Will a brake drum work for gong steel?

[stvnbrg]

I have a brake drum from a semi, will it stop a centre fire bullet or just pass through?

[Skytop B]

Probably stop it unless fmj. One way to find out for sure. Will make a ding sound, thats all you really want anyway right.

[densa44]

won't , 1/2 inch thick 440 steel will.

[jim summit]

It will pass through, get a track idler off of a piece off heavy equipment, like a Cat or an excavator. Most heavy equipment shops will have an old one laying in the bin.

[Smokinyotes]

Better yet get a piece of 1/2" or 3/8" AR 500 plate. Works great and probably last a lifetime.

[MTLGUN]

Unless you're shooting at a very long distance and in a huge wide open space I wouldn't do it.

If you look at every steel target on the market they're all perfectly flat and usually made to be mounted or hung on a slight angle down or up. This prevents the all to possible straight back ricochet.

Depending on what you're shooting you'd be better off with one of the synthetic self healing targets or just going with a flat hunk of steel if you don't mind hauling the weight about.

[FreeLantz]

Try it. The worst thing that could happen is it blows apart real quick.

[Scotty454]

Originally Posted by FreeLantz

Try it. The worst thing that could happen is it blows apart real quick.

This is probably what will happen. They're likely cast, which won't hold up really well to impacts.

But, try it! Worst case scenario it breaks apart. Which would still be fun

[haffordite]

I have a semi brake drum hung up as a gong. The answer to your question is depends on shooting distance and caliber. Mine is hung at 236 meters (measured). 30/06 class bullets will buzz through one side (using SP) bullets. Heavy magnum calibers like 375 H&H blow through both sides; 308 class bullets are iffy. Anything less than that mark drum. I haven't used fmj or shorter distances so I can't comment. Word of advice-Hang drum where nimrods can't shoot the hell out of it at close range.

[xring_assassin]

It will make a ding when you hit it. How long it lasts is another questions entirely.

Cheap gongs can be had too - hit up local NOV Wilson (DNOW) , MRC/midfield etc, ask if they mind you diving through their scrap metal bin. Typically nobody cares - anyway, if a spec blind or blind flange has no MTR or sometimes a skiff of surface rust - into the bin they go - often brand new. Spec blinds are made of varying nasty material - but I have half dozen 24" that are just over half inch thick and 338 lapua 300gr won't even dent them at 300m...and they cost me ZERO $$