Steve, we need to introduce you to our fitness coordinator,Gator.

That would be great. I've had a hard time selling the idea of fitness to shooters in the past, but maybe I just need to see a few more approaches to help communicate the importance.

Also, I'm sure the next question is one of many very dead horses on the forum, but I really need to put down in writing the pros and cons of using a single shot rifle in the Standard Class versus a repeater.

I don't want to get into the discussion now, but you all would be shocked as to how many times I get asked that question, and I'm still new at the silhouette game. So, I will be digging around for info on that soon.

s.

If you're going to write articles about smallbore silhouette, I think it would be neat to see you participate in and comment on all smallbore silhouette rifle classes, as well as with various grades of rifles (not just those fancy guns whose name starts with "A" ). It would make a great article series.

jsimmons,
Some of us still use the Winchester 52...even if the current one that I use is the Jap remake. Used an original until about 6 years ago.
I have a 452 Lux, great action, accurate gun but the stock does not fit me well, the Remington 541's are accurate also, but again the stock doesn't point naturally the way the 52 does for me.

Steve, I suggest you may want to enter at least one of the Trifecta matches...better to shoot all three as the real competition there is which club serves the better food. I look forward to meeting you at the matches.
As for the pro's con's on single vs repeater in standard....oh boy. Any of the long term position shooters will tell you the accuracy of potentially shaving lead off the bullet by loading from a magazine is not worth the costs. But then anyone who has shot in less than perfect weather with the shorter time limits in silhouette will swear by the ability to cycle the action/load faster. Good luck on this one, I have seen others shoot and actually managed to get off 5 (all hits) shots in 30 seconds with a single shot, but that is with certain functions that are as automatic as driving a stick shift for a race car driver...ie experience.

Mary

Did I just get busted..? "not just those fancy guns whose name starts with "A" "

Too funny..... Some know me all too well. Don't worry though, I'll broaden out to look at Hammerlis, Feinwerkbaus, and others...

Yeah, I'm gonna try to get out of the BR game this year and attend some of the matches. I used to run the silhouette matches at our club, but it was too much work running that and ARA at the same time.

The Hunter rifle class makes me crazy, the trigger pull weight limit is something I just can't get my mind around. I find it a strange thing to require, so I just don't shoot the class. I don't shoot light rifles well either, and 10.2 lbs feels almost too light.

Anyhow, thanks for the guidance.

Steve B.
Youshould try a Kenyan trigger on my 52, had to insist that he get it up to over 2#, not your typical trigger.
Mary

Heard great things about his triggers. There are a few of them at our club, works of art no doubt. I really like the 5018 triggers because they are so easy to adjust, and recently switched from two stage to a single stage trigger on my off-hand rifles. Why did it take me so long to see the light?

As for the repeater vs. single shot, my issues is that the magazine well is right in the way where I like to put my left hand. But there again, something that is just not discussed in any great details, at least in printed media, are the various hand positions for the rifle. I tend to shoot the ISU / Olympic style of a reversed fist, but the belly of the rifle is just not deep enough to always get away with that from range to range, depending on the elevation relationship between the bore and the target.

I think the time / condition issue is also something to consider.

Too throw another fly in the ointment, I still have not figured out a way to mount my Nightforce scope on the rifle and still make weight. Has anyone done that yet..?

That's it Innocent. Get him talking about hardware. Soon he'll be sucked into buying a new gun. Then we can get Kitty the Exterior Decorator consulting on the colors. The various Gators and Dawgs can advise him on fitness. Hmm, who should help him on the mental aspect. Think Crackers would do it?

This is going to be really fun. Good luck Steve!

Getting new rifles is the fun part..!

tend to shoot the ISU / Olympic style of a reversed fist, but the belly of the rifle is just not deep enough to always get away with that from range to range,

Where is the palm rest when you need it!!! I have moved to a variation of the split finger. Resting the rifle on index and middle finger forward of the mag and thumb behind the mag. Do not forget that the ability to move the butt in the shoulder can compensate some for elevation issues, there are some ranges that even that small adjustment is not enough.

dwl...I think you will do just fine on the mental aspect of the game especially after a few vodka's and a little Bruchetto, to help hold off the hunger.

Innocent mary

That's pretty much what I have to do currently, and it's not too bad. I find it harder to control the rifle when the wind picks up with that hold. Then again, I'm having plenty of other problems at the same time with the wind..!

Heavy gun, light trigger, single shot rifle, what are you a rebel Steve? LOL Dont you know that everyone is moving to a hunter rifle, repeater with a 2lbs 2 stage trigger. LOL madness I tell you.


Kevin

That's the fun of it, learning to shoot. I think you benchrest guys have it too easy. If you have enough dough and don't mind spending it then all you really have to worry about is learning the wind. (As if that were an easy task anyway.) But here, you have to learn how to shoot, too, hehe. ;) *ducks and runs*

I admit, though, I got the CZ 453 Varmint so that I could be right up against that 8.5 pound limit. (And, believe me, it is *right* up against it.) I found it a little better shooting with it than the lighter rifles I'd shot with previously. But, it still makes weight for hunter, so that's cool. I use it to shoot both classes, which seems to be another trend lately from what I've read. One rifle, one trigger.

steve b. wrote:The Hunter rifle class makes me crazy, the trigger pull weight limit is something I just can't get my mind around. I find it a strange thing to require, so I just don't shoot the class. I don't shoot light rifles well either, and 10.2 lbs feels almost too light.

There is alot of truth to this: "If you have enough dough and don't mind spending it then all you really have to worry about is learning the wind."

Yeah, I'll try to fit in better...

s.

I would say, force yourself to shoot in hunter. The restrictions on the rifle will force you to challenge yourself that extra bit more, and I think that is fun.