Regular readers may recall our article about the arrival of The Steel Target Company on the shooting scene back in our August 2022 issue of RS. Since then business has been booming for the company, with their revolutionary designs really catching the eye of the steel-shooting community. In fact so much so that arguably the biggest name in steel, Tom’s Targets, has launched a similar product of their own.
However, that initial ‘award for innovation’ goes to Hugh Nevin and his team, and now they’re back with several updates to their inspired designs. Clearly sitting on their laurels isn’t for them.
WHY INNOVATE?
The traditional method of mounting any gong in the field is the good old combo of road pins, chains and shackles.
However, there’s a definite chink in the armour in this approach. Sooner or later (often sooner on small gongs) the shackle or chain is going to take a hit, which invariably sees the gong dangling off the remaining chain. This is particularly irritating after the long walk to erect the thing in the first place. Often, repairs ‘in the field’ aren’t an option, requiring a vice and a hammer to untangle the twisted steel and replace the necessary parts. So that’s one target out of action.
The ‘bear ears’ style of mounting points on traditional gongs are OK, but it’s a design that can be improved on, and that’s exactly what Hugh has done and continues to do with this update.
DESIGN CONCEPT
Rather than using the traditional round holes for attaching shackles and chains, Hugh’s first generation of gongs featured a three-hole layout in an extended top section on the gong. The two holes left and right could still be used for chain mounting if that’s what you’d like to do, but an additional central hole was added specifically for Hugh’s custom-built mounting stakes.
The multi-hole design has now been revised to a single central hole, so shackles and chains are no longer an option and you will have to invest in the stake system. More sales for Hugh, but a more robust product for us. The new design eliminates the only potential weakness, with high hits inevitably chipping away at the shackle connections and weakening the target.
These stakes are not cheap, at £70 for the small stake with a 100mm gong, £65 for the Hardox 500 small stake alone, and £130 for the Pro Stake Hardox 500. In my opinion they’re well worth it, as they’re pretty much maintenance- free. The stakes are made of the same 10mm AR500 steel as the gongs, which no doubt accounts for the price.
At first it seems like a lot of money for a mounting system, but if you subtract the cost of constant repairs for a traditional shackle, chain and road pin setup, plus the irritation of failures in the field, I think Hugh’s solution makes a lot of sense. In fact I invested in a range of targets after that initial review.
IMPROVED STAKE DESIGN
The original design consisted of a main spike accompanied by two lynchpin connectors set at different heights. The idea was that in soggy ground you can really drive the stake in and, using a lynchpin and the accompanying spiked plate, secure the stake firmly in the ground.
On firm ground the first setting is more than enough to secure the stake and target, keeping it firmly in place even after multiple hits from a heavy calibre. If the depth of soil is limited, the spiked plate can also be deployed as a kind of foot, which again stabilises the target well.
In this latest incarnation, the shackle/chain mounting holes on the gongs have been removed, further simplifying the design, while the support plate has been replaced with a much sturdier right-angled spike that improves stability, especially when deploying heavier 250/300mm gongs and the new full-body swinging targets.
Both generations of the stake have an extended hook design, with a corresponding hole in the gongs, which means they’re easy to install, can swing freely, and are also pretty much impossible to shoot off the stakes, even with the heaviest impact.
There are lots of mounting options and target styles on offer, including rails and custom stands for the more convoluted targets, plus various free-standing critters. But for me, and I suspect most shooters, the spike mounting system is the star of the show.
DESIGN CAVEAT
There is a slight caveat to the updated stake design, which may not be good news for everyone. The new hook section of the stake has been updated and is much deeper, which means the holes in the gongs themselves are cut further into the steel. The result is a tougher gong, but the downside is that the new style gongs won’t fit on the original stakes. Older gongs will still fit on the new stakes but not vice versa. It isn’t a problem for a new buyer, but a slight irritation for existing customers. Basically, if you want to buy the new gongs you will need new stakes to match.
SWINGING GONGS
Animal profiles are certainly nothing new, but TSTC’s swinging profiles certainly are. They are hung on a separate bracket that bolts to the opposite side of the new stake design. They are kind of free-floating gongs. A prime example is the roe head and torso gong pictured here. They’re typically larger targets with roughly two-thirds of the weight below the hook. As a consequence, when hit they swing and oscillate (depending on where they’re struck) and ring like a bell – a real joy to shoot.
The target obscures the bolts from the line of fire, but if you’re planning to shoot standard gongs it might be wise to remove the swinging bracket beforehand, as there is a possibility that you could clip the bolts as the standard gongs hang considerably lower in their hooks and expose the bolts to impact.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Should you sell your existing stands and targets and upgrade? Certainly not. They’re still a great product, and after two years of regular use mine may have the odd chip here and there but they’re still perfectly functional. Not a single gong, stake or fitting has failed over that period. All in all, a great and innovative product line that’s well worth the asking price. Very highly recommended.
*Includes small stake with 100mm gong
CONTACT
The Steel Target Company - www.thesteeltargetcompany.co.uk