What's your experience with Steel Challenge targets?

[CleverNickname]

My local USPSA club just had its yearly board meeting and I think I may have convinced people that the club should start running a Steel Challenge match. But to do that we need to get a Steel Challenge target set. I found some places offering targets:

Rogue Shooting Targets (https://www.rogueshootingtargets.com/product-category/steel-challenge-targets/), $3,400, AR500 steel
Challenge Targets (https://www.challengetargets.com/product/SC-COMPLETE-PACKAGE-R.html), $5,500, AR500 steel
Blue Steel Targets (https://www.bluesteeltargets.com/collections/steel-challenge?page=1), $6,080, AR500 steel
Red Stitch Targets (https://redstitchtargets.com/shop/steel-challenge-complete-set), $6,495, AR550 steel
MGM Targets (https://mgmtargets.com/product/steel-challenge-full-set-of-the-8-stages-copy/?v=7516fd43adaa), $10,191, AR550 steel
SI Targets (https://sitargets.com/product-category/steel-challenge/), "Contact for pricing" & I haven't yet.

For those of you who've run Steel Challenge matches:
1) Have you used any of these brands and have a recommendation to either buy or avoid them?
2) Any brands I'm missing?
3) Is getting AR550 steel over AR500 that important? I guess it will last longer, but is it really worth the extra cost? I can understand AR550 for rifle shooting, but this is just pistol calibers.
4) Is there anything else we should consider other than price?

[JCN]

My local USPSA club just had its yearly board meeting and I think I may have convinced people that the club should start running a Steel Challenge match. But to do that we need to get a Steel Challenge target set. I found some places offering targets:

Rogue Shooting Targets (https://www.rogueshootingtargets.com/product-category/steel-challenge-targets/), $3,400, AR500 steel
Challenge Targets (https://www.challengetargets.com/product/SC-COMPLETE-PACKAGE-R.html), $5,500, AR500 steel
Blue Steel Targets (https://www.bluesteeltargets.com/collections/steel-challenge?page=1), $6,080, AR500 steel
Red Stitch Targets (https://redstitchtargets.com/shop/steel-challenge-complete-set), $6,495, AR550 steel
MGM Targets (https://mgmtargets.com/product/steel-challenge-full-set-of-the-8-stages-copy/?v=7516fd43adaa), $10,191, AR550 steel
SI Targets (https://sitargets.com/product-category/steel-challenge/), "Contact for pricing" & I haven't yet.

For those of you who've run Steel Challenge matches:
1) Have you used any of these brands and have a recommendation to either buy or avoid them?
2) Any brands I'm missing?
3) Is getting AR550 steel over AR500 that important? I guess it will last longer, but is it really worth the extra cost? I can understand AR550 for rifle shooting, but this is just pistol calibers.
4) Is there anything else we should consider other than price?

I have a practice set from these guys:

https://shootingtargets7.com/collections/steel-challenge-targets

I like that they ring loudly and the plates are lighter.

IMO, AR500 is just fine because most people shoot rimfire in steel challenge. Just keep the steel away from general club members so they don’t get shot up by people with magnum pistols and higher velocity cartridges.

Buying a half set of steel to run 4 stages might be a good intro investment.

If your club already has 2x4 target bases, you can just buy hangers and targets cheaper.

Be prepared with a portable saw to cut sticks to length to adjust for sloped bays.

(Also note that the Rogue offering is without stands and mounts)

[Wake27]

IMO, AR500 is just fine because most people shoot rimfire in steel challenge. Just keep the steel away from general club members so they don’t get shot up by people with magnum pistols and higher velocity cartridges.

I didn't realize this before shooting SC but yeah, at least half of our local matches are .22, probably closer to 60%.

[CleverNickname]

I have a practice set from these guys:

https://shootingtargets7.com/collections/steel-challenge-targets

I like that they ring loudly and the plates are lighter.
Yeah I found them but they were the only vendor listing their targets as 1/4" thick vs. 3/8", so I made the assumption that 3/8" was probably the better choice and took them out of the running.


IMO, AR500 is just fine because most people shoot rimfire in steel challenge. Just keep the steel away from general club members so they don’t get shot up by people with magnum pistols and higher velocity cartridges.
We already run an RCSA match with .22LR-only steel which we've successfully kept protected.

[ECK]

My local club has been into Steel Challenge for a long time, going back 15+ years. MGM is also local to us and Mike has always taken very good care of us over the years with discounts and replacing broken plates. Plus we pick up from their shop which saves a ton in shipping costs. Mike once told me that his prices are high but it includes a no questions asked warranty bc he expects clubs to shoot the living crap out of his steel.

We started out with the rimfire package (1/4” AR500 steel IIRC) but over the course of the first couple of years the plates developed cracks as did the 2x4 post hangers bc we were letting people shoot centerfire pistol rounds at them. So we upgraded to 3/8” which for the most part has worked out well (albeit heavier to carry). That said, every year we still get some breakages but I put that down to the sheer volume of shooting that the club does (weekly matches Apr-Oct, then monthly matches Nov-Mar).

Steel Challenge is a good money maker for club. Once you cover the startup costs your operating costs are fairly low. 2x4’s and paint are your main consumables. Shot timers, Kindle tablets for PS scoring, and a cheap router to synch tablets at the range are all that you really need. We also stake out the bays with whisker spikes so setup goes super fast. Two guys with a small ATV trailer can setup 4 stages in 15 mins or so.

[fatdog]

For those of you who've run Steel Challenge matches:
1) Have you used any of these brands and have a recommendation to either buy or avoid them?
2) Any brands I'm missing?
3) Is getting AR550 steel over AR500 that important? I guess it will last longer, but is it really worth the extra cost? I can understand AR550 for rifle shooting, but this is just pistol calibers.
4) Is there anything else we should consider other than price?

1. We bought MGM last time, but it was cut from 500 not 550 when we bought
2. Dunno
3. I don't think so, this is all pistol and rimfire stuff, our 500 plates have held up well for at least 8-9 years, we don't leave them outside for potential abuse by other cartridges/calibers
4. shipping cost is a HUGE factor in all this if you are buying any quantity, we had to pay for an LTL shipment of a pallet or two from ID and it cost us about as much as the targets, envy ECK's location on that count

[ECK]

1. We bought MGM last time, but it was cut from 500 not 550 when we bought
2. Dunno
3. I don't think so, this is all pistol and rimfire stuff, our 500 plates have held up well for at least 8-9 years, we don't leave them outside for potential abuse by other cartridges/calibers
4. shipping cost is a HUGE factor in all this if you are buying any quantity, we had to pay for an LTL shipment of a pallet or two from ID and it cost us about as much as the targets, envy ECK's location on that count

Buy local! Support your local shops, plus you save on S/H of STEEL targets…

[CleverNickname]

Steel Challenge is a good money maker for club.
That was one of the reasons I suggested it. We already have the timers and tablets for our USPSA matches.

[ECK]

That was one of the reasons I suggested it. We already have the timers and tablets for our USPSA matches.

The way my club runs it, 4 stages set up one week, then the other 4 the next week. The weekly matches are Monday afternoons from mid-April thru end of Sept, starting @ 4 pm and must show up before 7 pm to beat sunset. Just walk on, register so you’re in the tablets and go find a stage that has a short line. No squadding. Can register to shoot multiple guns.

Special matches are on holidays (Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, and last match of the season) and have all 8 stages setup. BBQ lunch afterwards, then awards.

Several different groups of people shooting SC at my club:
*Those who just shoot Steel Challenge -usually rimfire pistol/rifle and take it pretty seriously
*Those who shoot SCSA and USPSA every chance they get. Whatever gun(s) they fancy
*USPSA shooters who are looking for some mid-week practice
*Newbies looking to jump into comp shooting. Some of them progress onto USPSA/IDPA

I used to shoot SC/help run matches but lately rimfire rifle shooting (PRS/NRL22) has become my thing, not enough time or ammo $ to also do SC.

[CCT125US]

Send the specs to several local metal fab shops and let them bid the job.

[DDTSGM]

My local USPSA club just had its yearly board meeting and I think I may have convinced people that the club should start running a Steel Challenge match. But to do that we need to get a Steel Challenge target set. I found some places offering targets:

Rogue Shooting Targets (https://www.rogueshootingtargets.com/product-category/steel-challenge-targets/), $3,400, AR500 steel
Challenge Targets (https://www.challengetargets.com/product/SC-COMPLETE-PACKAGE-R.html), $5,500, AR500 steel
Blue Steel Targets (https://www.bluesteeltargets.com/collections/steel-challenge?page=1), $6,080, AR500 steel
Red Stitch Targets (https://redstitchtargets.com/shop/steel-challenge-complete-set), $6,495, AR550 steel
MGM Targets (https://mgmtargets.com/product/steel-challenge-full-set-of-the-8-stages-copy/?v=7516fd43adaa), $10,191, AR550 steel
SI Targets (https://sitargets.com/product-category/steel-challenge/), "Contact for pricing" & I haven't yet.

For those of you who've run Steel Challenge matches:
1) Have you used any of these brands and have a recommendation to either buy or avoid them?
2) Any brands I'm missing?
3) Is getting AR550 steel over AR500 that important? I guess it will last longer, but is it really worth the extra cost? I can understand AR550 for rifle shooting, but this is just pistol calibers.
4) Is there anything else we should consider other than price?

Short answer, I'd consider these two vendors:

https://shootsteel.com/product-category/shop-all/3-8-steel-targets/

https://ar500targetsolutions.com/

For steel challenge 3/8" AR500 will be plenty even for PCC.

I'm not a richie, but I have enough targets from these guys to set up every stage (one stage at a time):

https://shootsteel.com/product-category/shop-all/3-8-steel-targets/

I also have my own plates for our plate rack made buy these guys - the ones the club leaves out get shot to shit.

They are all 3/8 AR500 and have had oodles of .22 up to .45 shot at them with no problems.

I've also found these guys to be good to work with: https://ar500targetsolutions.com/

After I retired I taught a couple of contract classes and bought my rifle plates (2/3 IPSC Torsos) and stands from them. Again, 3/8" AR500, and bunches of .223/5.56 at 110+ yards, no problems. They get a lot more use on the pistol side of things. I think if I bead blasted them and had them powder coated I could sell them for new.


When they started Steel Challange at our club they repurposed the cowboy action target stands for Steel Challenge. They are home made but I really like them because they are one piece. I hate shooting anything jacketed at metal hung on a wooden upright.

Here's a general picture. They don't tip over. If you are interested I could take some from different angles.

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