constructing silhouette spinners

[MAWLER]

I'm going to make up some rough spinners for plinking and was wondering on some technical details. I want to add a more australian flavour so was going to make rabbit (50m), hare (100m) and fox (150m). Will be using .22lr mostly but also up to .223

What type of steel should it be, after all you don't want holes and you don't want ricochets either?
I was thinking 6mm thick, is this sufficient? If i make it thick enough for the centrefire, will the .22 still be able to turn them? I was thinking 1/3rd scale.

No experience in shooting or making silhouettes or spinners so any help will be good help.

Sam.

[mitch]

i made 1 not long ago out of 6mm mild steel and out ar 50m a .22 mag was leaving a few nice big dints in it but the .22lr was fine with it so a .223 would go straight throu it i would think i have just made another one out of 25mm stainless but have only used the 22lr on that and it was to heavy for them but i did make it for center fires at 100m. so if you made one for the 22 at 50 out of 6-10mm and the others for the 223 out of 20-25mm stainless or something harder then mild you should be right. Mitch

[MAWLER]

sounds like the go, different plate thickness for different range/calibres. What range were you shooting over with the .22lr vs 25mm stainless - no movement at all? Let me know how it goes at 100. Really need something light but strong, my brother is a fitter and turner so i'll get him to have a look through the scap bin and I'll try out a few different materials.

[mitch]

yer i got my stainless from the off cut at the end of the bars the fitters use at trade school i have 3 targets on my one 1 is about 120mm x 30mm, 1 at 50mm x 25mm and 1 at 35 x 25 or so. we would have been shooting over 30 or 40 meters and didn't even leave a mark on the plates. i can let u no how it goes with the .223 in a week or 2 i should be going up to the farm then sometime but im at trade school next week so i will be making another plinker for the .22 out of 10mm stainless flat bar. if the .223 doesn't go thru the plate i will try with the .303 to. Mitch

[morerams]

If you want to make swinger targets for .22LR rimfire 6 or 8 mm mild steel will be ok, for 22mag you should probably use thicker or harder steel.
For centrefires you need to use wearplate at least equivilant to Bisaloy 360 or harder at least 1/2" or 12 mm thick if you intend shooting at less than 200m or keep the muzzle velocity below 2500 fps.

[MAWLER]

Hey Mitch, have you had a chance to try out the spinners yet, how did the stainless go?

I'm trying to source some bisaloy you mentioned morerams which looks like it would do the job well, considering its strength allows a small diameter plate, will be expensive stuff I reckon.

[wadcutter]

I don't know about a spinner, this is more of a swinger. I use 20mm mild steel plate. It stops 338 cal bullets dead.
Warning, do not use any steel target at close range or you may end up that way too. I do not use them under 300m

[mitch]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ABGIJwiGBc Thats wat might happen if you use them at close range. Mitch

[morerams]

Bisaloy offcuts may be available from places making or repairing earthmoving, mining, or farming machinery.