Is silhouette dying?

[chuck d]

Most are dying.
I belong to a club with the best 600 yard range in New England.
chuck

Which club are you talking about?

Nashua NH. Very political, and no HP shooter seems to be able to make an inroad into club management.

[Another Dang 9]

I was not aware they were talking about killing the HP range. That would be a crime of epic proportions. The Reading Rifle club shots there alot too.

[teetertotter]

I plan on writing an article for our Club paper and also have posted on our website front page, inviting Bench Rest, Black Powder, Pistol, Cowboy Action, CMP....etc., folks to join us for indoor silhouette paper practice during the winter season. Any .22 rifle, iron or scoped are wanted in our off hand practices every week.....etc.....etc. More important, to mention this is for practice only. Some of the suggestions I have read have gone unnoticed by me and has give me food for thought! Thank you everyone as we have to be more innovative in today's market to keep it alive and try and bring people into the sport. Our state has 2 active SB Silhouette ranges. We have to encourage those potentials to attend our matches with what they have and will keep their scores on the side, which someone mentioned. NIce idea. Anyway, I will be working on it next season, even if I have to attend their matches to hand out an invite flyer with information.
We invite the 4-H every year and will have a flyer with club member dues and a brief something about our specific sport with contact information. We also have a youth sport day where the public is invited and have about 125 kids from 7 - 16. I will be on a campaign trail in 2012. I think I will use Orange paper for the hand out flyers.

[rich56]

Just my 2 cents. I've shot a few at GTCFs at Colonial, a great bunch of guys and well run, a blessing in NYC. And a few at Cherry Ridge NJ. IMHO the prob is new guys get intimidated when they see the custom built rifles in the hunter class when they come down with their real hunting rifle. THEN, they have to shoot on their hind legs "like a man" (excuse me ladies). Their egos are crushed. Maybe a "Stock Class" will help

[topclass]

there is a group of us participating in the Postal League run out of Lander, WY this winter. We will be shooting weekly, two targets each night (from here on out), between now and mid-December. this follows shooting weekly indoors since April in addition to the outdoor season (3 matches for record per month in our area). So no, in the Pacific Northwest (South Puget Sound), silhouette is not dead. We cross promote silhouette to 4P shooters and vice-versa -- trigger time. We are fortunate to have an indoor range with 20 lanes to use.

Personally, I'll travel to matches in other areas just because I like to shoot at different ranges under different conditions. One more thing. I'm a newbie to silhouette, just started this past spring. Great sport, great fun, great people.

[GTKF]

I took a look at our numbers over the past 4 years. We grown each year from an average of 16.25 shooters to 18.25 shooters per match. In 2008 almost half the competitors came from other clubs/states. This year we are averaging only 3. We continue to get new club members shooting but I don't see many taking it too seriously. Seems most new shooters are not willing to put the effort into practicing. Allowing them to shoot 1/2 scale animals with a scoped rifle during SCR matches does encourage them though.

One factor that negatively effects us is the high gas prices and increases in tolls to get into New York City, as a number of shooters are retired and on fixed incomes.

[dmakley]

I'm doing my part for the sport, I just got into it myself and have dragged a couple of guys at work in with me, and have several other asking questions Now I need to work on setting up a "guest" gun.

[Innocent]

Dan, you are at a great range for the game. Now for a guest gun...the infamous CZ is a great starter/loaner rifle.

Mary

[tenx9]

The gentleman atcurrent the bottom of the page is correct. All shooting sports are very cyclic. As stated the current hot sports are the lever action or cowboy matches. The answer is pretty easy. High Power is difficult. You must load test dillegently, get sight settings for almost every range u shoot at and its tough to hit targets because of distance and size. THere is also the problem of available ranges. Not a whole lot of 500meters ranges in the northeast. Smallbore is similarly tough. Also to consider is the average ages of the competitors. I bet 35-40 is the average. Way past prime. Lever gun is easier, guns are cheaper and most 100yd clubs can host a match, The targets are way,way bigger and easier to hit. Lets face it would you rather hit 30 targets in a 40 round match or 20.
The choice is easy, lever action/

[Jason]

I would rather hit 20 little ones than 30 big ones. I'd be mighty proud of a 40 in either, though. I haven't topped 38/40 in smallbore hunter or standard and haven't topped 39/40 in smallbore or PC cowboy yet...

[teetertotter]

I just happened to think and will put on my things to do list next year. We have an indoor range in the middle of our city that I belong to. I was e mailed this past summer that they were starting up a .22 rifle challenge on Monday nights with 6-1/2lb weight limit. I never made it over there and could have shot for practice with my 7.8oz. whatever they were doing off hand. I had good intentions to go see what Chris was up to, but never made it. I guess they averaged 9 people every Monday eve. That is another spot I might be able to recruit. Many that belong to that club belong to the Beloit too. If not members of the Beloit Club, maybe can some of them to come out to ours for Thursday nights to try Silhouette and hopefully become members. I have to keep my thinking cap on!

[LongRod22]

Being from the west coast, i have seen ranges close numbers dwindle down to 5 -6 shooters. I recently moved to Huntsville AL, and am in search of a new club/Matches. I prefer .22 LR matches anyone that can help i would greatly appreciate it..

[Innocent]

LongRod 22, the TN states are next Saturday (29th) in Chatanooga, not too far from Hunstville, a great match and lots of fun. There is also a club or two in your area shooting silhouette, Glen Hughes can help out on this one. Welcome to the east side of the Mississippi...nearly all short distance ranges but still a few around to shoot silhouette.

Look forward to seeing you at a match soon.

Mary

[teetertotter]

I sent him links for silhouette ranges in the states that are on file. He is located in Alabama

[Innocent]

Teeter, Glen always comes to shoot in Chatanooga, it is not that far from Hunstville/Arab/Guntersville Al area. Gator runs a great match for the TN states and the desserts are worth the trip!

Mary