Hello to all the sanctioned steel chicken shooters on this fine site.

Due to physical space limitations and a desire to keep entry level equipment competitive, our local club (Sheffield, Alabama) has been shooting a 50 yard (single distance) silhouette game for many years. Here is our target rack set up:


The prairie dog in the middle of the top row serves as tiebreaker.

The single distance of 50 yards fits our 50 yard designated rimfire range and enables low priced scopes to be used and just about any .22 sporter weight rifle. We also shoot a rimfire handgun version at 25 yards. We have a narrow 100 yard highpower rifle range but using it for weekend conventional NRA silhouette matches would really tie it up. Most of our 380 members are deer hunters or black rifle fans. So, we are pretty happy with our short silhouette matches.

Brief descriptions of the latest versions of these two matches:

50/25 Sporter

First Saturday - Set ups start at 7:30 AM

From 50 yards the shooter engages 25 metallic silhouettes with 30 rounds of .22 short, long, or long rifle ammo in 10 minutes. The winner leaves the fewest metallic animals standing. Fired offhand and unsupported with the use of a sling prohibited. Classes - aperture sight, optic sight, and open sight.

The rifle must be a .22 "sporter" with the match coordinator holding the right to reject questionable rifles. No palm rests or thumb-hole stocks are allowed. We have scales on hand and the rifle's weight with its scope and/or peep or open sights must not exceed 8.5 lbs. Triggers must simply be "safe". The rifle's detachable box magazine must be removed before weigh in. Tube repeaters are cleared and then weighed. A shooter can bring three rifles and shoot in all three classes if he or she so desires.

25/25 Pistol

Second Saturday - same start times

Same as the 50/25 rifle match save for the fact that it is fired from 25 instead of 50 yards and pistols and revolvers are used instead of long guns. Any safe .22 pistol or revolver is eligible and we offer open sight pistol class, open sight revolver class, and scoped handgun (any action type) class.

Just wanted to say high and let you know how much I enjoy your forums. By the way, we don't charge a match fee for our regular matches and the gate is open on Saturday mornings. If you are ever in the neighborhood, please come join us. We just ask that you be safe and have fun.

Danny Creasy
Rimfire Match Director, North Alabama Shooting Association, Inc.

Here is a link to pics, slideshows, and results of our matches:
http://rimfireshooting.com/index.php?showforum=69

Sounds like a great way to put the fun back in a "fun match" to me. Is the usual tactic to start with the rams and basically shoot your way up to the smaller targets?

Absolutely, it's your percentage play.

The original version was called 50/50 and the shooter fired through the racks twice. But, with the popularity of a second open sight class, the morning match was turning into an all day match. There are usually only two or three aperture class shooters. I like to shoot just two classes - optical and open. Since I am running the match as well as shooting in it, two classes keep it fun for me.

Do you use the normal 1/5th scaled smallbore targets? Sounds like everyone has a good time shooting these matches.


Dee

I was wondering about targets falling from the racks without being hit? Are the mobile racks that solid? And why the 31 targets shown? ie.50/25? Certainly looks enjoyable. Is there any approved sb silhouette near? Do many shoot approved matches also? The 10 minute time limit should allow many 'relays'; must be grand having enough interest to have matches last into the afternoon. Best wishes

I only count 25 targets, 4 rows of six, plus the prairie dog. Looks like fun!

Yes we use the 1/5th scale silhouettes. The ones pictured are our brand new acquisitions from Metal Spinning Target Company. They cut us 24 sets from 3/8ths inch steel. Since it is not sanctioned we don't have to comply with the NRA quarter inch standard. They are a little tougher to knock over but they hold up much better and many of our folks shoot bulk high velocity ammo.

Yes, it is 25 targets not 31. 50 yards and 25 targets - thus the name.

Until recently, we used six 3/8ths scale pistol chickens in row two with pigs next and turkeys on top with a single little rifle chicken in the top row (every thing was 1/5th scale except the second row of big chickens). The shooter only brought 25 rounds to the line. I wanted to increase the difficulty of the match and dropped the big chickens and went with an entire row of rifle chickens (1/5th scale). I was going to lower the target count to 24 and keep the round count at 25 but some of my friends were balking on behalf of the middle of the pack shooters. You would not believe what broke everything loose. We were unpacking the new animals on the first Saturday of this month and we discovered that Metal Spinning Target had included a gift, five standing P Dogs (armor plate nonetheless). Peary suggested we put a single P Dog in the top row to keep the target count at 25 and I had already suggested an increase in the round count to 30 rounds to let everyone have a better chance at the six little birds on top. Everybody got excited and we had a blast with the new set up. They are a great bunch. I have been shooting matches with some of these folks for over twenty years and it is like family.

Our original racks were wooden 4X4 and 2X4 affairs and they were wobbly. Some shooters learned that a sweet spot shot to the wood could topple two, three, and even four critters with a single shot. A shooter actually cleaned the rack once after he toppled a few with one bullet. I ended that by having the ROs call for add backs to the shooters' scores for multiple drops. Amazing how people got away from those low "misses". The late David King built some marvelous staggered wooden racks a couple of years ago with wheels that hardly ever had a double drop but man, they were heavy. Randy and Ricky King recently arrived with a test model of these current all steel beauties and everyone expected them to be wobbly and with the straight drops, multiple targets would fall again. We test drove it and found them to be the best design ever. The strong narrow rails let the silos drop clean and the racks are very sturdy. Better yet, they mounted straight wheels on one end and "shopping cart" wheels on the other. A single volunteer can roll one around like a clothes rack in the garment district. They donated their labor for free and we were out only 500 bucks for the materials on the set of four.

No one has cleared a rack since that somewhat bogus clearing years ago. However, one of your steel chicken brethren, Rex Medlin, came out to try it earlier this year and on his first run (scoped class and still using the bigger chickens), he only left the little chicken. He or no one else has repeated that feat since. I think we will start seeing some cleaned racks with the new 30 round count. But, I could be wrong. The six little birds are tough at 50 yards and if one saves them to last, the fatigue factor sets in. With the higher round count, I plan to start taking a couple of warm up shots at the Rams and then start working over the top row. If I could survive them down only three misses, I would stand a respectable chance of getting the rest. And, the multi-drop add back rule is still in effect.

Oh, and to answer the gentleman above about sanctioned matches. The nearest is about a three hour drive. Rex moved to our area as an accomplished conventional silhouette shooter. Sometimes I fear that his participation in our match could throw off his A Game. But, I doubt it on second thought.

Here is a link to that match's results:
http://rimfireshooting.com/index.php?showtopic=5019

Aperture Sight Class - Marlin 39A with Williams Fool Proof receiver sight:


Telescopic Sight Class - Anschutz 1710 with Weaver V-16 (at the top) and Open Sight Class - CZ 452 FS (pictured here in the middle):


I use the three rimfire handguns pictured above in our 25 yard handgun version of this match. It is called the 25/25 Pistol Silhouette Match. It has classes for open sighted pistols, open sighted revolvers, and scoped handguns (any action style).

Bumping this thread with an invitation to anyone in the North Alabama, South Tennessee, or East Mississippi area to come shoot the 50/25 with us in the morning (Saturday, December 1, 2012). Our later winter start time is in effect and we will start setting up at 9 AM. You could still sign up as late as 10:30 AM and catch the last strings.

The steel critters await!

Season's Greetings from the North Alabama Shooting Association


Shooting:




Watching:




Coaching:


Scores:

SCOPED RIFLE CLASS

1st 2X2 Jay Holman, CZ 452 American Tribal, CMP Aquila White Box
2nd 3X3 Dwight Pilkilton, Ruger 10/22, CCI SV
3rd 4X4 Jordan Davis, Ruger 10/22, CCI SV
4th 5X5 Danny Creasy, Anschutz 1710, SK Rifle Match
5th 6X6 David Malone, Ruger 10/22, CCI SV
5th 6X6 Willie Rhodes, CZ 452 American, Wolf MT
6th 7X7 David Hollimon, CZ 452 American, CCI SV
7th 8X6 Ulus Farris, CZ 452 American, CCI SV
7th 8X6 B J Kavanaugh, Marlin 795, CCI SV
8th 9X6 Keith McBryer, CZ American, CCI SV
9th 10X7 Mike, Savage Mk II, Fed Automatch
10th 13X6 Bill Parkhurst, CZ 455 American, CCI SV
10th 13X6 Peary Willard, Ruger 10/22, Fed 510
10th 13X6 Paul Enlow, CZ 452 American Tribal, CCI MiniMag
11th 15X6 Byram Rollins, Anschutz 1416, CCI MiniMag
12th 15X7 Butler K, Ruger 10/22, CCI Green Tag
13th 16X7 Adrian M. Marcano, Sig 522, Federal
14th 17X7 Marlin 795, CCI SV, CCI SV
15th 18X6 Ashley Griffin, CZ 452 Scout, CMP Aguila White Box

OPEN SIGHT CLASS

1st 9X6 Willie Rhodes, CZ 452 Trainer, Wolf MT
1st 9X6 B J Kavanaugh, Winchester 61, Federal 510
2nd 10X7 Dwight Pilkilton, Ruger 10/22, CCI SV
3rd 11X6 Mike, Marlin 39, Fed Auto Match
4th 14X6 Danny Creasy, CZ 452 FS, Aguila SV
5th 15X7 Bill Parkhurst, Rem 512, CCI Quiet(shhhh)
6th 16X6 Peary Willard, CZ Lux, Federal 510
6th 16X6 David Malone, Ruger 10/22, CCI SV
7th 16X7 Andrew Butler, Marlin 82, Fed 714
8th 19X7 Keith McBrayer, Thompson Center R55, CCI SV
9th 21X7 Butler K, Savage MkII, CCI Green Tag

PEEP SIGHT CLASS

1st 8X6 Danny Creasy, Marlin 39A, Eley Sport
2nd 10X6 Bill Parkhurst, Winchester 52, CCI SV
3rd 11X6 Willie Rhodes, Mossberg 44US, CCI SV
4th 12X7 David Hollins, Remington 513T, CMP Aguila White Box
5th 13X6 B J Kavanaugh, Remington 511P, CCI SV
6th 14X3 Dwight Pilkilton, CZ 452 UltraLux, CCI SV
7th 14X6 David Malone, CZ 452 UltraLux, CCI SV
8th 16X7 John C. Butler, CZ 452 FS, Eley Sport
9th 18X7 Andrew Butler, Remington 513T, Federal 714

Welcome to first time 50/25 shooters; Butler K, Byram Rollins, Susan K, and Adrian Marcano. Thanks for joining us today folks. You all did great.

Scoring? Total silos left standing by (X) number left standing in the top row. I took this pic before a shooter had finished but if he/she had been finished, this would be an 18X7:


It was Tribal on the firing line today!

How cool....... I can see this as something to re energize Silhouette shooting in smaller ranges with limited bay space. Looks like this could be set up in a pistol bay at our club here in Corpus....

Yes, and there are all kinds of variations you can try once you get the racks built.

Here is a fun one we call the "Two Minute Drill":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyXKHypO ... e=youtu.be

10 rounds fired offhand from a rimfire pistol at rams from 50 feet

10 rounds fired offhand from a rimfire semi-auto at pigs from 25 yards

10 rounds fired from a rimfire bolt-action at chickens from 50 yards (the shooter can use a bi-pod or throw down a bag and can fire from prone or by leaning on the bench). The shooter in the video had some problems with his Savage Mk II not cocking properly after cycling. Another Savage Mk II shooter did as well. They had both been monkeying with their triggers for use in sporter benchrest matches. Lesson learned - test your equipment before a match.

All in two minutes. Each shooter gets two runs. The shooter's score is the aggregate number of silhouettes left standing. Low score wins.

Excellent report! Very thorough and interesting.
Congratulations on using what you've got and being creative to keep shooters coming out.

Just an update. After 35 years of safe operation in the City of Sheffield, the City forced us to vacate last year. Now 12 months and 97 $1000 life memberships later, we have purchased and built a new range. We are now located in a rural area. Not as convenient, but it is ours. The physical address is:

1390 Wagnon Mountain Road
Tuscumbia, AL 35674


The pic above was taken during construction a couple of months ago and shows our 50, 100, and 200 yard ranges - they share a common 140 foot long concrete pad covered by a pavilion type roof.


Two 180 degree 35 yard pistol bays lie on the other side of the common pad. It's proving to be a great setup after a month and a half of shooting.

Looks like a good way to get people interested in the sport. I can see more people in most of your photos than we have come to our monthly matches. Looks like fun too.
M