The SOF Flash Target is another MGM target that allows shooters to enjoy a reactive target without the need to head downrange to reset them. Simply set the targets up, and enjoy a full day of shooting. For those tired of shooting holes through paper, steel reactive targets offer an added thrill.
Intended to eliminate long range target resetting, the standard 10" circle with a 5" head hangs below a horizontal shaft. There is a large camouflaged piece of polycarbonate plastic in front, and hiding behind is a smaller piece of plastic that is painted fluorescent orange.
When the target is hit the swinging motion of the target moved the camo plastic down and the orange plastic up, so the shooter gets an eye full of orange. No question about whether or not the target is hit. A .223 caliber bullet will effectively activate this target out to 400 yards. This video clip was taken during the team event of the 1998 SOF match and shows the SOF Flash target in action.
The SOF Flash target is portable and easily set up. it features a greaseable bushing, stainless pivot bar, and removable legs. The entire assembly comes apart for storage or transport and can be set up in a matter of minutes. A large part of designing a successful target is balancing enough steel to stand up to the fast bullets in use today while being light enough to move when hit, and being portable enough that it can be easily relocated. MGM has a complete product line that meets these needs.
As for durability, hardness is the single most critical element affecting target life. The hardness of steel is most typically measured on one of two scales. Brinell or Rockwell. Rockwell is used primarily in machine shops. Brinell would most commonly be used in a welding or heavy equipment repair shop.
To put hardness into perspective, the following comes from MGM:
Mild Steel, like I-beams, angle iron, channel, pipe is 112-163 Brinell. T-1 (ASTM A514) which has been the target steel of choice for years, has a Brinell hardness of 235-293. All our standard targets are targets are 500 Brinell (460-540). This converts to roughly a 52 on the Rockwell scale. ARMOR PLATE is 500 Brinell, and has been Ballistically tested and certified.
You will notice that each material has a range of hardness that is acceptable to the manufacturer and the ASTM (American Society for Testing Materials). I suspect that, with the exception of the Armor plate, this is because each material is designed for a particular application or purpose. The hardness will affect that application, but hardness is not the primary design criteria. It is easy to see that the harder material is, the better it will stand up in a target application, as long it is not brittle. Some steel (like tungsten carbide) is harder, but you can break it with a hammer. Target steel has to have the right amount of hardness, coupled with the necessary chemical properties to make it tough, and able to stand up to the impact and vibration a target is subjected to.
On the other hand, if your target is too heavy for the bullet to move, or is designed to not move, the target face has to absorb 100% of the bullet energy, and is consequently going to sustain more damage than a target that can fall down, or is spring loaded. MGM's SOF Flash Target is light enough to allow users with a 5.56mm bullet to get movement, while being robust enough to also stand up to steel-cored M855 and the heavier 7.62 rounds.
The MGM No Bull Warranty
To make MGM's products even better, they offer a 'No Bull Warranty':
If for any reason you don't agree that the performance design, craftsmanship, and overall quality of MGM products constitute the best target value in the country, return your purchase within two weeks for a 100% refund. No questions asked.
Every component of every product not intended or anticipated to be shot has a limited lifetime warranty. If it EVER doesn't do what you think it should do, let us know. You will be satisfied.
MGM has been in the steel fabrication business since 1972, but has only been building targets for about 6 years. While that is a relatively short time, the fact that they HAVEN’T been building targets forever allows MGM to bring some fresh new ideas to the industry. Their innovative designs, large variety, and quality product have won them praise from shooters nationwide in that very short time. Combined with they 'no bull' money-back guarantee, how can you go wrong?
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