With Grizzly Targets launching the exclusive SR500 collection, it is easy to overlook the bread and butter of the steel target industry AR500. This guide will dive further into what makes AR500 steel a solid choice for targets that are built to last.
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AR500 is a type of abrasion-resistant steel that is commonly used in applications where high levels of wear resistance are required, such as in body armor, targets for shooting ranges, and steel plates for heavy equipment.
The AR in AR500 stands for abrasion resistant, and the 500 refers to the Brinell hardness number (HBW) of the steel, which is a measure of the materials hardness and ability to resist deformation under high pressure. AR500 steel has a Brinell hardness of around 500 HBW, which makes it highly resistant to surface abrasion and penetration.
AR500 steel is known for its durability, toughness, and ability to withstand high-impact stresses, making it a popular choice in applications where durability and protection are critical.
AR500 steel is made by a process called alloying, which involves combining iron with other elements to create a material with specific properties. In the case of AR500, the alloying process involves adding carbon, manganese, and other elements like chromium and molybdenum to the steel. These elements are added in precise proportions to create a steel that has high levels of strength, hardness, and abrasion resistance.
After the steel has been alloyed, it undergoes a heat treatment process to further enhance its properties. The steel is first heated to a high temperature to make it more malleable, then cooled rapidly in a process called quenching. This rapid cooling causes the steel to harden and become more resistant to wear and deformation. Finally, the steel is tempered by heating it to a lower temperature to relieve any internal stresses and improve its toughness and ductility.
Once the heat treatment process is complete, the AR500 steel is typically formed into the desired shape and/or cut to size. It can be used in a variety of applications where high levels of abrasion resistance are required, such as body armor, shooting range targets, and steel plates for heavy equipment. Over here at Grizzly, we further enhance our steel targets in process called hot-dip galvanization where the steel is lowered into a kettle that contains molten zinc (at 850 degrees F) where the steel and zinc metallurgically react to form three zinc-iron intermetallic layers and one pure zinc layer.
AR500 steel has become the industry standard for applications where high levels of wear and impact resistance are required because of its excellent combination of properties. Here are some reasons why AR500 is the industry standard:
Overall, the combination of high hardness, toughness, cost-effectiveness, versatility, and availability has made AR500 steel the industry standard for applications where abrasion and impact resistance are critical.
AR500 targets are designed to withstand a variety of ammunition types, but its important to choose the right ammunition for the type of target youre using to ensure safety and longevity. Here are some guidelines on the types of ammunition that are generally safe to use with AR500 steel targets:
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Its also important to choose the appropriate caliber and size of ammunition for the target youre using. AR500 steel targets come in a range of thicknesses and sizes, and the manufacturer will usually provide guidelines on the types of ammunition that are safe to use with the target. Always follow the manufacturers guidelines and use common sense when choosing ammunition for AR500 steel targets.
AR500 targets are a safe, durable, and effective training tool that can help you improve your shooting skills and have fun at the same time. Whether youre a competitive shooter, a law enforcement officer, or a recreational shooter, AR500 targets can provide a challenging and rewarding shooting experience. For more information on our new SR500 steel targets, you can check out our introduction to SR500 or head over to our latest guide detailing everything you need to know about SR500 steel.
When discussing our steel gong targets with customers, the experts at Alliant Metals are often asked what AR500 steel is. For those who have never bought a steel target before, its a valid question, especially with all of our targets are created from the same metal. Our professionals want our customers to understand our standards, and why AR500 is the only steel we should use for their metal targets.
AR500 is a hardened steel that is commonly used for targets, armored applications, truck plows and in mining. It is tempered and designed to be abrasion resistant, which makes it ideal for high wear applications. With a high Brinell hardness number (BHN), AR500 steel is perfect for targets because of its functionality and safety. By providing impact resistance, bullets are more likely to hit a flat surface on the target and follow usual ricochet patterns. When softer steels are used and deformations occur, there is a much higher possibility for an unusual bounce back that could cause injury.
On top of providing the safety that many shooters are looking for, it also provides the durability necessary for the range. By creating steel gong and silhouette targets that are an investment worth making, shooters will spend less time buying targets and more time enjoying them.
It is important to know that about hardness for steel targets is that a higher BHN is not necessarily better. Many times, an extreme increase in hardness will only make your product durability worse instead of improving it as the steel is more brittle. This occurs predominantly in rifle shooting vs handgun due to its velocity and power upon impact.
Alliant Metals knows all there is to know about steel targets because we specialize in metal distribution! We are dedicated to providing quality services for all of our customers and deliver products with only the highest standards.
With more questions about our targets or other services, please contact us today by calling (800) 543-
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