Info for new shooters

[snaketail2]

I was surfing the web the other day and came across this. If you are thinking of shooting silhouette this is some good info.

COURSE OF FIRE: A 40 round match consists of 1 shot per animal. The silhouettes are in two banks of 5 animals each. Chickens are at 40 meters, pigs at 60 meters, turkeys at 77 meters, and rams at 100 meters. 

Each 5 shot bank is shot following a 15 second ready command followed by 2.5 minutes to shoot the 5 shots. The silhouettes must be shot in order with 1 shot per silhouette.

 Only .22 rimfire rifles are permitted- but NO hypervelocity ammunition is allowed due to target damage.

 All shots are fired standing, with no sling, palmrest, heavy clothing or external support allowed. Scopes are expected given the size of the animals and the distance. Iron sites are allowed- but have no separate class or category to compete in. 

 RULES: NRA rules apply and NRA classification will be used. “Artificial support” rules and regulations will be enforced. Eye and Ear protection are required.


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The Challenge

In Small-bore Rifle Silhouette the targets are stationary metal silhouettes of animals. They sit on a rail at set distances. You have 2.5 minutes to shoot 5 of them, in order, off of the rail. There is one shot per animal. The chickens are at 40 meters, pigs are at 60 meters, turkeys are at 77 meters, and the rams are at 100 meters.
The ram at 100 meters has the central target area of a tennis ball sitting on a football goal post as viewed from the far goal line. You are shooting from that goal line, standing, with no support (no heavy shooting coat or pants) using a 22 rifle with a hunting style stock. At that distance, a 22 rifle meeting the match rules- shot off of a bench rest- will shoot a group the size of a quarter to a ping pong ball- if you have ammunition the gun shoots well and there is no wind. There is not much margin for error in aiming given the size of the target. To clearly see the target and aim precisely rifle scopes of 24x to 36x magnification are used. Shooting offhand with this level of magnification allows you to see every movement you impart to the rifle, intended or not, including heartbeats. The animal is not moving- but they will appear to be in the image you see. The timing of the trigger release is critical, as is a consistent and controlled pull. Your stance, body position, gun mount, and having your natural point of aim on the target are critical, as any excess muscle tension shows up as a tremor. To support the gun in position and on target leads to fatigue, adding to the tremor. To be decisive on your shot is very important. Teamwork is also a part of Silhouette shooting. The shooter typically has someone using a spotting scope to inform the shooter where the hits and the misses are, monitor the wind and suggest corrections as needed, keep track of the current target number, and keep track of the time. This information needs to be presented in a clear, calm and timely manner, anticipating what the shooter will need to know, when they will need to know it, and present it when it will not be a distraction to the shooter. The shooter needs to be focused on the shot, but also listen to their spotter, take the information provided about the results of the last shot, compare this to how they called their shot, consider the wind or mirage, and use all this information while making the next shot. In doing the above, the shooter needs to ignore all the conversations going on around them, as well as how the shooters beside them are doing. The shooter needs to remain calm and focused as any anxiety or anger at self or others increases tremor and degrades timing and concentration,
To advance in rifle silhouette shooting requires a rifle that fits the shooter and is acceptably accurate, consistent ammunition, and a good sense of body control and timing. To be a “top shot” demands a high level of concentration, mental discipline and emotional stability. What I have observed over the years is that beginning shooters need the reward of hitting the target, and needs to learn and practice what they did that lead to the hit. This leads to advancement in score and development of skill to an intermediate or lower advanced level- and then usually to a plateau. The shooters that want to continue to improve shift to identifying what they did not do properly or what they did that was “wrong”. For this to be helpful they must use this knowledge and devise or reinforce a positive step in their shooting routine. The best shooters make a shift that they may not be aware of. They accept that every shot can be made- and if it is not, it is their responsibility. This is a standard that is not possible to achieve, and imposes a great mental burden. This is why the better a shooter becomes, the more important the mental and emotional aspects become.

smallbore_rifle.pdf

M

[teetertotter]

My take is....is to harsh with to many CRITICAL points made for a beginner listed in the, "Challenge," portion. Yes many points are true, but just too much information. If I had this file posted on our club Silhouette web page, The "Challenge" has too much information for a beginner and might be telling him, it is a pretty tough discipline to undertake. I would have to tone it down substantially.

Don't get me wrong, there is very good information, but I would rather not have a beginner read all that is there. That is just me?? I would first send them to Steelchickens website......not the forum. In fact, I have to see on our club website Silhouette page if I have Steel Chickens as a reference.

I hope I put MY wording in a nice way so there is no offense, but does contain some really nice information.

[Jerry G]

I'm with you tee. Information overload.

[snaketail2]

Got this from a silhouette club in Ill.- that I found on Steelchickens.

When I was starting out I wanted all the information I could get. Or is it too many words for you guys?

I could say a lot more, but I won't. No use starting something that won't be resolved.

[Merlin]

My .02....

This is an expensive (and difficult) sport that many/most will spend a LOT of money trying to get the equipment that the big boys run. Please excuse this if it sounds harsh but Withholding information can create a misconception of what is involved and is not doing anyone a favor......

Edit for poor choice of words......

[BCloninger]

Do we need to start a section on "Build Recipes" for different budgets and skill levels? Everyone has a different recipe, so identify the ingredients, budget, skill level, and virtues for each choice.

For instance:
Budget: $1,900 - $2,200
Skill Level: AAA-Master
Rifle: Anschutz 1712
Scope: Leupold FX3-25x40
Rings: Burris Signature Zee, medium height, or BKL if weight is a poblem

[teetertotter]

How about for starters:

Skill level: B-AAA
Rifle: CZ452 American $500.00 New
Scope: Sightron 6-24X42 SIL $650.00 New
Rings: BKL Tech $ 30.00 New
$1180.00 Total
OR
Skill Level: B-AAA
Rifle: Ruger American $350.00 New or less
Scope: Mueller 8-32 $250.00 New
Rings: Any Good type Rings $ 20.00 New
$520.00 Total
OR
Skill Level: B-A
Not so good rifle, One you all ready have or vintage
Scope: One you have but not real good
Rings: All ready mounted
$0

Do we have more input from others?

[Merlin]

Skill Level - From start to being all that you can be......

54-18 MSR action (sell stock) $1,100.00
Lilja Titebore rebarrel $ 650.00
Pharr stock & bedding, metal & etc $ 700.00
Leupold and rings $ 700.00
2 extra mags - Anschutz $ 130.00
Guncase $ 75.00
Ammo Box $ 15.00
$3,370.00

Tripod and Cover $ 350.00
Kowa Spotting scope $2,200.00
$2,550.00

[Jerry G]

I'm thinkin a brief description of the course of fire and rifle, the equipment for the different skill levels, followed by the long description if anyone wants to read that much.

[curmudgeon]

Well, this may be the only thread on the forum where my opinion may have some relevance. Not only am I brand new to Silhouette, I'm new to organized shooting of any type.

Everyone's different as to how much information they want and how well organized it needs to be for them to bother reading it all. For me, the more information the better; but these phpBB forums don't lend themselves well to presenting a lot of detailed information in an attractive, easy to read format.

While I was scouring the net for all information Silhouette, I came across Rifle Silhouette, and for me, it was the best organized site to introduce and teach me about Silhouette.

-Steve

[OldRanger]

While I was scouring the net for all information Silhouette, I came across Rifle Silhouette, and for me, it was the best organized site to introduce and teach me about Silhouette.

I second this. I'm new too and the Rifle Silhouette site had all the information and well organized and presented. I still read everything I can as I'm learning this game better, so for me there is no such thing as too much info.

[fartsinpublic]

Not only am I brand new to Silhouette, I'm new to organized shooting of any type.

Me too.

I'm trying to see if I will enjoy silhouette; I think I will, especially if I can use my existing rimfire rifles and not have to buy a new one, and even more so if the silhouette range keeps it to rimfire shooting during matches and fun shoots--they also let the pistol folks use the Sillhouette range, and it can be a bit disconcerting when someone decides to shoot 45ACP one lane over while you're trying to concentrate on actually hitting the target.

[snaketail2]

At the end of the summer I attended a match where a fellow and his 10-year-old son came for their first match. The guy had an old Remington pump rifle with an old and somewhat cloudy scope. They let his son shoot with a support - the bench in front of us. They used Remington Gold ammo. I think the dad got 6 or 7 and his son got maybe 10...and his son got the trophy for high-score-first-time-shooter. Not a major award, but it sure made the kid's day. They were both back two months later with a CZ.
My point is they had fun, got an ego boost with the award and came back for more.
I agree that top shooter spend top money on equipment, but in the beginning you can do well with a lot less. The Rio Salado Club near Phoenix sees a lot of 10-22s in both standard and hunting rifle classes. They don't always win, but they do go bang and the targets do fall when hit. In the beginning shoot what you have and learn from others at the range. I'm a "B" shooter and just love to do the Bang-Clang thing.

I just moved to St. Louis from Arizona and the ground is covered with some strange cold white stuff - guess I'll have to wait for it to clear to do any shooting here.

Michael

[Jerry G]

Don't knock the old 20-22. I got into AAA hunter with mine.

Enjoy the cold white stuff................ we will be shooting in 60 weather at 3 points this Sunday.

[snaketail2]

...we will be shooting in 60 weather at 3 points this Sunday.

Tell Barb I said hello from cold St. Louis - bought my first show shovel today, 28" octagon handle with diamond pattern grip.

Michael