Gong size?

wisconsinteacher · Mar 16, 2013

I know I asked this before, but what size gong would you get for shooting 25-06, 30-06, ans 338wm out to 300 and 6mmbr and 6.5 Grendel out past that?

Guy Miner · Mar 16, 2013

I think it depends at least a little on how you're going to be shooting.

Most of my shooting is standing, kneeling, sitting or prone, with no support except the rifle sling. I'm just tickled to produce two-MOA groups with that sort of shooting, so I like a generous sized gong. Mine is about 9" wide and a foot tall. A favorite one my buddy leaves at the 300 yard line for me is 12" x 12" and it works out fine. When I'm doing good, I hit it most of the time from standing.

IF I was a benchrest kind of guy, or an F-Class super-shooter like Desert Fox, I'd likely be very happy with a much smaller gong.

Guy

300WSM · Mar 16, 2013

12" diameter is good for all types of shooting.

The problem is never the gong size as any hunk of steel can fill the bill but rather keeping the gong suspended or whatever you plan on doing with it can be the important factor. A gong laying on the ground with only one chain still attached is a common theme/problem when talking gong.

onesonek · Mar 17, 2013

A buddy of mine and I made some. Basically I went with the size about half the intended kill zone.
We have 2" increments starting from 4" up to 12".

longrangehunter · Mar 18, 2013

I got lucky and found two 1/4" 19" diameter circles cut from Hardox 450 for $5.57 each and welded them together. I use it at 300-600 yards and can see the POI through a spotting scope. So if I miss the center at least I can see where I'm hitting as a evaluation measure.

Last evening a Elk was feeding between the wind flag and the steel.... which is why I like the steel practice!

Guy Miner · Mar 18, 2013

Cole - that's very cool having elk on your range. Time to time I'll see wildlife on the ranges where I practice. Usually mule deer or coyotes. Once some bighorn rams.

Steel is great. I love the instant feedback. Practicing on steel sure helps me get ready for hunting season. In 2010 I did a lot of shooting at the 12" x 12" steel gong at 300 yards. Prone, sitting, kneeling and standing. It paid off when we couldn't stalk any closer than 306 yards to my bear. I'd been practicing from sitting at 300 with the .375 sighted in at 200 yards... Made that 306 yard shot pretty simple.

Besides, steel is fun!

longrangehunter · Mar 18, 2013

Hey Guy,

I really enjoy the fun in shooting steel to. No worries if you miss, lots of different shots can be setup either up hill or down hill. The steel I have set up now is up on a mountain hill side behind my house. I have a walking range area around my property to shoot at various targets I'd like to do in all steel if I could find more scrap steel this year. And multiple people can get involved as well. Down side is I don't care for the lead issue at all.... more of a reason to load all copper bullets I suppose.