Wanting to start. Few questions

[Wills2084]

Hi all. I have been really wanting to try out smallbore silhouette for quite sometime now, but never got around to it. I use to shoot 3p air in highschool and loved it so this looks right up my alley. I hope to make it to a match this coming spring as it looks like all the matches are pretty much done for the year. Got a few questions first if anyone could help.

First, if I put a match barrel on my ruger 10/22 will it be suffice to use?

Second, can I get a link to download a pdf of the targets. I would need to be able to scale them down since my range only goes out to 25 yards.

Third, I live in Knoxville, TN and notice Chattanooga has a few matches each year. Its only about an hour drive, but was wondering if there are any closer to the knoxville area.

Thanks for all the help and I hope to really take off in this great looking sport!

[Innocent]

Wills,
Welcome to the addictive sport. Yes the 10/22 will be a fine starter, with or without match barrel. Match barrels tend to be heavy so you may be limited to the standard rifle class if you put a heavy barrel on.
As for matches closer to Knoxville, I'll let theN Georgia, and Alabama crew respond as to what is closer.

This game is a lot of fun, and I started in 3P smallbore, so it is an easy transfer over.

Look forward to meeting you at a match.

Innocent Mary

[BlauBear]

You might try the Green Mountain Sporter barrel if you want to stay in Hunter class. After that you might try working over the trigger, then the stock, and then the... Oh, wait, that's what I did and then ended up getting a CZ 452 and taking a bath on the 10/22.

A better plan might be to shoot the 10/22 in the beginning and save for the CZ. By the time you sell the 10/22 and don't upgrade it, you've got the CZ. Also, by hooking up with your local club you get to try different rifles and maybe stumble into a bargain that another shooter that wants to upgrade from something nice to something nicer.

[Jetmugg]

Any of the popular .22 rifles are capable of hitting all of the targets (from the bench). Having a good hold, good trigger control, and a decent scope are probably more important for someone just starting out. A good reliable scope should be at the top of your wish list if you don't already have one. Once you shoot your first match, you will be hooked.

SteveM.

[malinois]

Oh no another newbie.....Hope you have a thick wallet to feed the new addiction...lol...welcome aboard..

[Innocent]

Now malinios, I did not ( nor do I now) have a thick wallet.....just the love for hitting those little metal animals..
Just have to have the priorities in order....no cable, limited ac, ...and you can find the money for the addicition to include travel as well.

Innocent

[Innocent]

Wills, I have both 10/22 and CZ as well as a few others, they each have their good/bad points, shoot what you have, figure out what you think you might want to do. Try everything you can get your hands on, which is very easy at a match. The guys from AZ will confirm that, I flew in night before the match, no rifle, borrowed one and still won the first match of the morning. At another state championship, in a shoot off for class winner , I swapped rifles with my shoot off competitor....it kind of bugs them when you beat them with their own rifle.
Most of all enjoy the addiction.

Innocent Mary

[Boyd L.]

I wish there was something closer to Knoxville, but there are none to my knowledge.
Bring whatever rifle you currently own to Chattanooga in April 2010(first match). Ed will usually ask an experienced member to squad with a new shooter to guide them through the first match, to demonstrate procedures, answer questions, offer tips and suggestions, etc....we'll make sure your experience (the shooting is up to you) is as positive as possible.

Just bring your rifle and whatever ammo it likes. It'll be fun.

[AZRifle]

Personally I think if what you have is a 10/22 to start with, that is fine. If you want to buy something to shoot or, definately want to continue, I would recommend a good bolt-action rifle. I have used a CZ452 in competition and they are probably the most accurate for the money.

[BlauBear]

Wills, you will quickly discover that this group is anxious to share their experience and let you try their gear. As Commander Kitty (surprised he hasn't weighed in here yet) says, "the first taste is free!" Use your 10/22 and try out the different rifles and setups people have and settle on your own favorite and budget before spending very much. Around here the progression is usually 10/22 -> CZ452 (American or Varmint) -> Anschutz 1712 -> Frankenrifle (a 1712 action with custom barrel in a Pharr stock) as the addiction progresses. There are variations, of course, but this can cost a lot of money so we watch and learn from each other, and generously harass those that experiment too much ( ) .

When it comes to scopes, just remember that good glass holds its value pretty well, especially if the company has a reputation for good warranty support (Leupold, Weaver & Sightron). These are more expensive, but you spend a lot of time looking through them and when it's time to move up you'll be pleasantly surprised at their retained value.

Welcome aboard, and enjoy!

[Wills2084]

Wow! Thanks for all the great replies! Really looking forward to meeting everyone sometime down the line. Looks like this sport is full of a lot of good people. So it looks like I'll be using my 10/22 to start at the first match in April down in Chatt. I'll be doing a lot of indoor practice this winter. The one thing I still need is a link to a download of the targets if anyone has that. I'm going to have to scale them down and print them out since my range only goes to 25 yards. Thanks again!

[Jerry G]

You will need a good scope with target turets on it.

If you use the 10/22, you should have someone smooth out and lighten the trigger. You will also need to try many different brands of ammo to see what yours likes. I left the factory barrell on mine and it realy liked Eley Black Box. I could get 1 /14" five shot groups at 100m. Some ammo was as bad as 3+ inches at 100.

By the way Mary isn't innocent so watch out.

[BlauBear]

Here you go: http://www.nrahq.org/compete/dept-silh.asp

You'll want the smallbore rifle targets.

[Innocent]

Jerry G....Quality Assurance Managers...the person you love to hate and I didn't even ask for the job and now they are pissed that the auditors are backing me up and pulling accrediataion.

Wills, don't believe anything a wander will tell you, his Nationals name tag every year has a "home state" listed that is never the same and even occasionally is a state he never even been in.

Innocent

[Jetmugg]

I think there used to be a link to "scalable" silhouette targets, but I can't seem to find it now. Can anybody help with this?

Mary - you are so right about Quality Assurance managers, Process Control, and Safety. Usually, nobody asks to be put into that position, then you become the person people love to hate, all because you are doing your job properly.

SteveM