What is AR500 Steel and why is it great for shooting targets?

We frequently get asked about the material we use to manufacture our targets – AR500 Steel. Is it a brand name? Why that kind of steel? What is special about AR500?

AR500 steel isn’t a brand name, it is a type of steel. There are many manufacturers of it. The letters AR stand for Abrasion Resistance. The 500 indicates the hardness of the steel, although AR500 can rate from 477-555 in hardness tests. Originally manufactured for industrial purposes, such as mining and manufacturing of heavy equipment, it is a durable steel that holds up to most handgun and rifle fire.

AR500 strikes the balance between softer AR steels, such as AR400, which can easily pit with rifle fire and harder AR steels, such as AR600, which can be brittle and crack.

We use only American made AR500 steel, and specify a BHN (Brinell test for hardness) of 500 or more. This insures quality AR500 targets that will be durable for lots of shooting fun. As an added bonus, AR500 targets also have a great ring to them when hit. These are some of the reasons we always say, “Once you shoot steel you’ll never go back!”