The 10 Best Gong Targets

Shooters who want a plate with a published limit should start with the Caldwell High Caliber. Caldwell publishes both a speed and an energy limit for this through-hardened steel, high enough for most common rifle loads, and covers it for life under a limited warranty. The bright yellow paint stands out against dirt and brush. Two holes let it hang from chains or straps, but the hangers cost extra, and the paint chips away fast where bullets land.

Few steel plates come in as many diameters as the Highwild Neon AR500, from a palm-size disc for long shots to a big one that's hard to miss up close. It's laser cut, so the edges come out clean, and the neon orange coat stays visible at dusk. The steel is thick enough for handguns and most rifles. Highwild gives no speed limit for it, so keep fast rifle loads under the usual AR500 speed ceiling.

Made in the USA, the Dragon Targets AR500 is laser cut, which the maker says keeps heat from softening the steel. This version is the thicker half-inch plate, built for heavier rifle use. Its matte white paint cuts glare, and you can spray it again once bullets knock the coat off. Flip it now and then to spread wear. The disc is small, so it gets hard to hit past short range.

Shooters buying their first steel on little money can look at the Birchwood Casey One Hole Gong comes from a big name in shooting targets. It hangs from a single hole at the top and swings freely when hit, and it comes with stick-on aiming spots for both faces, so a fresh mark is a quick fix after the paint wears. Birchwood rates it for centerfire handguns and rifles but gives no speed limit, and the hanger costs extra.

The ShootingTargets7 Zinc Plated skips paint for a clear zinc coat that holds off rust, so a plate left hanging outside stays cleaner for longer. ShootingTargets7 says it handles common rifle rounds and publishes an energy limit of 2,100 foot-pounds, along with a plain guide to safe distances. Its mounting holes take a standard half-inch bolt. The bare silver face is hard to see against pale dirt or snow, so many shooters add a coat of paint.

A ladder of plates from small to medium makes the HDSteelTargets 5-Pack a quick way to stretch your range one step at a time. They're half-inch AR500, rated for magnum rifles, and the cutting torch is water-cooled so the edges keep their hardness. The steel is bare, so it can rust, and the maker says to wear gloves because the edges stay sharp. You'll need your own bolts or hangers.

With the RMP Swing Target Kit you get three round plates, small, medium and large, so one setup covers short and longer practice. RMP cuts them in the USA, and the steel is thick enough for handguns and most rifles. They come bare, without paint, so hits are harder to spot until you spray them, and they can rust between sessions. Despite the name, the seller lists only the plates, so plan on buying chains or hangers.

Everything for a range day arrives in one box with the Highwild Target System: a steel stand, chain kits and two plates, a round gong and a small torso silhouette. The chains hold each plate tilted down, so bullet fragments head into the dirt. The stand comes apart by hand to fit in a trunk, and worn parts can be replaced. The whole kit is heavy to carry far from the car, and the torso is not a gong.

A printed bullseye on white paint makes the Allen Company Steel Gong easy to read from a distance, and Allen says it suits rifles and handguns out to 200 yards. This large version gives newcomers to long range a forgiving mark. It hangs from chains, straps or hooks and carries a one-year warranty. Allen gives no speed or energy limit for this plate, so stick to ordinary rifle loads and keep well back.

The Birchwood Casey Boomslang comes with its own stand and hanging hardware, so it sets up quickly wherever you have a safe backstop. Its thick plate is rated for centerfire handguns and for rifles up to big magnums, and bright orange aiming spots mark the center. Birchwood asks for at least 25 yards with a handgun and 100 with a rifle. There's only one plate, so you can't practice at several distances without a second target.