Aluminium Plate as target material

[Zilberbak]

I have access to aluminium five bar plate offcuts that make great 100/200 yard targets. The plate thickness is 3mm to 5mm taking in to account the five bar ridge pattern. I have shot with the smooth side facing and the ridges to the rear .22LR, .223 and .308 with no apparent issue. Everything seems to pierce through even most of the .22 at 100yds. The question is should l be concerned with ricochet issues as it is softer material than steel plate and l am assuming less likelihood of ricochet. Any thoughts or experience of shooting this type of plate?

[snayperskaya]

I believe the Fig 11s etc used on MOD field-fire ranges are aluminium and would say that aluminium is less of a ricochet risk than steel as the rounds penetrate rather than impact "on the surface" so to speak.

[Maggot]

I believe the Fig 11s etc used on MOD field-fire ranges are aluminium and would say that aluminium is less of a ricochet risk than steel as the rounds penetrate rather than impact "on the surface" so to speak.

The current ETR and CGR targets are alloy Rick, couple of MM if that, they tend to get pretty mullered though.

I shot a piece of fairly thick (6-8mm) plate with my FTR rifle a while back for a demo for someone, it never flinched as you would expect.