The two big advantages of steel targets is that they last a long time and they provide instant feedback, eliminating the need to walk down range and check your hits. Not only does this conserve time and energy, but instant feedback can also help you learn to shoot better, sooner. Steel targets are especially handy when you’re shooting at extreme distances, particularly when you're shooting at multiple targets consecutively at various distances.
There are lots of steel targets to choose from these days. Many are very expensive, but some are surprisingly affordable and quite portable, too. Portable steel targets are super-handy, especially if you can't set up your own permanent shooting range. Also, some steel targets only provide audible feedback, while others provide both audible and visual indication of a hit. Below, I've picked what I think are the best steel targets in a wide ranges of prices—from less than $100.00 to six times that much. One or more should satisfy all your steel shooting needs.
Things to Consider When Buying Steel Targets
Bore you purchase a steel target there are some things you should know. Good steel targets are hardened—through hardened, not surface hardened—with a Brinell rating (BHN) of at least 500. For handgun targets at any distance, or for rifle targets beyond 200 yards, a BHN of 500 is sufficient. But for rifles, especially high-velocity rifles at closer ranges—you should use steel targets with a hardness of 550. That said, the hardness of the steel is not the only consideration.
A steel target’s surface must be smooth. If not, bullets can ricochet, sometimes in a 180-degree direction. Another way to control ricochets and bullet splatter is to mount the target at an angle to direct bullet splatter downward. Also, steel targets that move on impact help dissipate energy and this helps with bullet splatter and protects the target surface from damage.
With rifles, a good rule of thumb is to never shoot steel at less than 100 yards, and 150 yards is a better limit for high-velocity cartridges. You can conduct a test to help establish minimum rages. Start at 150 yards and check the surface of the target after a shot. All you should see is a smooth splatter mark. If that’s the case, you can move 10 yards closer and try again. If you can feel a dimple at the center of the splatter, add 20 yards and try again. That small dimple indicates you’re too close.
Whatever steel target you choose, never shoot at it with armor-piercing ammo, a BB gun, with soft low-velocity lead bullets, or without eye protection. Armor-piercing ammo will shoot through even very hard steel, BBs will bounce back, and low-velocity bullets can bounce back and ricochet instead of breaking up, especially when striking at angles. Bullets need to impact steel with enough velocity to splatter, fragment, or break apart. Again, always check the surface of the steel before you shoot it. We’ve tested all the targets on the list below and even the most affordable are safe and should last a long time if used correctly.
The 6 Best Steel Targets for Rifle Hunters
Allen Company EZ Aim Hardrock Gong
The Allen Company offers AR500 steel gongs in various sizes, costing from $30 to $50. They come with two holes or three. You can hang the two-hole targets with chains, but the best option is the three-hole version combined with a Champion T-Post Target Stand which costs about $20. With the Champion gadget, you can mount one of the gongs on a steel T-post fence post, which will run you about $8. The Campion T-Post stand/hanger goes on top of steel T-post fence post, and you can either hang the ½-inch plate on the steel hook or mount it with a bolt in front of a spring. An 8-inch target, hanger, and T-post weigh less than 10 pounds total.
MGM Targets T-Post Package
MGM Targets offers a T-Post Package that comes with a hanger and an 8-inch steel plate, for $80. MGM even sells a steel protector for $178 that covers and protects the T-post from bullets. The main difference in the MGM hanger and the Champion hanger is that you can only hang the steel plate on the MGM version, there is no attachment bolt, but the 3/8-inch MGM steel Plate is a Hexalloy plate with a BHN of 550, so it’s safer for use with a rifle at closer distances. With an 8-inch plate, this set up will also weigh less than 10 pounds.
Another great option from MGM that’s a bit more portable is the MLS 2x4 Package. This system costs $154 and comes with a steel base that supports a 2x4 pine board. It also includes a cap with a target hanger that goes on the end of the 2x4, and it comes with a 3/8-inch thick, 8-inch steel plate. You don’t have to drive anything into the ground; you can just pick the stand up and move it, and you can also order different-sized plates up to 12 inches in size. By varying the length of the 2x4, you can place the Hexalloy 550 MGM plate at any height you want. The base and hanger, with 8-inch steel plate weighs about 20 pounds. The total system with the 2x4 will weigh a bit more, of course, depending on the length of the board.
Birchwood Casey Mule Kick Target
If you’re only looking for a single steel plate to use at long range, another budget-friendly option is the Birchwood Casey Mule Kick Target from Action Target. This is a ½-inch-thick, AR500, 15.5-inch-diameter steel plate that you place on the ground. A steel rod platform stand holds the target upright but at a slight angle. It’s a great option for shooting at extended range with a rifle, but it sits at ground level so grass or intervening obstructions can interfere with visibility. The Mule Kick retails for about $256, and the target and stand weigh in at about 20 pounds.
Action Target PT Scout System
The PT (for "portable") Scout System target from Action Target is a bit more expensive but it comes with a wider variety of options. It features a low-profile stand kit ($400) that interfaces with a wooden 2x4 board. On the other end of the 2x4, you place the PT Scout Cap, and then you attach one of a wide variety of AR500 or AR550 plates that come in different shapes and sizes. Alternatively, you can buy a complete system that includes the stand, cap, and a 12-inch AR500 plate for $600 direct from Action Target. We suggest you surf the web, as you can find it cheaper if you poke around. Still, this system is quite a bit more expensive than the other options, but it's very handy, well-made, and at only 27 pounds—plus the weight of the 2x4 board—it is very portable and versatile.
Action Target The Last Stand & Gongs
All the above steel target systems will ring loudly when hit but offer only minimal movement. If you also want a steel target with lots of visual reaction, consider Action Target's The Last Stand, which you can pair with various gongs. This system features two backets that interface with five pieces of steel rebar to form four legs and a cross bar. The cross bar serves as a mount for the gongs. You can purchase the stand separately for $150 and then select the gong of your choice, or you can purchase a complete system with various gongs, to include a wild boar for $400 or a coyote for $390. This is an easy-to-set-up, portable system. The stand only weighs about 15 pounds, and the weight of the entire system will vary from about 20 to more than 50 pounds, depending on the type, thickness, and size of the gong. The good news is that if you buy direct from Action Target, the heavier versions ship for free.
