marksmanship qualification

silhouette13 · Post by **silhouette13** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 7:10 am

has anyone used the NRA marksmanship qualification program, i was thinking it may be a way to get the youngsters involved and working towards something, as well as any older people who like to work towards something.

i did the qualification program for 3/4p when i was a kid and liked it very much, like moving up in boyscouts.

it seems a pretty cheap way to keep the hook set

comments?
expeiances?

dave

Bob259 · Post by **Bob259** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 9:10 am

I did it when I was young and enjoyed it. That was when the local Police station sponsered and ran NRA youth shooting before the lawyers and sue crazy people ruined it for everybody. I believe we have one local club doing some with youths now, but it more International Air rifle and Pistol I believe.

Good programs and wish there were more of them out there.

silhouette13 · Post by **silhouette13** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 10:47 am

hi Bob,

i always thought it was just for bullseye,3p and the like but there is a silhouette program listed on the site. i enjoy working torwards highr classification as its own award and some day god willing will acheive grand slams at least in sb. i am a geezer but i think kids really benifit from an occasional boost.

i think i am going to bring it up with my clubs silo honchos

Innocent · Post by **Innocent** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 2:27 pm

There is acutally a silhouette marksmanship program within the NRA...not advertised much.
Yes I have been through the NRA 3/4 P programs...a big boost into keeping up the interest initially.

Innocent Mary

Pete A. · Post by **Pete A.** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 5:34 pm

I've got 2 sons who both have been shooting silhouette with me for 3+ years. We'd like to do other but could not find any places out side of scouting that were open for this and reasonable distances to drive. Sure we did cub Scout & Boy Scout stuff but that all is pretty darn watered down.

Too many of the 3P groups are only about competition but not too open to those who don't fully embrace it as a total participation.

I disagree that shooters need to look elsewhere. IMHO this is the place to start. $200-300 gun, $100-200 scope & $2-3/box ammo is all it takes. No special clothes. Lots of shooters with lots of guns who typically bend over backwards to help are at every match. We started them on a bag at each animal until they found some success. They both are now shooting on their own and are now "one of the gang".

The 'reactive' nature of the targets keeps them far more enthusiastic than comparing holes in paper.

The very best part is we compete together rather than me sitting in the stands watching. We already do far too much of that with regular youth sports.

Yea we probably aren't as mentally tough or focused as the 3P kids, so what. We are still there shooting. Both are darn safe with their guns doing the "NRA" thing almost every weekend. Could care less is we never win nationals or get scholarships. We're together shooting and laughing it up. Both have a great time kidding "Mr. Larry, Mr. Motl, Mr. Evilio,...................., et al".

We'll take chickens over paper any day.

Pete A.

silhouette13 · Post by **silhouette13** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 10:10 am

steel is more fun than paper.

pete the question was about qualification in silhouette.

would that be something you kids would be into?

in a row pins and grandslams are great for me.

the qualification program can be self administared unitl the destinguished expert level.

i in general find 3p/4p shooters unfriendly and unless you want to shoot for the university of Alaska on a full boat or go to the olympics than silo is the way to go.

Pete A. · Post by **Pete A.** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 12:20 pm

I might have over reacted. We have not really looked in this 'qualification" process. We did have what I would call a polite 'brush off' from the 3P people; "we really full now......, maybe next fall.........". Never ever get that at a silhouette group.

Both sons are very heavy in scouting. Oldest is Life and darn close to completing Eagle. Youngest is Star and not far from Life. So they have plenty of other training in many things. With this, their school sports (swimming & band), sil shooting and life we get pretty stretched on time.

Pete

Innocent · Post by **Innocent** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 1:52 pm

Pete, sorry to hear that about the 3 P people your way but I have observed that here in Florida too. I enjoyed it in my youth and hate to see it go total serious, which is what I love about the silhouette. Try to fit at least Winnsboro in that tight schedule next June if you can. If not swing Sunshine Classic in Jacksonville in in May, both great matches.

Innocent Mary

Pete A. · Post by **Pete A.** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 2:49 pm

We're trying. I was born west of there in Shreveport. I miss mayhaw jelly!!

The boys are getting better all the time. Oldest; Thomas 16 is almost AAA (dear ole dad is still in "AA purgatory"). The youngest; Samuel 12 looks to be a real comer. He'll be beating his brother shortly and giving "E" a run for her money. His last match he broke 'double digets" in both guns, this was doing it by the rules. I spot for him and most of his misses are darn close too. Probably will have to upgrade gun & scope soon.

I'm on the road making a huge circle around there houston>mobile>birmingham>nashville>greenville>houston this week (work work work). I'm trying to find a Dicks with 2 cases of my beloved Fed 714 if not I'll swing by Champions Choice & get 2 cases of the CCI Std Vel paper box. Greg G here at Bayou gave me a couple of boxes to try. That stuff is different than the plastic box stuff. Shoots close to same as the 714 at prices a guy with 3 shooters can appreciatte. We shoot 711B at matches.

Pete

Innocent · Post by **Innocent** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 4:15 am

Pete,
With three of you shooting it gets expensive fast but bring them to Winnsboro and let them win som of the great prizes there, who knows they may upgrade the equipment at that match.

Mary

silhouette13 · Post by **silhouette13** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 6:23 am

pete, be careful with the paperbox cci std, i shot it for a couple seasons and both my sb guns love it, one of them hates the plastic my contender doesnt mind. it used to be different. it looked more like blazer with that more silver than grey color and very little lub/wax, the last paper box brick i bought was just plastic box looking dark grey lead, the actual bullet looks diffrent too, a tad longer with a sharper edge near the case.

good luck in the search, the older cci paper box was very good, a fellow told me it was intended for forign markets and was sporadicly availible due to over runs, they seem to be trying to cut cost and appear to be doing it by offering the cardboard brick instead.

dave out