Smallbore Open Sight Silhouette Louisiana State Championship

[dustinflint]

Everyone,

We will shoot our Smallbore Open Sight Silhouette state championship match on Saturday, August 30 in the evening after the two standard matches of the Louisiana Smallbore Silhouette State Championship. It will be a 40-shot match and the winner will be awarded a State Champion trophy/plaque. The match is free to anyone entered in the Louisiana smallbore state championship match. I THINK we will have the Open Sight Silhouette "National Championship" match on Saturday afternoon in Winnsboro next year if we can find a way to fit that match in with the "Chicken Challenge Championship" and the "Turkey Shoot that I Cant Think of a Clever Name For." (More on future Winnsboro matches later)

If you want to get in on the fun (and it is lots of fun) and start an open sight silhouette match at your local matches, here is how you do it:

The course of fire is the same as normal smallbore silhouette. The targets are normal 1/5 scale set at 40, 60, 77 and 100 meters. We use the Semi Automatic High Power Military rifle page in the scorebook since no one around here shoots that. You can also use the Indoor Sporter Air Rifle page. We use the classification system on that page too (Master scores are 29 - 40). Just like normal, a shooter's first match is the classification match and class changes are just like all the other silhouette disciplines.

Rifles are UNLIMITED (cant use a sling to hold the rifle). Clothing is UNLIMITED. Sights are basically anything without a lens. Specifically, the sight rules follow ISSF rule 7.4.1.6:

7.4.1.6 Sights
a) Corrective lenses and telescopes must not be attached to the rifle;
b) Corrective lenses or eyeglasses, and/or filters or tinted lenses, may be worn by the athlete;
c) Any sight not containing a lens or system of lenses or other means of optical enhancement is permitted, except that light or polarizing filters may be fitted to the front or rear sight, or both;
d) Any aiming device programmed to activate the firing mechanism is prohibited;
e) A blinder may be attached to the rifle or to the rear sight. The blinder must not be more than 30 mm deep (A) nor extend further than 100 mm (B) from the center of the rear sight aperture on the side of the non aiming eye. A blinder must not be used on the side of the aiming eye; and

Rear Sight Blinder
f) A prism or mirror device may be used when shooting from the right shoulder while aiming with the left eye, providing it does not have a magnifying lens or lenses. It must not be used when shooting from the right shoulder when using the right eye.

This match is a big hit here so far. It's tough but lots of fun. This is the chance to shoot your bad-ass position rifle or that open sight gun in the closet.

Dustin

[dhatch]

mmmmmmm, same size as smallbore, iron sights. it'll be tough but fun also. I'll sign up for it.

[jeauxd]

This is really a lot of fun and not as hard as you would think, but the turkeys are still tough. Using round front sight inserts makes a world of difference over a post or bead type front sight. Many folks have cowboy rifles with the Lyman type front sight that can take the round aperture inserts. Try that and see what a difference it makes to your scores. Cowboy shooters already have settings for some of the distances and it wouldn't take much to figure out the 1/5 scale distances pretty quickly. There should be lots of people out there with a .22 target rifle set up for 50', 50m that could get a chance to enjoy silhouette with what they currently have. I like the classification system too, I don't think it will be long before we have some master class shooters in the open sight class. One other great benefit is getting to buy a new rifle to play the game with. Have you seen some of the fine target rifles on the market these days. AMAZING!

[dustinflint]

Have you seen some of the fine target rifles on the market these days. AMAZING!

That reminds me that I need to talk to Whitney and ask how she feels about me spending $4000 on a new rifle

Dustin

[Jason]

Mmm... a 1907 in a 1918 stock sure would be a nice addition to the safe, Dustin.. and maybe a Walther... and...

[dustinflint]

Mmm... a 1907 in a 1918 stock sure would be a nice addition to the safe, Dustin.. and maybe a Walther... and...

If only everyone were as open-minded and enlightened as we are...

Dustin

[chuckjordan2]

Dustin,

What are some of the scores that people are shooting. No names, just ranges of scores.

See, last year I shot my Walther KKM at our SB match (diopter/front sight insert). The targets are hard to pick out, and I used acrylic clear front insert! BTW, my score was a 9. (Normally a 20-26 in hunter with a cz452).

[dustinflint]

Dustin,

What are some of the scores that people are shooting. No names, just ranges of scores.

We've only just started shooting this match and only have one match in the books. Most of our Louisiana shooters and the Texas shooters who are starting this with us are still getting equipment set up. That said, this past weekend we had some single digit scores with guys shooting iron sights and cowboy sights. Only one of our master shooters was able to shoot a target rifle and he shot a 23/40. That was a borrowed rifle and he had some sight setting problems that he had to work out during the match. The second highest score was an 18/40 I believe.

Once our Master shooters start shooting and we all have our guns together and some practice in and a couple of matches down, I believe it will take at least a 30/40 to win our state championship match in August.

Dustin

[chuckjordan2]

Dustin,

Thanks. More Q's. Rules say front sight no lens. Does that include an 'eagle eye' (don't think you want the German name) which are usually 1.3x - 1.5x? Reasoning is you have unlimited rifle, meaning a free style could go used (butt hook and all).

BTW, I like your idea!

[dustinflint]

Dustin,

Thanks. More Q's. Rules say front sight no lens. Does that include an 'eagle eye' (don't think you want the German name) which are usually 1.3x - 1.5x? Reasoning is you have unlimited rifle, meaning a free style could go used (butt hook and all).

BTW, I like your idea!

Any magnifying lens is illegal, including an Eagle Eye. Butt hooks and shooting coats and all that stuff are legal and welcome.

Dustin

[chuckjordan2]

Dustin,

Yesterday. at our monthly SB Silhouette match I shot open sights. Shot a 12/40 and I'm normally a AA SB shooter.

Lighting and conditions plays a big factor with animal acquisition. At our club the rams are often covered by tree shade, I could not clearly half the rams. The chix were easiest as they were in bright sunlight. Strange, but, I found the pigs the most difficult (score reflected that) as they were wider than the OD of the 3.6 aperature.

Equipment. I used my new-to-me-but-recently-imported left hand Walther Match rifle. I had a 3.6mm front aperature and circled all animals nicely (except the turkeys were thin in the sight picture).

I think I'm hooked as I have three match rifles rarely being used: Walther KKM, Walther Match, Feinwerkbau 2000. All LH. If 3P/4P shooters were notified of this informal classification, we may get more shooters. That has me thinking about talking to our MD to see if we could notify our 4H club?

I really would like to read about what others are using, I've done my part.

Thanks for bringing this classification forward!

Chuck

[BruceH]

Dustin,

I am real new to small bore silhouette, but I am having fun learning. Right now I am shooting a CZ 452 UL and a CZ 455 Trainer w/ scopes. I am really interested in trying iron sights, but I am having a hard time getting any idea of which systems work (best) and install correctly. I have seen information on the BRNO sight and a few others, but finding them for sale (and if they fit or work) is a problem.

How about some pictures of what you and others are using and information on where to find them.

Bruce

[dustinflint]

Yesterday. at our monthly SB Silhouette match I shot open sights. Shot a 12/40 and I'm normally a AA SB shooter.

This is about the normal scores that we are seeing for AA-level shooters trying open-sight for the first time. This may be a bit higher than normal actually. Breaking 10/40 on your first try is a good sign.

I had a 3.6mm front aperature and circled all animals nicely (except the turkeys were thin in the sight picture).

I had the same experience. Turkeys are difficult no matter which rifle we shoot!!

If 3P/4P shooters were notified of this informal classification, we may get more shooters. That has me thinking about talking to our MD to see if we could notify our 4H club?

We are making an effort to attract position and 4H shooters as well. I think this is a great idea. It will likely get some of those shooters to try scoped silhouette, too!

I am real new to small bore silhouette, but I am having fun learning. Right now I am shooting a CZ 452 UL and a CZ 455 Trainer w/ scopes. I am really interested in trying iron sights, but I am having a hard time getting any idea of which systems work (best) and install correctly. I have seen information on the BRNO sight and a few others, but finding them for sale (and if they fit or work) is a problem.

How about some pictures of what you and others are using and information on where to find them.

I really would like to read about what others are using, I've done my part.

I am using my 54.18 MSR with a 10-inch bloop tube added for extended sight radius and a set of Anschutz Olympic sights. Olympic sights seem to work best but whatever you are comfortable with will work. I got my sights from a shooter who has loads of rifles - the sights were extras that he had from one of his position rifles. I've sold some sets of sights from air rifles that I've bought. Not sure to tell you where the best place to get Olympic sights are but I would thing TargetTalk would be a good starting place. Maybe even a WTB ad here on SteelChickens for a set of sights that a silhouette shooter took off a Target or Open air rifle?

I'll post a picture of my rifle when I get home this evening.

Several shooters that I know are using position rifles - everything from simple older Anschutz position rifles to the newest state-of-the art Anschutz/FWB/Walther space guns. A few shooters are using CZ's (Trainers and Lux) with the nice iron sights they come with. A couple are using their smallbore lever guns.

Dustin

[Dee]

I'm planning to shoot Dustin's rifle ;) Sounds nice.

[BruceH]

I am really hoping someone has information on a globe type front sight system that will go on the CZ rifles. I know that the BRNO screws onto the regular sight ramp, but I can't find one of those.

I am looking forward to the pictures and information.