I've been to a bunch of matches in PA and MD, never seen anyone try it with a lever or wheel gun. It's open and available at every match, but with reloading times and what not, nobody fools with it. Most of the matches we shoot are (at least) three rifle and three pistol stages, each of those stages is 5 strings of up to 10 (11 really) rounds fired. Much easier/faster to just use a mag fed semi-auto...I would love to have a match that was all lever/wheel guns, but I think it would be pretty lonely around here trying that. As it is, with 8-12 people per squad, it's going to take about 3 hours to shoot a match, and that's with everyone having enough mags loaded when they step in the box.

 

I've gotten curious while looking at the Rimfire Challenge, as the competition is coming soon to our shooting range. I did a little searching online after I saw the cowboy/cowgirl category and I searched for some photos on that search engine and and didn't see any indication of anyone shooting that category (must wear cowboy hat is one rule)
I'd like to shoot it with my Heritage Rough Rider, would give me a reason to go buy a Henry as well.
Also the rulebook seems like there is a bit more material to comprehend than NRL22 (which I've shot).
Also, can I shoot 2 or more classes or categories?
What is the most popular gun used on RC?
Is the sport "all pro" shooters or do you see lot's of regular people there?
How long does a match last and what's the typical course of fire?
thx
View attachment 354761

Johnny,
Our local club hosts several "Rimfire Challenge" matches a year, The RC rules are very easy to understand.
A1. We do occasionally have someone that will show up with a single 6 and lever rifle to shoot, but it's mostly the GO FASTER guns.
A2. by far the most popular rimfire guns in Steel Challenge and Rimfire Challenge are Ruger 10/22 and Ruger Mark pistols and or clones of said guns.
A3. Lots of regular Joes and Josephene's shooting local club matches and fun shoots.
A4. It depends on number of stages and competitors that show up. most of our matches are about 3-4 hours. we have 6 different stages and average about 15 competitors per match.
Match director will squad them about 8-10 per squad. or however the math works out for number of competitors and stages.
With Rimfire Challenge one shoots both a rifle and a pistol during different stages of the match.
I like to split the number of competitors in half and squad #1 starts with rifle and squad #2 starts with handgun.

good luck

 

Johnny,
Our local club hosts several "Rimfire Challenge" matches a year, The RC rules are very easy to understand.
A1. We do occasionally have someone that will show up with a single 6 and lever rifle to shoot, but it's mostly the GO FASTER guns.
A2. by far the most popular rimfire guns in Steel Challenge and Rimfire Challenge are Ruger 10/22 and Ruger Mark pistols and or clones of said guns.
A3. Lots of regular Joes and Josephene's shooting local club matches and fun shoots.
A4. It depends on number of stages and competitors that show up. most of our matches are about 3-4 hours. we have 6 different stages and average about 15 competitors per match.
Match director will squad them about 8-10 per squad. or however the math works out for number of competitors and stages.
With Rimfire Challenge one shoots both a rifle and a pistol during different stages of the match.
I like to split the number of competitors in half and squad #1 starts with rifle and squad #2 starts with handgun.

good luck

What about competing in more than one class?

 

Agh its rimfire challenge not SCSA steel,c Im going to look into that never heard of cowboy divisions

 

See Section 4 of the Official Rules

Home Page

Our goal is to continue to support the format established by Ruger Rimfire and continued by the NSSF Rimfire Challenge.

www.rimfirechallenge.org

There are only two divisions in Rimfire Challenge: Open and Limited

There is a Cowboy / Cowgirl 'special recognition category' but I have only seen people shoot it at the annual State level match since most local matches would not have the minimum number of participants per the rules.

 

I have two of us that would shoot it.
I will have to find one more recruit

 

if you plan on shooting a tubular fed lever gun, you need to check the particular rules... Steel Challenge IIRC prohibits their use... loading the mag tube fill slot located near the muzzle is a potential danger, and the need to unload and show clear is a time constraint to a smoothly running match...

 

thanks

 

please stop fighting

 

To rush a match seems unwise...isnt this how people get hurt? Thanks for all the advice...and thx for a peak into how well participants really get along.

 

to add to Maxcat's reply... when you shoot your first match, a couple of things you might consider... if you shoot a long gun, use a rifle case to carry to the line., a gun cart complicates things ...a range officer really likes to see a clear chamber flag inserted ... when you show clear, re flag, and re bag, zip the bag up so painters can go down range before you police up you magazines and equipment.... if you shoot a rimfire pistol, have a set manner of how you place the pistol in the gun bag so you know which direction the muzzle is pointing in the bag...place the bag on the table with muzzle down range, don't unzip until the "make ready" command...with the "make ready" command... remove the pistol, remove the chamber flag., lock the slide back, I apply the safety and place the pistol on the table ...arrange magazines.... I position the pistol in my hand, then insert magazine and release slide... I take up the low ready position, then release the safety....

 

yes.... the Range Store has Steel Target paint for about $70/case of 12 cans... it's thick and covers much better than box store paint...but in a pinch you can get by with cheaper brands... you need to train your painters not to spray entire plates, but only the actual hit splatter... I'm not affiliated with the administration of our local club and don't know the actual amount of paint use, but we shoot 5 squads of about 8-10 guns and go through probably 4 cans per stage, per match...I do know the club has an automatic re- order set up with Range Store

 

I second the recommendation for the Steel Target Paint. Much cheaper in the long run because it covers much better and you can actually get the water based paint out of your clothes if you accidently have the can pointed at your brother instead of the target (don't ask me how I know!)

Steel Target Paint

The company "Rainbow Technologies" also have several other very good products, their hand sanitizer is great, smells good, leaves your hands baby soft and smooth. The waterless hand cleaners are also very good.

RangeStore.net - Home of Steel Target Paint

I have no connection to either the store or the company, but I've shot several matches with Larry Steeley, Jr. who developed the paint and is a huge supporter of the shooting sports.

Nolan

 

@Maxcat and @lasnyder added some great points. I drove 2 1/2 hours to watch a match before I participated my first time. Met the MD and walked through the stages with him, got some great advice, and proceeded to just watch that match...even though I had my race rifle and pistol in my vehicle. I'm glad I didn't shoot that match, observing taught me a lot of stuff I wouldn't have seen otherwise.

People at matches; Rimfire Challenge, MARS (PRS22 stuff) are very welcoming and always willing to offer advice and help. Best advice is to go to a match, whether you shoot or observe, you will meet some really cool people. In my experience, the better they are (as competitors) the more welcoming and advice offering they will be...when folks are at the top of their game for the local match, they are looking for others to get involved and offer them more competition. I'm not at the top of the game, I usually finish in the top 25%...so I have plenty of room to improve.

 

Also, you don't need to have "blinged out" race guns, just use the ones you have that are reliable...with ammo that is reliable (i.e. fires every time your booger hook hits the bang switch), and have 5 magazines for each. It's not the world championship...unless that's the first match you decide to participate in, which would be a bad idea...you'd see the bar set so high it would be discouraging.

 

Yes, it is really Steal Challenge. As I previously pointed out the rules allow for them.

4.1
...At Tier 1 (club match) plates used on a non-official stage may be painted a color other than white but must be repainted prior to each competitor’s first run on each course of fire...