Key to this could simply be target design. Look at this 22 cal rimfire backstop from Cabelas. The steel is nowhere near 3/8" thick. It's the angles that help defeat the rounds. 3/8" would be over kill.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Do-A...42-26403687-2&WT.tsrc=CSE&WT.mc_id=GoogleProductAds&WT.z_mc_id1=20021082&rid=20

You don't talk about target design so there's no real good way to answer some of this.

This one uses 8mm steel ( they don't specify type) but that's about 3/8".

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Shoo...browse.cmd?N=1100227&WTz_l=SBC%3BBRprd707976&WTz_l=SBC;BRprd707976;cat104625180

 

im going to go ahead and ask that if you read and sign this release of liability, i will say that a36 would be ok.

i wish i knew for sure, but i haven't shot much steel. . . . .but that is because i want to practice 9mm at a minimum and as close as 10 yds.

everything i read on the topic all broke off at "might be good enough for 22" can you cut a piece and try for yourself? start at 30 yds and work your way up. any dimple you can put in with less than 100 rds would throw the idea out the window

 

A .22 wouldn't even come close to going through through 3/8", even from close up at a 90° angle. That being said, you need an angle on the backstop to deflect the bullets down to keep them from ricocheting back.

 

I wasn't worried so much about punching through as pockmarks; a dimple can cause a ricochet directly back to the shooter, while a flat plate will stop the bullet cold and/or disintegrate it. Yes, a bit of angel can be used to induce a controlled ricochet into a safe direction.

 

I bet a 22lr would even go through 1/8 lol. I remember this one time when I was trying to should a duck in this beaver damed up river and I was shooting 22 shorts and was aiming right at the duck and shot at him like 4 times wondering why i couldn't hit him so I shot will looking over the rifle at the duck and I could literally see the bullet rainbow trough the air and land in the water in front of him lol it was funny. But seriously just buy AR500 or hardox500 it not much more expensive then mild steel. I just check a couple weeks ago. Only thing is most guys sell it in big sheets. So maybe try to find a small drop piece

 

this is 1/8 and it didnt stand a chance. It did bend a little tho. This was with a rifle from like 30 feet lol. I had safety glasses on! It was dark out side so I had to be close. Flashlight under the stock lol

 

What DSW said; it's about the controlled downward ricochet/deflection for the rim-fire stuff rather than the backer taking the brunt.

-Niche

 

I made mild steel 3/8 swingers with a slight angle on them to start the bullet downward. My brother uses them for his 22. We tested it with a 45 Long Colt and 38 Specails.
Same as those ones at Gander Mountain and Cabelas.

 

I shoot 45acp lead loads at 1/2" mild steel with no dimpling. I can shoot jacketed as well without dimpling, I just prefer to use lead on steel. 3/8" will be perfectly fine for 22. I will recommend hanging them with the chain on the backside to get a slight downward angle and so they aren't taking all of the force by being allowed to "swing" some o it out.

 

See if you can get your hands on some A514 steel plate. It's tough stuff. I got some small drops (5-6 square feet each in odd shapes) in varying thicknesses, and the 1/2" stuff makes GREAT target plates. I believe A514 meets military specs for range backstops, deflectors, etc for small arms (sub-50 Cal). My source told me they were a mix of scrap bits from the turret shields on MRAP trucks. Dunno how true that part is... but I do know it holds up just fine to a 300 win-mag

 

... A514 steel plate....

Also known as T-1.

 

I've seen 50 cal not put a hole at all in ar500 but it did bent it. It's on you tube. If your only gona shot a little 22lr just get 1/4 ar500. And that overkill for that bullet

 

@ OD -don't f' around. Procure a section of 1/4" AR500 and hit it hard. Forego the A36 solution. Trust me.

 

The holes straight through are .270, the holes not penetrated are .223 fmj. The 22 lr barely made the plate wobble and just smeared. That target is 3/8 x 6" dia mild steel. Hope that helps.

 

Kinda looks like my target lol. I got some hardox 500 but haven't put it together yet

 

I built these for my boss a few months back. He had the scrap laying around and knew I needed some extra money, so he offered to pay me a little to make him some targets... I think they were 1/4", and he said his rifle shredded them the first time he shot them. What a waste. I don't have a lot of experience with firearms myself, but he does, and that's what he told me to use..so... darn. not my fault, just gave him what he asked for. but man they did look pretty good when they left the shop.

 

Must not have experience shooting metal lol. Nice targets!!

 

I got side tracked a while back making walking targets for the .22. Used 1/4" A36. I thought about wear plate but the mild worked well enough.
http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?192201-Cool-target-idea

 

3/8 mild steel will last forever with 22s. If you will make it so it will swing, even better. I will try to take some pictures tomorrow. T1 works great for centerfire pistols, but is not needed for 22s.