The thickness you choose will depend on your use-case as well as the volume of fire you plan to engage your steel target system with. If you are a casual shooter that is training once per month or less, and you are mostly focused on pistol fundamentals and rifle fundamentals (rifles at 100 yards and further), our Genesis AR500 systems offer an immense value. If you find yourself training more than once per month, you are shooting higher volumes, you want to engage targets closer than 100 yards with rifles, and you want a longer warranty, our 3/8" or 1/2" AR550 systems will be the best move. Our AR550 systems cost more up front, but they are LESS expensive in the long run simply due to the performance and longevity. Please check TA Targets Warranty page for more information on our warranties. 

Our most premium, high performance Portable AR550 Steel Target Systems will always be our 1/2" AR550Steel Targets for max durability.  

AR500 VS AR550 Steel Targets

The terms AR500 and AR550 reflect the nominal Brinell hardness of the steel. The higher the number, the harder the plate is (in theory). Here's the catch: not all AR500 and AR550 is manufactured with the same raw materials and processes. Some is very low performance, very inexpensive. Some will have tighter tolerances, better processes, and better materials which will result in a more consistently hard plate throughout the thickness, resulting in higher performance from your system. 

In General, AR500 materials will usually land in a Brinell Hardness range of 460-485. Sometimes it will be higher, but that is not the usual experience. Our AR550 is a very special material that is produced from NEW, raw ores and undergoes very particular manufacturing processes. Because of that, our material is a higher Brinell hardness without being brittle, and it enables higher volume training at closer distances. 

Couple the higher quality materials with better engineering and you find the DNA of TA Targets. Brackets, lean angles, and stability are all a primary concern. Our steel rings loud and sends the fragmentation consistently in a safe direction.  Our designs maximize the safety and performance of the target systems we produce. If you want a life-time target, the 1/2" AR550 targets are for you. If you're looking for a more affordable metal target AR500 is the way to go.

You can read more about the difference between AR550 and AR500 on are TA Targets Blog called Armor Piercing VS Steel Targets.

Absolutely. Our A-DAP Target Systems ring like a church bell on Sunday morning. From shooting your pistol to shooting your 50 BMG. You will know if you hit a TA Targets steel target whenever you are at the range with your buddies. Think of the last time you saw a church bell: How was it hung? Was it hung from the bottom, or the top. Our systems position the mounting brackets and bolts towards the top of the system to allow the steel to resonate properly. Target systems that have welded brackets or mounts that touch the bottom or side of the plate will not ring properly. This is just the physics of resonation. We spent countless hours testing designs and ultimately landed on a design that maximizes performance and accoustic feedback, creating more refined systems. 

Amazon steel targets, unless they are from a quality manufacturer, are NOT a good idea. Most are made in China from VERY questionable materials. Ask yourself this: How many people in China have access to firearms to send 10's of thousands of rounds downrange testing and refining systems? The answer is: none. You are purchasing a system that has NOT been tested, and there is no way to verify what materials you are actually purchasing. 

If you need some proof, check out our video of our Dueling Tree VS Amazon's. Don't cut corners with your steel targets. Purchase a premium USA manufactured system that is backed by a robust warranty and a team that cares about your journey to becoming a capable provider and protector. 

With TA you get:

• Immediate acoustic feedback with each hit
• Clear, distinct ring, even over 1000 yards
• Safety and less down time
• Less maintenance on the range
• We lower risk by creating better designs and using better materials
• We stand by our product. If it fails under proper use, we take care of you.