from a support or on the ground leaning slightly back ( there is a small hill for a backstop and behind it is just woods for miles ) ?
3. If I can do this safely , what would be the minimum range ?
4. What would be the best way to cover the holes ? Thinking plywood using construction glue or small bolts and washers .

[Gunnin'Wreck]

The last option you want to use is angling it back. This simply puts the bullet material up, bad idea. Hanging is probably the best, so that it absorbs the bullet energy. My real question would be why you want to do this in the first place, there are much better target materials around.

[jnyork]

My real question would be why you want to do this in the first place, there are much better target materials around.

This. You can go down to the steel yard and get a couple of scraps of 1/2" steel for not too many bucks, will work great for you as long as you don't shoot it with anything but cast bullets. Get AR500 if you want a tougher target.

[Blaine]

FWIW, I've been cut twice with FMJ frags with my .45acp. 40 or 50 feet? Once on my forehead. Hardly drew blood, but a couple inches lower and I'd be minus an eye I've also had .22s whizzing back just shooting at little rocks, and stuff on the ground.

[AJMD429]

Look up "bobcat steel" in indiana if you want 100 yard targets that will with stand 308 full metal jacket ammo.

I have their gongs in 4, 8, 12, and 16 inch versions at 100 yards, and even 444 Marlin and 500 Smith and Wesson do not harm.

on the other hand, the relatively soft steel you are looking at will not likely cause a ricochet problem, no matter what you shoot it with.

Hanging it from string or wire is probably the best, simply because the movement of the target absorb so much of the projectile energy, which means whatever leaves the impact zone will less energy.

I routine lane that my frustrations on physical objects that fail me, and 44 magnum seems to be my oven of toys for that.

Regardless, I would definitely recommend checking into the bobcat steel dogs for ongoing safe recreational shooting.

[BrentD]

FWIW, this summer, someone on the firing line a Raton for the 2104 BPCR championships took a piece of bounced lead that came off a standing (not hanging) steel chicken at 200 m. That is a piece of lead traveled 200 m down range, another 200 up range and also up hill on the return and hit someone on the line. Not hard, but not mistakable for anything else either. Bullets do crazy things.

[TedH]

Just about anything you shoot that flexplate with short of a 22RF will just poke a hole in it. That metal isn't hard, and it's very thin compared to actual steel targets. I wouldn't be overly concerned with it hanging and being at least 25 yards away.

[M. M. Wright]

Lead bullets only and lean it toward you. The bullets will then be redirected into the ground. It's the way we do it in SASS. You are also taking a chance with that starter ring deflecting a bullet who knows where. Buy some steel!

[Sixgun]

Throw that junk out. It's not worth the aggravation.

These have taken THOUSANDS of hits, mostly from cast bullets from the 218 Bee to 500 grain bullets out of 45-70's. They have also eaten up at least 7-800 rounds from military 223, .308, and '06.

I had these made up by Reaction Targets and are 3/8" thick. The smaller one is 7" sq. and the larger one is 10".-----6

They are made from some type of armor plate.

[1894]

Thanks everyone for the replies ! Most backed up that lil' voice in the back of my head and that's why I asked so many questions.
For those that thought I was looking for some long term steel to shoot at , my bad for not clarifying my intentions . If I ever do want something like that I will look into the options mentioned above .
The temptation of venting my frustrations , about having 2 flex-plates in the bed of my truck instead of bolted to the engine block , and putting them out of my misery was getting to me. The reward isn't worth the risk though.

PS. If they went so heavy that the shipping charges + BP would kill me , I'd send then down to Six and have him lob a few of those seement soup cans at them

[vancelw]

In that case, Sixgun can tell you about a can full of concrete and some black powder

[Griff]

Clearly... too much torque and a shift kit, contact Art Carr! Whatever you do with those junk flexplates... wear shooting glasses when you do it.

[1894]

Clearly... too much torque and a shift kit, contact Art Carr! Whatever you do with those junk flexplates... wear shooting glasses when you do it.

Yep that original and unmodified 5.3 cranks out a lotta torque .
Maybe Jasper put in a shift kit on the rebuilt replacement transmission I bought. Seems like the same shift points as the OEM though.
Lack of getting things lined up correctly the when the trans was replaced @ 58840 miles ( IMHO) is what tore up that flex plate the first time , it was replaced @ 62007 , broke again @ 62570 .
New dowel pins , new flexplate , and fingers crossed that my truck can make it to 65 k before it breaks again
Thinking just an estwing framing hammer ( and safety glasses ) may pop out that busted section of the one in the pic.

EDIT to add :
Yes I know that a framing hammer is not designed for hitting anything harder than a nail. I've had a claw break off of a hammer I was abusing .

[Blaine]

I've detected your tranny problems: It sez Chevy

[Grizz]

I've detected your tranny problems: It sez Chevy

no kidding, that's a good one

[Griff]

I've detected your tranny problems: It sez Chevy

no kidding, that's a good one

Yep, keep tellin' yerself that! And Chevy probably gets their flexplates from the same guys that Ford & Chrysler do...

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

Lead bullets only and lean it toward you. The bullets will then be redirected into the ground. It's the way we do it in SASS. You are also taking a chance with that starter ring deflecting a bullet who knows where. Buy some steel!

Lead bullets for sure. The swinger targets work but you don't want them handgun close. As M.M. says for CAS we use angled steel plate targets as close as 5 yds some even less. the angle deflexs the lead downward.

The round black targets are pistol at about 5 yds. The white squares are rifle at about 15yds. They are all mounted with a forward cant.

[claybob86]

I've detected your tranny problems: It sez Chevy

no kidding, that's a good one

Yep, keep tellin' yerself that! And Chevy probably gets their flexplates from the same guys that Ford & Chrysler do...

Ya mean NONE of them are built Ford Tough?

[rossim92]

I've detected your tranny problems: It sez Chevy

I give ford credit. At least they circled the problem!

[piller]

Then there are the Motors Of Particularly Awful Rebuilds around also. Get a Toyota and forget about having to do any work on it.

[BrentD]

...Get a Toyota and forget about having to do any work on it.

Get a good pair of boots with that Toyota. I sure needed them when I owned one.

[Larkbill]

"Yep, keep tellin' yerself that! And Chevy probably gets their flexplates from the same guys that Ford & Chrysler do..."

This.

I used to call on several OEM parts mfgs in southern Illinois, this was the 80's, and one had wire pallet/crates full of water pumps and fuel pumps labeled with the names of the Big Three and VW sitting in the shipping area. All of the current B3 use American Axle rear axles, and Ford and GM made an agreement several years ago to share design and build of the new generation of 6 speed automatics. Not familiar with the Tundra, experiences with our and a friend's Avalon left a bad enough taste in my mouth that I'll not own another 'yota.

[Sixgun]

I must have slept through this one.

Yea, send them to me and I'll lob a 2# concrete can at them. Gotta be close though, the cannon don't have rifling. -----------6

[1894]

I've detected your tranny problems: It sez Chevy

no kidding, that's a good one

Yep, keep tellin' yerself that! And Chevy probably gets their flexplates from the same guys that Ford & Chrysler do...

I got to agree with TTT on this . GM put an undersized trans in a fairly heavy vehicle . I feel that is why the original one crapped out @58K Typical of the many things did over and over that helped them go bankrupt IMHO .

[1894]

I must have slept through this one.

Yea, send them to me and I'll lob a 2# concrete can at them. Gotta be close though, the cannon don't have rifling. -----------6

I'll see what I can do Sixgun , I don't have the second plate yet . Jasper wanted hands on to see what may have gone wrong . I told the shop that they should have sent in the first one as well ..

I think a 2 # seement soupcan would be a fitting end for these

[Sixgun]

1894,
I feel your pain on the trans job. I too, have spent the better part of my life turning wrenches in order to have something to drive to work.

For the last 20 years I have been a Jeep fan....easy to work on and parts last long....as long as they are US made......not Mexican junk.-----6

[Griff]

1894,
I feel your pain on the trans job. I too, have spent the better part of my life turning wrenches in order to have something to drive to work.
For the last 20 years I have been a Jeep fan....easy to work on and parts last long....as long as they are US made......not Mexican junk.-----6

It's why I have 3 cars that run... well... one of them really needs the engine replaced... one of the other two does run, when I put fluids back in it and air up the tires... the 5th... well, let's just say it's a collection of parts in the barn! But, hey, it does have a refreshed 427 ready for it!