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I'm wanting to make a few new targets out of AR plate. I can easily get 1/4" and I'm curious if anyone has used 1/4" AR plate for 300+ yard targets. Probably be cutting a 300,400, and 500 yard targets. My largest caliber right now is a 30-06 and possibly a buddy shooting a 300wsm. Will the 1/4" hold up at those distances or hold off and get 3/8" or 1/2"? Thanks

Can't speak for the 1/4", other than I have never heard of anybody using it.

I bought 1/2", just to be sure it would last forever...….

I'm using 1/2" AR400 w/o complaint for 20/50 yard and cast bullets. It might last to the end of time. Largest cartridge has been a .44 Mag. What little I've read on the topic suggests that if you're going with hot rod cartridges you might consider AR500, 1/2" minimum.

1/4" is for rimfire and pretty distant centerfire stuff.

Not very well suited for repeated 30 cal hits at 300-500 yards.

Just one mans opinion, but I'd spend a few extra for 3/8" if 500 is where you plan on stopping.

Yup. You want 3/8" AR500 for that application, IME. The 1/4" thick stuff will work, but it'll cup pretty bad with extended use.

You can always flip it around and cup it the direction for a while....rinse....repeat......

Yeap...3/8s at a minimum for CFs.

I have 6 gongs, 5 are 3/8" and one is 1/2". Mine are Hardox 500 but most people say it is close to the same as domestic AR500. All have thousands of rounds fired at them with no cupping or denting whatsoever.
A few years ago I had a 1/4" gong made from Hardox 450 that cupped, dented and pitted. I suspect most of it was from the softer alloy

I use 1/2" AR500. Cut it out myself:

1/4" will likely be fine for 300 yds. But at 100 yards, the 3/8" AR500 targets I have get absolute destroyed by fast 300 mag bullets. They look like hammered metal. There are some holes in one of my 3/8" AR500 targets but I can't remember if it's from a 150gr 300 mag or my 375 H&H, either way at 100 yards.

I have a couple of plates in 1/4” AR500. I wanted something that would move more when hit with a .223 at distance. They’ve held up fine for me in as close as 500 when subjected to 6 Dasher, 6.5 Creed, .223 and rye like.

I can also tell you they are absolutely not bulletproof when shot with a .223 at 10 yards.

I've got 3 1/4" 12x20 AR500 plates, they've over a decade old. I typically don't shoot them under 400yds. The hardest on them is 162 A-max's from anything 280 on up I suspect due to retained velocity/energy. Even @ 600 after an afternoon of shooting they start to cup. However, as aalf stated above, just turn them around and pound the cup out the other direction.

I hang them from chains, they're fairly light and swing away pretty easily. I have one that we've shot through using the 257Wby/100TSX combo @ 300yds, so, since it already had holes, we shot it w/50BMG FMJ's @ 600yds. They didn't go through but did leave one heck of a "dent".

I've got a couple 3/8" 10" circles we use as close as 100yds as off-hand targets. I've hit them w/TSX's from 243, 270Win, 7-08, and 300Win without any issue, just leaves a copper stain. Lot's of 50 V-Max or 55 soft-point/223's @ that distance and they just blow the paint off without leaving any other marks.

I did some testing with 1/4" plate using the 30-06 and 223 at 200 and 300 yards and put it on video.
What I noticed was the 30-06 with 150 gr bullets didn't do much damage but when I increased the bullet weight to 208 gr the 1/4" AR500 would dent at 300 yards.
Also, with repeated hits the steel plates will tend to warp over time and need to be reversed to keep this bending in check. Thicker steel is less prone to warp.
VELOCITY over 2800 fps at the target is what will damage steel by chipping and cratering.

300 wsm has dimpled and bent up my 3/8 “ ar500 pretty badly at 200 yds.