DT-Cadet 6mm MILD STEEL Spine Cover Plate Kit (Bolt-On)
DT-Cadet Mild Steel Spine Cover Plate – Budget Spine Protection for DT-Cadet Duelling Trees
Protect Your DT-Cadet Spine Without the Cost of Full Armour
The DT-Cadet Mild Steel Sacrificial Cover Plate is a cost-effective cover that lets the sacrificial plate take the hits and wear, not the spine. Rather than replacing your existing spine or upgrading to AR450 armour, simply attach this cover plate to absorb the brunt of impact, defer wear, and keep you shooting for longer.
Note: This listing does not include a mild steel cover plate for the REACK X-Base—your DT-22LR base kit already ships with the REACK X-Base cover plate installed. If you require the Reack X-Base Cover Plate, you can purchase separately as parts under the armour covers, face plates and upgrades category.
📌 Compatible Only With:
• DT-Cadet Duelling Tree (standard, unarmoured mild steel spine)
📌 Not Compatible With:
• DT-Cadet Factory-Welded AR450 Armoured Model
• Any centre-fire-rated Duelling Tree (DT-Alpha)
📌 Includes:
• 2 × 6 mm Premium Mild Steel Sacrificial Cover Plates (Raw & Uncoated)
• Full Bolt Kit (zinc-plated bolts, washers, nuts) for DT-Cadet spine mounting
📌 Construction & Finish:
• 6 mm Premium Mild Steel
• Raw/uncoated finish—can be painted or powder-coated aftermarket for added corrosion resistance
📌 Design Features:
• Requires Drilling: Simply drill four holes per side and attach—refer to the instruction manual for fitment.
• Forward Lean Compatibility: Matches the DT-Cadet’s 17°–20° forward incline, ensuring bullet fragments are deflected downward without altering your existing lean angle.
• Serviceable Sacrifice: When this cover plate shows significant lead pitting or deformation, unbolt and replace—retaining your original DT-Cadet spine underneath and saving you the cost of a full replacement. The covers can be rotated and flipped to utilise wear on both sides; once one side is too worn or pitted, simply rotate to expose a fresh, unimpacted surface.
Why Choose the Mild Steel Sacrificial Cover Plate?
• Budget-Friendly Protection: More affordable than AR450 armour, yet effectively preserves your original DT-Cadet spine by allowing the sacrificial plate to take the impact.
• Retains DT-Cadet Rating: Keeps the system rated for .22 LR only (see Calibre Ratings & Shooting Distances below).
• Future-Proof Flexibility: If you decide to upgrade to AR450 armour later, simply remove this cover plate and bolt on the AR450 Upgrade Kit (sold separately).
• Easy Installation & Removal: No special tools or welding—drill, attach, and reuse your original mounting hardware.
Compatibility & Important Notes
✅ Fits Only: DT-Cadet (standard unarmoured version)
❌ Does Not Fit:
• DT-Cadet Armoured (factory-welded AR450)
• DT-Alpha or any centre-fire duelling trees
• Any modified DT-Cadet with non-standard spine dimensions or hole patterns
⚠ Not Rated for Centre-Fire Use: This cover plate does not change the DT-Cadet’s mild steel rating. Do not fire centre-fire calibres at a DT-Cadet fitted only with this cover plate.
Warning: Once the cover plates are installed and the spine has been drilled, you must always shoot with the cover plates and all cover-plate bolts fully installed. Do not fire at the bare DT-Cadet spine with exposed drilled holes—this creates a serious risk of ricochet if a bullet impacts an open hole. Always fill each hole with the supplied fastener bolts before shooting.
Calibre Ratings & Shooting Distances
(Mild Steel Cover Plate + DT-Cadet Spine .22 LR Only)
🛑 Handgun (.22 LR):
• Angled (17°–20°+) Targets: 30 metres+
• Vertical (Perpendicular) Targets: 50 metres+
• Maximum Velocity: 1,200 fps at impact
• Minimum Velocity: 800 fps at impact (air guns excluded)
🛑 Rifle (.22 LR):
• Angled Targets: 30 metres+
• Vertical Targets: 50 metres+
🛑 Shotgun (.410, 12 Gauge Birdshot Only):
• Angled (17°–20°+) Targets: 20 metres+
• Vertical Targets: 20 metres+
⚠ Subsonic Rounds (<1,100 fps): May not reliably flip paddles.
⚠ Rounds <500 fps: Increased ricochet risk, especially with soft-lead or copper-plated rounds.
Velocity & Energy Limits
🛑 Maximum Energy: 300 ft-lbs (rimfire only)
🛑 Maximum Velocity: 1,200 fps at impact (DT-Cadet spine limit)
🛑 Minimum Velocity: 800 fps at impact (to guarantee paddle actuation)
Paddle Compatibility – What Works Best
✔ 6 mm Mild Steel Paddles: Matches cover plate rating but will wear faster than AR450 paddles. System rating defaults to mild steel (see above).
✔ 6 mm AR450 Paddles: Can be used, but the system rating reverts to the weakest component (mild steel cover + spine).
❌ 8 mm & 10 mm Paddles: Not compatible—too heavy for a rimfire-only rating and will not actuate reliably.
📌 Reminder: A higher-rated paddle can be mounted on a lower-rated spine, but the entire system’s rating is governed by the weakest component in the impact zone (i.e., the mild steel cover plate).
Future Upgrade Path to 6 mm AR450
✔ Easy Swap: Remove the mild steel cover plate and bolt on the 6 mm AR450 Armour Upgrade Kit (sold separately) to convert your DT-Cadet into a fully armoured rimfire system.
✔ No Permanent Modification: As this cover plate uses only bolt holes, your DT-Cadet remains unmodified and retains value for future resale or rental.
📸 Photo Disclaimer: Images may show additional accessories or different plate colours for illustrative purposes. This listing is for the DT-Cadet Mild Steel Sacrificial Cover Plate only—DT-Cadet Duelling Tree, REACK X-BASE, and paddles are sold separately.
🇦🇺 Proudly Made in Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. Protect your DT-Cadet Duelling Tree spine affordably—add the Mild Steel Sacrificial Cover Plate today!