?unique=0919980)
"Steel is Steel" (All Steel Targets are the same)
This is a statement we have heard time and time again. Typically, someone goes on the internet and claims we are selling snake oil, price gouging, and some have even claimed we have taken advantage of our customers. Rather than engage in public debate, we just showcase what we manufacture. Here is the truth of what we manufacture:
1.) Our objective is creating the BEST steel targets on the market. We dominated the market from 2018 - present by offering a completely different style of target system.
2.) The steel we use is different. It's from a different mill, comes from NEW raw ore / materials, undergoes very specialized processes to remove impurities, and is air cooled vs cheaper, recycled products most target manufacturers are using.
3.) Our 3/8" AR550 strike plates feature a 10 year warranty, our 1/2" AR550 Strike Plates feature a lifetime one replacement warranty. Nobody else stands behind target systems like we do.
4.) We are the only steel target manufacturer making steel target systems that are 30 yard rifle rated. Oh, and ours still ring. Most other close range rifle targets are huge, welded, and don't ring. Ours are rated standard for high volume, high impact uses.
5.) Everything is manufactured right here in PA by people who care about the culture and care about you.
6.) Our products are priced aggressively. Yes, the naysayers will hate on us and say we are gaslighting you, but the reality is: These are PREMIUM products. They are not the same as Chinese made or targets found on Amazon. There are no other targets that compare to what we are manufacturing, and we've put that to the test to let the science do the talking. As much as I wish we could brag about "10X Markup!", it's untrue. We keep prices as low as possible while offering the best product money can buy.
If you just want cheap, go somewhere else. If you want the best, read this blog, understand the difference, watch the full video, and rest assured you get the best when you buy TA.
Our culture is different.
We care about you and we care about this community. We invest in initiatives, organizations, and support fund raisers. We also create media to impact the culture and community as a whole. Why does this matter? Good question. Because when you spend money with a company, you support their actions. Our vision of "Inspiring individuals to become capable providers and protectors" is the metric of OUR actions. We are not a steel target company. We are a cultural reformation company. You can see this in action through our media, like the video covering this armor piercing test.
RIP Brenton
Unfortunately Brenton met his demise in the intro of this video. But, the educational value of the video is worth it.
Jared Realizing What happened
Jared coming to terms that Brenton met his end before ever having the chance to grow a full beard. A true shame.
Media is Culture
Yes, the introduction was dramatic. Outlandish, even. But we pour back into the culture through media, just like this video. Educate AND Entertain!
We make the best products money can buy. You purchase the products. We take that money, roll it back into the business, our team, and our media. In turn, we affect the changes we desire to see, speak a message of truth and unity, and become a small part of this cultural revolution. That is why the media is so important and that is why we do what we do.
How can you be CERTAIN our 1/2" AR550 is better than our competitors?
"Jared, that's cool and all. But how can I be certain you aren't making outrageous claims? How can I be certain the 1/2" AR550 systems are worth investing in?"
One of my favorite types of content is our armor piercing content. In these tests, we take industry standard AR500 material, then we put it side by side to our Premium AR550 steel systems. These videos are the harshest conditions with ammo that is NOT approved for use on our systems. It is a visual proof of what we are talking about. You can hate on us for making a premium product, but the videos don't lie. There is a SUBSTANTIAL difference in our Premium line of AR550 steel target systems. They withstand a beating that other targets fall apart from. It's important to note that, yes, we are biased. But this passion for designing and manufacturing only the best steel target systems has resulted in what we consider to be the absolute best on the planet. Steel targets are an investment, and it's important you invest in portable shooting targets that don't shoot you back or fail under high volume use.
Putting our 1/2" AR550 against M61 Armor Piercing Ammunition
We put our 1/2" AR550 Reduced C Zone target plate against some rounds that were supplied by a YouTube subscriber after they saw our initial Warranty Claim Video. Shoutout to "The Big Cheese" for helping us with this project. If you don't know what video I'm referring to, we have it linked below. A customer returned a plate to us because they somehow shot a hole clean through it. They claimed they were using 165 grain federal fusion ammunition, but we knew this could not be the case. Now, we aren't saying the customer is lying, only that it was shot by something they didn't realize it was shot with. Ever since that initial video, we have attempted to replicate the same hole. We want to get to the bottom of it. To date we have engaged this target with:
1.) M80A1
2.) M855A1
3.) Black Tip 7.62X51 Armor Piercing
4.) WWII M2 Amor Piercing Ammunition
5.) WWII Armor Piercing Incendiary Ammunition
6.) WWII M2 Armor Piercing 30 caliber bullets loaded into 300 Winchester Magnum (over 2900 FPS)
7.) WWII Armor Piercing Incendiary 30 caliber bullets loaded into 300 winchester magnum (over 2900 FPS)
8.) And finally, today, we have impacted this plate with 30 caliber M61 300 winchester magnum (Over 3140 FPS)
It is important to note: For this particular test, we engaged the target at 75 yards instead of 100. We've been using the same plate this entire time. It has now been impacted with 100's of rounds, most of them armor piercing.
The Rifle and Range Setup
For this test, we used our Bergara B-14 HMR 300 winchester magnum rifle. The bipod is an Atlas V8 bipod. The scope is one that was sent to us from Arken Optics. The distance from muzzle of rifle to target faces was 75 yards. I was laying prone behind a dirt berm for protection, just in case. The first 3 rounds we fired were on the Genesis AR500 Target plate. The next 3 rounds were fired on the 1/2" AR550 A-DAP Reduced C Zone target plate. Here is the ballistic data from these six rounds:
1.) Average Muzzle Velocity: 3141.7 FPS (Using Garmin Chronograph)
2.) Standard Deviation of 10FPS between rounds
3.) Average Kinetic Energy was over 3300 Foot Pounds at the muzzle
1/2" AR550 Compared to 3/8" AR500 Target Plates:
To further add to the strength test, we put our 3/8" AR500 Genesis Reduced C Zone target plate downrange. Our Genesis line of targets is made from an industry typical AR500 material. It keeps the price low, it gives an entry way into steel targets that is affordable, and it offers a way for folks to support us while staying on a budget. They're safe, effective, and ring loud. But they are not meant for the abuse our AR550 line of targets is purpose built for. Tests like this show exactly how much stronger the AR550 is versus the AR500. Just showing these impacts tells you the full story: STEEL IS NOT STEEL! It's not all the same. It can be spec'd in so many different ways. When companies go for cheap, they have to sacrifice performance.
3/8" AR500 Steel Target Plate VS M61 Armor Piercing:
The first 3 rounds were fired on the Genesis Reduced C Zone. As you can see, all three rounds penetrated the plate easily. This was expected based on our previous findings with AR500 steel. Even many 150 grain soft point bullets from 300 winchester magnum have the ability to penetrate 3/8" AR500 portable steel target system target plates. So seeing 3 pass through holes was not shocking to us. Look at how clean the rounds went through plate, maintaining enough energy to embed the penetrator cores into our top bracket behind the plate:
First inspection of AR500
Upon walking downrange, it was clear that the 3/8" AR500 plate had 3 holes clean through it. This material is what most targets on the market are produced from.
Limitations of the AR500 Steel
The M61 bullet cut through this plate like butter, further displaying the strength limitations of AR500 and / or SR500 steels.
Energy Transfer
The penetrator cores had enough energy to punch through the 3/8" Thick AR500 steel AND embed themselves into our Genesis Single Hole Top Bracket behind the plate.
1/2" AR550 Steel Target Plate VS M61 Armor Piercing:
I'll shoot straight with you guys: upon researching this ammunition, I was under the assumption it would pass through the target plate. They are way over 3000 FPS, they supposedly had a harder, more dense core than the M2 armor piercing, and what I read online had me seriously concerned. But, rather than shy away from it, we decided we HAD to shoot the warranty claim plate with these bullets. The results absolutely blew my mind. I placed the 3 rounds on a fresh portion of the target plate so that we didn't accidentally hit one of the craters from a previous M2 round. I wanted this to be as authentic as possible. When I walked downrange, my mind was blown: ZERO pass throughs! Not only did these rounds NOT defeat our plate, they BARELY left a mark. I couldn't believe that the M2 from the WWII era was far more devastating against the steel plate. The impacts from the M61 resembles nearly the same impressions as M855A1. Let that sink in for a moment. The pictures tell the entire story:
The Targets Tell the Story. We don't have to.
On the first picture above, the left target is AR500. The Right is our legendary AR550. The left one has three clear bullet holes. The right one? Hardly a scuff. It's really crazy that folks think we are falsely claiming our systems are built different. Especially in the face of proof. But as we all know: You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot force it to take a drink. The Graphic below marks the latest armor piercing impacts, but also shows you how those compare to the M61 armor piercing bullets.
Not all Portable Steel Targets are on the same level.
Creating systems that allow you to train to become a better provider and protector is our passion. It's for this reason we pour so much time and energy into developing premium AR550 Portable Steel Targets and Shooting Target Systems. We price our systems as low as we possibly can to take care of our team, but to also afford to do what we are called to do: Use media to impact our culture. What drives us is excellence and vision first. We will never be the cheapest steel target manufacturer on the market, but we will continue to pursue being the best.
You will hear people sharing the opinion that "steel is steel" online. Be sure you share our blogs and videos as proof of the following:
1.) MOST steel targets on the market are made from low quality AR500 steel, that has very poor consistency and strength.
2.) "AR500 is AR500" is not a factual statement. AR500 and AR550 are not the same material. There are countless ways this material is manufactured. Just like oil for your car, there are differences between brands. Some are low quality and cheap, others are premium and 2-3X the cost per pound.
3.) Our AR500 and AR550 targets are built from an ENTIRELY different material. This is why our AR550 steel targets will outperform even our OWN AR500 targets. The steel matters first. Engineering comes in a close second.
4.) Our 1/2" AR550 systems have a lifetime one replacement warranty. Go find that somewhere else and if you do, see if the company honors it.
5.) Our systems are overbuilt so that you can purchase a system now, and use it your entire life if you use it properly. This is not a gimmick, this is a commitment.
When you are ready for the best, give us a shot.
If you find yourself in the market for a premium, close range rifle rated, Portable AR550 steel target system for your shooting range, club, or private range, consider our AR550 line of steel targets. Our most purchased systems would be our Reduced C Zone (Mini A-DAP) system with our 20" base and our C Zone A-DAP System with our 20" base.
If you have any questions during your ordering process, please email us at info@tatargets.com. Further, engage with us in the comments here and at our full YouTube video. We'd love to hear what you think of the performance of our steel, and we value your input on future blog topics and video topics. Thank you all for the last 10 years of support.
"THIS is PERFECTLY Safe!" (M61 Armor Piercing VS AR550)