Hello everyone!

My names Jared, I'm 20 years old and am hailing from Albany, NY.

I've been around guns all my life (hunting, and general paper killing), and decided to give competitive shooting a try.

I recently purchased a Savage mark II .22LR and put a Simmons 3-9x40 on top and am currently still sighting it in.

What would be a good way to get started in the sport? My father and I are currently applying to join a local gun club, but for now we are shooting on our friends land at 50 yards.

Welcome.

The best way to get started to to go to a Match, introduce your self, watch, and ask questions. I have always found the hardest thing to do is just to show up - after that it gets easy. I know it is really hard to go to a match or club and know no one, but after your first trip you will not be a stanger any longer.

Do not be afraid to dive in - you will be among friends. Also, don't be intimidated by seeing expensive guns as we all had to start somewhere. Your first scores may be low, but I bet not as low as some of the seasoned shooters first scores.

And most of all, have at least a little fun each day as it is costing you a day of your life.

Good shooting,


George

Jared, Welcome. There's a club near you that has silhouette. http://www.hhfishandgame.com/ also if you like to travel the Broome County Sportsmen in Binghamton, NY has a full schedule of silhouette events on weekends and during the week.Check them out: http://www.bcsportsmen.org/
ppkny

Thanks for the responses!

what kind of gear will I need to compete with? should I pick up a shooting vest?

Hello Jared

Welcome to the site and to Silly-wet.

Pick up 1000 rounds of ammo ( or as much as you can) and shoot it up, when that is done repeat again and again..,

I dont feel you need anything before your first time out other than safety glasses and hearing pertection.

I dont know what scope you have, If it does not have turret knobs sight in at 55 yards that way you will be dead on for

Pig's. Have fun and enjoy the game....


Blueline

the scope I have is 3-9x40 simmons and has windage

Well then do you have your distances down..


Chicken

40 meters = 44yards

Pig

50 meters = 55 yards

Turkey

77 meters = 84 yards


Rams

100 meters = 109 yards

Get a good zero on chickens. Spend most of your time practicing on Pigs.

Turkeys are humbeling, and rams take good

ammo more than any thing

is there a place where I can print out paper targets of chickens and pigs? or should I stick to regular targets?

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

#9 & # 10 are the ones I use... I make coppies and take to print shop, print on card stock.

I put 6 chickens on one page, 2 pigs on a page 2 turkeys on a page, and a Ram will fit on an 8 1/2 X 11"

Have fun

Blueline

great thanks! I'll have to try putting them on cardstock!

Blueline,

By print shop you mean like a kinko's?

Btw... If the shoots are following NRA rules, pigs are at 50m in the cowboy and pistol silhouette events. They are at 60m for the smallbore hunter and standard events.

By print shop you mean like a kinko's?

Yes, any big box office supply should make the coppies for ya.


Blueline

You will want a scope that has knob adjustments for elevation. Most 3x9 scopes do not have them because they are more designed for hunters that only zero once a year at 100 yrds to hit very large target (a deer) at closer distances.
Get a good zero on the chickens, and set the knob to read zero. Most knob adjusters have small allen screws to allow movement of the knob.
For standard velocity ammo (recommended) the come ups for smallbore silhouettes are :
Pigs- up 2 min
Turkeys- up 2 more min
Rams- Up an additional 4 min

Welcome to the most demanding of shooting sports. We're glad to have you.
Have fun, and hold 'em hard.
Fick

There are some good articles on this website about getting started, equipment, practicing, etc.

There is an article (hopefully someone will post a link) entitled something like - "1 year of shooting with a cheap scope" or something like that. Don't take it as an insult (cheap scope comment). The article describes a method for using a variable power scope to get good sight settings for all 4 distances without needing target knobs for elevation changes.

This sport is definitely humbling. Get out and have fun - the shooters will be supportive and helpful when you go to a match. Just hitting 1 out of 40 is an achievement you can be proud of.

SteveM.