Top 10 Reasons Why SR500+ Steel Targets Will Transform Your Shooting Experience 

If you've been on the fence about investing in quality steel targets, I'm about to save you hours of research. After years of manufacturing and testing steel targets for everyone from weekend warriors to professional hunters, I've compiled the definitive list of why SR500+ steel targets are worth every penny. No fluff, just the facts. 

10. They're Practically Bulletproof 

Let's start with the obvious - SR500+ steel is purpose-built for ballistic impacts, unlike AR500 which was originally designed for mining equipment. With a hardness rating averaging around 545 BHN (compared to AR500 often dipping below 500 BHN), SR500+ targets can take thousands of rounds with minimal pitting. During testing, we've seen SR500+ take hits that would crater traditional AR500 targets and barely show a scratch. Even steel-core 5.56mm at 50 yards (which we don't recommend shooting at steel) causes less damage to SR500+ than regular lead-core .223 does to AR500 at 100 yards. Your grandkids will still be using these targets. 

9. Set It and Forget It 

Once you install an SR500+ target, you're done. These targets laugh at the elements. Rain, snow, heat, none of it matters. The alloy composition of SR500+ gives it decent corrosion resistance, especially compared to mild steel. Sure, a little surface rust might appear if you leave them out year-round without paint, but that's purely cosmetic and usually gets blasted off with the first few shots anyway. Give them a coat of Rust-Oleum Inverted Striping paint if you want them looking fresh, but functionally they'll keep performing regardless. Below is a target setup that just spent a South Dakota winder out on my range. I like to call it, "range patina"!

8. Instant Gratification 

That distinctive "PING!" when you hit steel is addictive. There's nothing quite like the immediate feedback of knowing your shot was on target without walking downrange. Whether you're shooting at 10 yards with a pistol or 500 yards with a precision rifle, you'll know instantly if you've hit your mark. This audio feedback is especially valuable for long-range shooting where it might take minutes to check a paper target. With our animal silhouette targets that feature reactive vital zones, like our full-size coyote targets, you'll know exactly when you've made a kill shot versus just hitting the target. 

7. Dramatically Improve Your Hunting Accuracy 

As I explained in my Dropping Coyotes in Their Tracks post, there's a huge difference between hitting an animal and making a clean, ethical kill. Our anatomically correct SR500+ animal targets with reactive vital zones give you real-world training that directly translates to the field. Practice on our life-size silhouettes and you'll learn exactly how an animal looks in your scope at various distances. The vital zone flapper gives you instant feedback on whether your shot would have been lethal or just wounded the animal. This type of practice is impossible with paper targets and essential for ethical hunting. 

6. Cost-Effective Investment 

Yes, quality SR500+ targets cost more upfront than paper targets or cheap mild steel. But do the math: a single SR500+ target can handle tens of thousands of rounds, while you might go through hundreds of paper targets in a single season. Our customers regularly report using the same targets for years of heavy shooting. When you factor in the time spent hanging new paper targets and the cost of stands, backers, and the targets themselves, SR500+ is actually the economical choice for any serious shooter. 

5. Superior Safety 

Safety isn't just a feature, it's the whole point. SR500+ targets at proper hardness fragment bullets predictably, dispersing them into a million pieces without the energy to make it very far. Lower-quality or worn targets with pits and craters can send fragments in unpredictable directions. The exceptional hardness of SR500+ means bullets break up more consistently upon impact, reducing the risk of large fragments. Unlike AR500 which might start pitting at ~2800-3000 fps impact velocity, SR500+ handles those speeds with virtually no pitting, maintaining its safe, smooth surface far longer. 

4. Phenomenal Training Efficiency 

Whether you're training for competition, defensive shooting, or hunting, SR500+ targets maximize your practice time. Without stopping to check targets or paste holes, you'll get more trigger time in the same session. This continuous flow of practice builds muscle memory and shooting rhythm that paper targets can't match. For hunters, our anatomically correct animal targets provide the most realistic practice possible short of the real thing. As one customer put it, "I've learned more about shot placement in three range sessions with your coyote target than in my previous five years of hunting." 

3. Versatility Across Firearms and Distances 

Our SR500+ targets are rated for everything from .22LR to .300 Win Mag (with appropriate thickness and distance). This means you can practice with your rimfire, centerfire rifle, pistol, and shotgun on the same target system - as long as you follow proper shooting distance guidelines. From plinking at 10 yards with a .22 to stretching out to 600+ yards with a precision rifle, one set of quality targets covers all your needs. This versatility is impossible with most paper target setups and makes SR500+ the universal solution for serious shooters. 

2. Simplify Your Range Setup 

Consider how much easier range day becomes with steel. No target stand to assemble, no stapler to forget, no stack of paper targets blowing away in the wind, and no walking back and forth between firing line and target. Our T-post mount systems let you set up a complete shooting range in minutes, not hours. Many customers keep their SR500+ targets permanently installed on private land, ready whenever they want to shoot. And for public lands or temporary setups, we have mounting systems that take seconds to install. 

1. They're Just More Fun 

Let's face it - the "PING!" of hitting steel is simply more fun than punching holes in paper. That audible feedback triggers a satisfaction response that keeps shooters engaged and motivated. It's why steel has become the standard for action shooting sports and why more hunters are training on steel before season. There's a reason new shooters break into huge grins the first time they hit a steel target - it's just more rewarding. And when practice is fun, you do more of it, which makes you a better shooter. It's that simple. 

The SR500+ Difference 

While any steel target offers many of these benefits, SR500+ takes everything to the next level. Its purpose-built ballistic steel alloy delivers: 

Exceptional resistance to pitting (with hardness averaging 545 BHN)
Better impact toughness than AR550 (less prone to cracking)
Longer service life, even with high-velocity rounds
Safer, more predictable bullet fragmentation
Superior performance in all weather conditions 

When you invest in an SR500+ target from Atlas Target Works, you're getting a target engineered specifically for shooting, not repurposed mining equipment steel. The difference becomes obvious after just a few hundred rounds. 

Ready to transform your shooting experience with targets that last a lifetime? Check out our premium SR500+ target collection and experience the difference that purpose-built ballistic steel makes. 

Remember - always follow proper safety guidelines when shooting steel, including appropriate distances, approved ammunition, and regular target inspection. Even the best steel targets require responsible use.