I have never shot silhouette. I just got my scope sighted in. I have a question on technique. When standing on the line, and shooting at any of the animals. Do you start above the animal and slowing drop through the animal with the "dot", and break the trigger as it passes. It seems like it would be pretty difficult to hold on an animal, standing, with that power (20-30x).

Thanks for any insight.

I think people come in from just about every direction you can think of. I come in from the top and as soon as the dot is in the paint, I squeeze. Lately I have been slaping and jerking the trigger but I would'nt recomend that tenique to anybody. It isn't working for me and I am having a hard time breaking that habbit.

As you become more seasoned, you will find that you can hold on the animal for quite a while. Whe you first start shooting off-hand, I'm sure you shake like a dog passing razor blades but it will get better.

Make some dot targets (4, 5, and 6 minutes in size) and hang them in your house somewhere and just practice holding on them. Start with the 6 minute and as you get better, go to the smaller ones. You need to train yourself to hold and squeeze and not just practice shooting.

Good luck in your new adventure.

Dakota1
JerryG is quite right. There is no best way to approach the targets.
Whatever you find in time suits you but it does take a lot of consistent
practice.
The targets are however longer than they are high,except turkey which
has a more diagonal shape. Using an approach method ,the Gods will
favour a lateral approach.
If you Google Troy Lawton's name, the first article is an excellent
reference which expands on JerryG's comments.
The Technique section of this website has some great info also.
Have fun and all the best with your new sport!
Andrew Patchett

I have a habit that I cannot break and honestly, haven't really tried to hard to do so either because I'm not sure it's detrimental...

As a kid, I probably shot 40million pellets thru my air rifle and I always swung to the left and shot underneath what I was aiming at in order to get it to jump up off the ground (can, pinecone, etc...)

I discovered very quickly that's where my natural point of aim is also with a silhouette. I'm coming in the from the bottom right and trying to nudge it up into the animal. Obviously, 80% of my misses are low.

I have noticed two interesting tidbits with this technique...

One, I'm a "relaxer". I have to fight not to "relax" just before breaking the shot because if I do, the shot goes low which is not good for a low-aimer like myself - I need to make sure I'm on my game or I'll suffer this all match.

Secondly, and this one seems to work to my advantage at times, is that when things are going right and I'm holding perfectly still, only my heart beat moves the dot and it's toward the upper-left. I have however, on more than one occassion, become what I feel is sloppy and broke the shot during the beat when the dot is on the animal - it seems to work but I believe a person should probably be breaking in between beats.

Dakota,

Always start your gun above the target and relax into it. To start below means you are using muscles to hold the rifle. I start my squeeze as my dot gets on the steel. Yes the the dot is in constant motion but is on the target more than most realize. As the dot moves off the target stop sqeezing but maintain pressure. Resume squeezing and increasing pressure as the dot is coming onto the target again. This may have to be repeated several times before the shot breaks. This can take a lot of patience and some days seems impossible. Always resist the temptation to just "let 'er go" when things arn't going just right and put the gun down, take a few relaxing breaths and start over again. Also, when the shot breaks it's not over yet! When the gun settles back naturally to where the shot broke you've done a good job. Focusing on that last point really helps.

Good luck,

Pete

Generally start above the target and as you breath out your sights will naturally come down onto the target, fine tuning your elevation, you hold your breath and as your hold steadies you fire the shot and watch the target fall.
Sounds easy, but does take a little practice, but what doesn't.

There can be a problem with starting above the target. Washtenaw Sportsmen's club in Michigan has this rule...

DISQUALIFICATION: Any competitor who fires a shot before the ready command will be disqualified from the match. Also second warning of a high muzzle above the horizontal will also be grounds for disqualification.

Most places don't have this rule. But it is difficult to change if you are used to coming in from above.

Quonset Hut wrote:There can be a problem with starting above the target. Washtenaw Sportsmen's club in Michigan has this rule...

DISQUALIFICATION: Any competitor who fires a shot before the ready command will be disqualified from the match. Also second warning of a high muzzle above the horizontal will also be grounds for disqualification.

Most places don't have this rule. But it is difficult to change if you are used to coming in from above.

I think they meant about an inch above the animal, hopefully that will not qualify as "high muzzle" because it should still hit the berm if you break at 1 inch over the animal( i usually do this half the time, lol).

My range has the same rule. Once the bolt is closed the muzzle shouldn't ever be in a positon that the bullet would go over the highest/farthest berm. It's club-wide and not just a rule for silhouette matches. When I'm settling the gun into my shoulder, my muzzle is above the targets but not high enough for a bullet to leave the range should the rifle accidentally fire.

I also start above the animal and let it settle into the animal. I do not force the dot through the animal like I have heard some do. I wiggle alot and it seems to me that working on your hold to reduce wiggle is the proper way to develop your skill. I could be wrong as I am only a year into this sport. Dawg and I had a discussion about this the other day and I got many great pointers from him.

Thanks James

Kevinp,

Anytime bud,

dakota1,

20-30x is a bit much at first the wiggle is the first thing magnafied unless you are very dicaplined it will most likely cause you to develop trigger punch OR the oppisite and not get the shot of cause you cant stay close to the animal.

i would back off the magnification till you get a few matches gone

regards

dave

dakota1,

20-30x is a bit much at first the wiggle is the first thing magnafied unless you are very dicaplined it will most likely cause you to develop trigger punch OR the oppisite and not get the shot of cause you cant stay close to the animal.

i would back off the magnification till you get a few matches gone

regards

dave