I found this group a few months ago, when I was looking to learn more about the Silhouette shooting that our local range offers, but they only do it once a month (just hanging steel plates at 50/75/100 otherwise), and the matches since I bought my rifle late last year have either been canceled or I was unavailable that day, so I didn't really get a chance to see it first hand. Last Sept, I bought a Savage with a heavy barrel, and scrounged up a few hundred rounds of CCI Mini Mags and put a Barska scope on top. (I'm on a budget-budget here)

Thanks to all who shared information to other beginners, since I learned a bunch and applied as much as I could during my practice times since, and before entering my first match yesterday.

It was great fun, and I plan to go back for the next one.

The setup was 10 targets at each distance, and I thought I did ok for my first try. I was the only "new guy" in a fairly experienced lineup. I shot 3,5 / 4,1 / 2,2 / 1,0 for an 18 (and a few spots off the bottom) The guy who was assisting me with procedures was very helpful, and said not to worry, first timers at that range rarely hit turkeys, so I was encouraged. I will go work on my scope settings (such as they are) for the Turkeys and Rams then practice some more. I think I am on my fourth or fifth box of Mini Mags since I started shooting rimfire last year. Have to hunt down more better ammo. And practice more. Haven't even seen a box of SV here at the place that carries CCI, let alone "better stuff".

It was a great day learning first hand, and it can definitely see where the info shared here applies to the scores on the range. Good stuff, folks! Best part was that they invited me to come back for the next match and shoot again. That's now on the calendar.

(If anyone is in Honolulu, with their rimfire, the range is Koko Head Shooting Complex, out past Hawaii Kai. Silhouette side is open Sat/Sun 8-4, and a match is held every first Sunday, except when the first Sunday is the first day of the month. $5 match fee includes lunch off the grill, and shoot all day afterwards. Great bunch of folks. http://www.hmssa.org)

Great shooting for a beginner! now how is the addiction feeling?

Innocent

Innocent wrote:Great shooting for a beginner!

Thank you! (And also everyone else who shared tips in their threads/posts; I read a lot and try to remember.) and I know what I need to practice on: Turkeys!! The gobblers are hard. And zero for Rams. I suspect I need to dial in more than a few guessed clicks. LOL

Innocent wrote:now how is the addiction feeling?

I am looking forward to next month. If I just shoot the same I will celebrate, or a 19, and I will be ecstatic. If I get a 20 I will ask my wife for a decent scope. Hahaha!!

Thanks again.

Pat

Pat, Turkeys to Rams should be at least 4 minutes adjustment, so you were probably low if you didn't get in that much. Don't be surprised if you drop down some in score next time, it happens to all of us. Ask for the scope now....so you can shoot better.LOL

Innocent

"Bang-Clang" the addictive sound of a silhouette match.
I've been shootn 'em for several years and I still have fun at every match. Don't worry about winning - that will come later.
Thanks for sharing your first match with us.

M

Well done! You shot better than I did at my first match. What you should strive for is to be like my shooting partner here. He's in his 60's at least. Last weekend was our first match of the year. After EVERY time he shot he would turn to me with a grin on his face and say "Damn I love this!". Even when he missed every animal.

Yup, I have trouble suppressing the grins, which affect the cheek/stock positioning...

I have a 6 year old boy who just transitioned from air rifle to rimfire with a Savage Rascal, and I tell him it isn't win or lose, hit of miss, but "trying hard and always having fun". That's partly why I bought a 22 rifle, the fun of it, and the challenge of it. Plus, I see the guys who've been shooting for forty-plus years, and they've all got prized rimfire rifles on the line... and can mostly still hear. My 308 gets out on occasion, but I can't beat myself up too much.

(Speaking of always keeping the fun in it...There are days that we've driven to the range and left after he shot 5 rounds when he wasn't enjoying himself due to large (.460 and 0500) revolvers' side-blasts rattling him--only to return another weekend and have him say "Dad, can I have some of your ammo, this is the best" after he goes through the Winchester 333 that I brought along for him. )

Aloha from Hawaii. Cold and windy here this morning at 65*. Brrrrr!

Pat

Fartsinpublic,
Any silhouette ranges on the big island of Hawaii ( Kona side ) or Maui?
Charles

Quick update.

Shot my second match on 5/4/14 and third one today.

5/4/14: Savage TRR-SR, Barska 6-18x40, CCI MiniMags

C: 4, 5
P: 3, 4
T: 3, 1
R: 3, 3
=26/40

Third match today, I was put in 2 relays due to low attendance.

6/8/14: Savage FV, Nikon 3-9x40EFR, CCI MiniMags

C: 5, 5 | 5, 5
P: 4, 5 | 5, 5
T: 4, 3 | 2, 5
R: 4, 3 | 4, 5
=33/40 =36/40

I'm sore, but stoked.

Gotta keep putting in range time on that turkey swinger... It sure pays off.

fartsinpublic wrote:Quick update.

Shot my second match on 5/4/14 and third one today.

5/4/14: Savage TRR-SR, Barska 6-18x40, CCI MiniMags

C: 4, 5
P: 3, 4
T: 3, 1
R: 3, 3
=26/40

Third match today, I was put in 2 relays due to low attendance.

6/8/14: Savage FV, Nikon 3-9x40EFR, CCI MiniMags

C: 5, 5 | 5, 5
P: 4, 5 | 5, 5
T: 4, 3 | 2, 5
R: 4, 3 | 4, 5
=33/40 =36/40

I'm sore, but stoked.

Gotta keep putting in range time on that turkey swinger... It sure pays off.

You shot 33 & 36 in your third match ever with a 3x-9x scope??? That's incredible! These are 1/5 scale targets at 40m, 60m, 77m and 100m, right?

Dustin

I did have the scope set to 9x...

I shoot at the targets that measure (to my rookie eye):

C: ~3"w x 2.5"h
P: ~4"w x 3"h
T: ~4"w x 5"h
R: ~8"w x 6"h

Not sure what fraction they are, but they are what all the other experienced guys there (as in they are in class AA, AAA, etc.) are shooting at too. Maybe I'm going about it wrong? The scorer was sure surprised, he watched my second relay real close, calling hits on the rams, too.

Edit: Found these online... The ones we shoot at match these, close as I can see:

http://compete.nra.org/documents/pdf/co ... tar-09.pdf

http://compete.nra.org/documents/pdf/co ... tar-10.pdf

Pat

I'm "Pat P, Heavy A". There was only one guy who shot the 1/5 tiny targets, with an Anschutz bolt action pistol, creedmoor position. This is an IHMSA range, if that makes a difference in target size (?)...





The rimfire offhand rifle shooters shoot at the targets in the orange boxes, the guy with the Anschutz pistol shot at the teensy targets in the red boxes, from the creedmoor position.



A better crop; you can also see the wind in the orange tapes... straight out, blowing right to left from 3o'clock. Grrrr.

You shot 33 & 36 in your third match ever with a 3x-9x scope??? That's incredible! These are 1/5 scale targets at 40m, 60m, 77m and 100m, right?

Dustin

Dustin,
That is a great score no matter what size targets were shot!

Innocent M

I completely agree! Those scores are top-notch regardless of which size target! I just didn't know which he was shooting at because the IHMSA folks shoot at lots of different size targets. Congrats on great shooting, Pat; keep it up!!!

Dustin

Thanks guys. Fun stuff.

My first grader even convinced and took my wife to the LGS to get me some ammo for practice and this match (it was his idea of an ideal bday gift for dad...imagine that?!) so I consider it a team effort. Now he is asking if I'll teach him to shoot standing with his Savage Rascal... Been on a bipod and red dot hitting the plates, but he's determined to follow along. Awwww.