How to Choose the Best AR500 Steel Target Size and Thickness for Your Caliber and Distance

Title: How to Choose the Best AR500 Steel Target Size and Thickness for Your Caliber and Distance

There is nothing quite like the instant visual and audible feedback of ringing steel at the range. But to get the most out of your range day—and keep your gear safe—you need the right plate for the job. Thicker is not always better, matching your bullet energy is important for a number reasons we explain below.

At Bash Target Supply, one of the most common questions we get is: "What thickness and size target do I actually need?"

Choosing the wrong steel plate isn't just a matter of wasted money; it can ruin your targets, damage your mounting stands, or create severe range safety hazards. Here is everything you need to know to properly match your AR500 steel targets to your caliber and distance.

Step 1: Select the Right AR500 Steel Thickness

The golden rule of steel targets: Velocity pits steel; Energy deforms steel. Always keep projectile impact velocity under 2,800 feet per second (fps) at the target face to prevent pitting, regardless of plate thickness. Distance is the mitigator as the projectile loses velocity and loses energy the further the bullet travels. To guarantee your impact velocity or impact energy is suitable, consult readily available ballistics tables to determine the velocity and energy at certain distances by caliber. Not quite sure, give Bash Target Supply a call and we will help you.

The most common round to watch is the 5.56/.223 cartridge that has a muzzle velocity of 3250 fps (55 grain). For example, managing this velocity to under 3000 fps (ideally 2800 fps) is critical to avoid pitting and preserve your target investment. Energy is best exampled with the 50BMG. The 50BMG velocity is not a problem at roughly 2900 fps at the muzzle. The energy is an astounding 13,000 ft lbs that will not necessarily pit your AR500 steel, but, it will deform or bend most AR500 target plates.

3/16” AR500 – Rimfire Only

·         Best For: .22 Long or Short, Airguns

·         Minimum Distance: 10-15 yards.

·         Why Choose It: Light, easy to transport, and rings clearly even with low-energy rounds like .22, critical for plate rack or dueling tree paddle operation.

1/4"+ (5/16”) AR500 – Rimfire & Handguns Only

·         Best For: .22 LR, 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP, and most standard pistol rounds.

·         Minimum Distance: 10 to 15 yards (pistol).

·         Why Choose It: Light, easy to transport, and rings clearly even with low-energy rounds like .22 LR.

3/8" AR500 – The All-Around Workhorse

·         Best For: All handguns, 9mm carbines, and intermediate rifle calibers like 5.56 NATO/.223 Rem, 7.62x39, and .308 Win/7.62 NATO.

·         Minimum Distance: 10 yards for pistols; 100 yards for centerfire rifles.

·         Why Choose It: If you can only buy one steel target thickness for a multi-purpose range setup, this is it. It handles high volume without adding excessive weight and cost. Extend your shooting distance if the energy or velocity is too high.

1/2" AR500 – Heavy Rifle & Magnum Calibers

·         Best For: Heavy magnum rifles (.300 Win Mag, 7mm Rem Mag, .338 Lapua) and high-volume tactical rifle training at closer distances.

·         Minimum Distance: 100 yards for standard rifles; 200+ yards for magnum calibers (you are managing velocity here).

·         Why Choose It: Designed for maximum structural durability against high-energy impacts.

Why Size Matters: The Danger of Going Too Thin or Too Thick

Selecting the wrong plate thickness creates real performance and safety issues on both ends of the spectrum. Bigger and thicker is not always better:

What Happens If Your AR500 Is Too Thin?

·         Pitting, Penetration & Crater Creation: High-velocity rifle rounds struck against 1/4" or thin steel create sharp craters or holes. Pits catch bullets and send hazardous splatter back toward the firing line instead of deflecting it downward at a safe angle.

·         Bowing & Warping: Excessive impact energy transfers into heat and force, permanently bowing or dishing thin plates. Once a target warps, predictable bullet deflection is lost.

·         Cracked Mounting Ears: Thin steel lacks the mass to absorb heavy hits near mounting holes, leading to cracked steel or sheared hardware.

What Happens If Your AR500 Is Too Thick?

·         No Audible "Ring" on Light Calibers: Hitting a heavy 1/2" steel gong with a .22 LR or low-velocity 9mm soft point results in a dull thud or silence. The mass of the steel absorbs the vibration rather than ringing.

·         Target Movement Drops: Knock-down targets, dueling trees, and reactive pop-ups won't actuate properly if the steel mass is too heavy for the caliber being fired. AR500 Plate Deflection is important, if your plate is too heavy for the caliber it will not deflect to send the bullet fragments down and back of the target stand. Smaller plate or thinner plate helps mitigate the issue.

·         Unnecessary Weight & Cost: Heavy plates place excess strain on your wallet and your back (trust us, we move them all day everyday), making haul-in setups unnecessarily cumbersome.

Step 2: Choose Your Target Size Based on Distance and Training Goals

Target size should mirror your shooting discipline—whether you are working on combat speed drills or precision marksmanship.

·         Pro Tip (The MOA Rule): 1 Minute of Angle (MOA) equals roughly 1 inch per 100 yards. A 10" target at 100 yards is a generous 10 MOA target, whereas a 10" target at 500 yards is a 2 MOA target designed to test match-grade precision.

·         Pro Tip (Simulate Distance): Want to train at 50 yards but only have a 25 yard bay? Put a half size silhouette (9x15) at 25 yards is like shooting a full size (18x30) at 50 yards. Save your back, save your money.

Summary Checklist Before You Shoot

1.    Check Your Velocity: Keep impact speeds below 2,800 fps to avoid pitting.

2.    Angle Your Steel: Always hang or mount target plates at a downward angle (15–20 degrees) to direct splatter into the ground. Use a spring mount, chains, straps. Alternatively, hang on a free swinging hook, the plate must deflect backwards on impact.

3.    Use the Right Mounts: Pair your steel with heavy-duty stands or spring-loaded brackets that absorb and deflect impact energy.

Looking for steel target plates or armored mounting stands built to handle real range abuse? Check out the full lineup of laser-cut AR500 targets and zero-tool target systems at Bash Target Supply.