Caldwell AR500 Plate Rack Expansion Kit – 8″ 3/8″ Steel Target

Description

This expansion kit is the easy way to grow your Caldwell AR500 plate rack into a bigger, more interesting course of fire. It's an add-on piece designed to work with the base AR500 Plate Rack Kit, giving you one more 8-inch target and the bracket to hang it. If you've already got the rack set up and want to stretch out your string of plates or just replace a well-worn one, this is the part you're after.

The plate itself is cut from 3/8-inch AR500 steel, the same rifle-rated stuff Caldwell uses across this whole system. That means it stands up to centerfire rifle and handgun rounds without cratering or pitting the way softer mild steel does. Caldwell publishes limits of 3000 FPS maximum impact velocity and 1500 ft-lbs maximum impact energy, which covers the vast majority of common pistol and rifle loads people run at steel distances.

What the AR500 Expansion Kit Adds to Your Rack

The adjustable bracket is where the fun comes in. You can set the plate up as a falling target that drops when you connect, or suspend it so it hangs and swings as a static or reactive gong. Being able to switch between the two keeps practice fresh and lets you build drills for different skill levels. The bracket mounts using the same steel frame hub system as the main kit, which rides on standard 2×4 lumber you supply yourself, so you're free to set your own spacing and height.

Building Out Your Caldwell Plate Rack Setup

Steel targets like these are about as low-maintenance as range gear gets. There's nothing to reset by walking downrange when you run them as swingers, and the audible ring plus the visual reaction give you instant feedback on every hit. Whether you're drilling transitions, running a falling-plate match at home, or just having a good time knocking steel around the backyard range, adding another plate to the mix makes the whole rig more useful.