Description

Built to take punishment and keep you on the trigger. The Hardox® ½” AR550 Steel Silhouette Target is one of our most durable silhouettes, available in 12″ x 20″ or 9″ x 15″ sizes. AR550 steel resists pitting from high-velocity impacts, resulting in flatter surfaces, safer splatter, and longer life, especially with .223/5.56 and other fast rifle rounds. Each plate is CNC laser-cut to maintain true edges and minimize the heat-affected zone for long-term integrity.

The 12″ × 20″ plate weighs 28 pounds and the 9″ × 15″ plate weighs 16 pounds, offering an ideal balance of durability and portability for regular range use. Mount, paint, shoot, repeat. Perfect for clubs, instructors, and home ranges looking for consistent feedback during pistol drills, carbine practice, and long-range zero checks. Manufactured in the United States.

Want the technical breakdown of AR500 versus AR550? See our guide: AR500 vs. AR550, what is the difference?

Distance and Use Guidelines:

• Centerfire handgun: 10 yards minimum.
• Centerfire rifles up to .308: 100 yards minimum; increase distance if you observe pitting.
• Always shoot perpendicular, maintain a fresh coat of paint and replace damaged posts.

What’s Included

• 12″ × 20″ (27 lb.) or 9″ x 15″ (16 lb.) Target, ½” AR550, CNC laser-cut
• Not included: T-post Hanger, Static Hanger, T-Post Stand, Static Stand, Paint

Safety and usage

*Minimum distances:

• Handgun: ≥ 10 yards
• Rifle ≤ 3,000 fps muzzle: ≥ 100 yards; increase distance if you observe pitting
• Rifle > 3,000 fps muzzle: ≥ 200 yards; increase distance if you observe pitting

Use quality eye and ear protection, inspect targets before use and replace any plate that shows cratering or severe pitting. Repaint regularly to track impacts and surface health.

FAQs

Why AR550 over AR500?
AR550 is harder than AR500, which helps resist pitting from fast rifle rounds and extends service life, especially with 5.56/.223 and modern high-velocity loads. The ½” thickness further improves durability for rifle use.

What calibers is it rated for?
Centerfire handguns and centerfire rifles up to .308 within the distances above.* For very fast muzzle velocities (> 3,000 fps), increase distance to preserve the plate and safety.

How is laser-cutting better?
CNC laser-cutting tightly controls the heat-affected zone, preserves hardness at the edge and yields a cleaner perimeter than plasma cutting. This means longer plate life and safer splatter.

Does it ship painted?
No. We ship unpainted so you can apply your preferred color. White or bright orange offer the best contrast downrange.

What makes this target easy to use?
The 28 lb./16 lb. plate is easy to handle for setup and takedown while remaining extremely durable for high-volume training. Its solid construction and balanced weight make it ideal for quick placement on standard target stands or mounts.

Is this product made in the United States?
Yes. Our targets are manufactured in the United States using premium Swedish AR550 steel.

Do you warranty your products?
Yes. We stand behind our products.

Personal/Recreational Use

• Products used for personal or recreational shooting are covered against manufacturing or material defects from the date of delivery as follows: wear items, including target plates, for 90 days; welds for 1 year. This warranty covers weld integrity, materials and workmanship.

Commercial/Range Use

• Products used in a commercial range or training environment are covered against manufacturing or material defects for a period of 90 days from the date of purchase. This warranty covers weld integrity, materials and workmanship.
• Due to the high-volume and high-impact nature of range use, normal wear, pitting, cratering, or target face degradation are not covered under this warranty.

To qualify for coverage, targets must be used and maintained in accordance with ShootSteel safety and distance guidelines, including:

• No use of steel-core, armor-piercing, or tracer ammunition
• Minimum recommended distances observed
• Target mounted to ShootSteel specifications

ShootSteel reserves the right to request photos or inspection of any claimed item prior to approval.

Misuse or abuse is not covered. Use targets per the safety guidelines on our website and in the instruction sheet. Need a copy? Email us.

Start a claim: Contact customerservice@shootsteel.com with your order number and photos.