Hello, my name is Wouter and I shoot handgun silhouettes

[wrm]

Hi all

As a new member I thought I should introduce myself.

I see you guys are primarily rifle shooters, I'm still trying to hit those d*mn tiny little targets with the 22. Meanwhile I shoot handgun.

I've been shooting for six years or more, mostly Sport Handgun with my service 357 Astra revolver, since one needs licences for firearms in this country, and I battled for 4 1/2 years to get 4 licences, which came through last month.

So now I have a 7mm TC/U unlimited T/C, a 300 Whisper T/C, a Browning Challenger II (I think) 22 pistol, and an Anschutz exemplar. I also have a K-22 (I think) for smallbore revolver but no big bore revolver yet. Working on that.

I've noticed remarks to the effect that handgun silhouette is pretty dead in the USA. Over here it's still more popular than rifle. But I noticed at the world championships we hosted a while ago that the USA teams were mostly rifle shooters. The Australians, Czech, French, Scandinavian and SA people seemed to be more into handgun, maybe. Although of course there's a lot of crossing over.

Anywayz, if the mods want to make handgun forums, I'll lurk there :-)

Wouter in South Africa

[Innocent]

Welcome to the forum Wouter. Handgun silhouette is not totally dying in the US although the IMHSA version seems to be hanging on better than the NRA versions. The decline in NRA version is certainly noticable and there is a push by some to the real die hards to recreate it with smallbore (rimfire) handguns.

I have not had an opportuinty to compete in SA for the world but I did coach a youngster who was there 4 yers ago and did well with rifle.
Maybe I'll make the next one.

Innocent Mary

[wrm]

Hi Mary

OK, I must confess, I was not aware that there were (are?) two versions of silhouette -- we just know the IHMSSA version really.

W

[Innocent]

W,
Basic difference in SB rifle is firearm weight, 10 pounds 2 ounces for standard and 8 pounds 8 ounces for hunter.
There are distance difference in the handgun, usual distance for Smallbore hunter NRA is 40 meters, 50 meters (usually reduced to 50 yards for US ranges) 75 meters and 100 meters.
I have not shot the IHMSSA but I am aware that in handgun they go out further. I am aware of two ranges in Central Florida area that have shot IHMSSA in the last several years but only know a few of the shooters in that discipline.

The basic challenge is still there despite the distances and weight, they can be so frustrating when the targets just laugh at you when you miss.

Mary