Shot my first match today! Very fun! Any tips?

4367 Views 67 Replies 25 Participants Last post by Chickenhater, 6 mo ago

Jmg11986

Discussion Starter · May 15, 2022

Hi all!
Well today was a great day in West Virginia. I shot my first ever small bore steel silhouette match today. I hit 10/40 which was below my goal of 12 but had fun. I wanted to reach out to everyone and see if folks had tips on how to do better. This was a 40 shot match with chickens, pigs, turkeys and rams. I did best on rams and worst on chickens and turkeys.
Questions! How bad is a 10? Can someone give me a break down on the classes of shooter? Any tips on magnification for each animal and shooting in general?

Here is what I was using. It’s a savage MK II VSR Walmart Special with a Vortex Diamondback Tactical 4-16 on it. Thanks all!

http://imgur.com/a/5YGDZ57

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Patriot_MD

· #41 · 7 mo ago

I was an IHMSA member from 1982-1993. Absolutely obsessed with shooting my S&W Model 57 and Model 29, reloading for them and practicing/prepping for the next match. There is no other shooting competition more addictive, more frustrating and more FUN than shooting silhouettes. I don't care what type of firearm you're shooting them with, there's something extremely gratifying about watching them go down after a solid hit..and hilarious after a marginal hit when they wobble, teeter and finally flop over.

I thoroughly enjoyed shooting my first rimfire silhouette match with @Cowpokey back in June, although, my set-up wasn't exactly ideal for a rimfire silhouette match, I still managed to shoot a 24, 22 and 21 in my first three relays and I still had a great time.

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steyrsteyrsteyr

· #42 · 7 mo ago

@Cowpokey Join Metallic Silhouette Shooters Society on facebook, you will get tons of updates on silhouette as well as a file section for you to print out these targets if you don't want to buy them. Extremely good resource.

I use the 10m air rifle target at my home to dry fire.

If you want to shoot the full game there is Fairfax Rod & Gun club in Manassas, VA. Season just ended and will start back up in March. There will be a war rifle match / egg shoot some time between December and February if you want to come out and meet the match director and a combination of people that shoot smallbore and high power. High power / war match is 200m with targets scaled down. Just e-mail the MD from the website and get on the mailing list if you are interested in smallbore etc there.

There is also Atglen in PA and Delmarva Sportsman Association across the bridge in MD.

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Patriot_MD

· #43 · 7 mo ago

steyrsteyrsteyr said:
@Cowpokey Join Metallic Silhouette Shooters Society on facebook, you will get tons of updates on silhouette as well as a file section for you to print out these targets if you don't want to buy them. Extremely good resource.

I use the 10m air rifle target at my home to dry fire.

If you want to shoot the full game there is Fairfax Rod & Gun club in Manassas, VA. Season just ended and will start back up in March. There will be a war rifle match / egg shoot some time between December and February if you want to come out and meet the match director and a combination of people that shoot smallbore and high power. High power / war match is 200m with targets scaled down. Just e-mail the MD from the website and get on the mailing list if you are interested in smallbore etc there.

There is also Atglen in PA and Delmarva Sportsman Association across the bridge in MD.

@Cowpokey We need to go check it out. I'm in Frederick, MD.

Reactions: 1

Cowpokey

· #44 · 7 mo ago (Edited)

@steyrsteyrsteyr Thanks for the info! The Delmarva one is closest to me, live in Bel Air, MD. I wanted to go to their match a week or two ago, but not sure I'm ready...need to work on my standing unsupported game a bit more (mechanics), that's why I bought the 50 foot targets, figure that will be good practice at the local indoor range. Going to give that a try tomorrow before lunch, indoor range is only 3 1/2 miles away.

For reference (picture below), these are the targets...they got delivered while I was TDY, just got home late this afternoon from California.

@Patriot_MD, we definitely need to get in the game more...from what I understand Delmava's has a match once a month...year round.

Font Rectangle Paper Paper product Creative arts

EDIT: Not sure why it had two extra attachments.

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Patriot_MD

· #45 · 7 mo ago

Cowpokey said:
@Patriot_MD, we definitely need to get in the game more...from what I understand Delmava's has a match once a month...year round.

View attachment 339372

I'm game! Let's plan on it!

Reactions: 1

Cowpokey

· #46 · 7 mo ago

Patriot_MD said:
I'm game! Let's plan on it!

I'll contact them and see when the next match is. Their calendar doesn't look accurate.

Reactions: 1

Cowpokey

· #47 · 7 mo ago

Now that I look at the Delmarva calendar again it shows Silhouette on 19 Nov. If it's not raining/snowing and crazy wind, I'm game.

Reactions: 1

Cowpokey

· #48 · 7 mo ago

We didn’t get to shoot today, the indoor range is closed on Sundays until 3pm for CCW classes.

They didn’t have any guns that I had to have, so after we looked around for a bit we came back home.

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Grantmac

· #49 · 7 mo ago

I shoot 10m air rifle silhouettes, it helps but no replacement for shooting outside with other people. Specifically there is a fitness component of being able to shoot 160 shots over about 4-5 hours.

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Cowpokey

· #50 · 7 mo ago (Edited)

Grantmac said:
I shoot 10m air rifle silhouettes, it helps but no replacement for shooting outside with other people. Specifically there is a fitness component of being able to shoot 160 shots over about 4-5 hours.

The "Critters Match" is 160 shots, we did it in about 2 hours. The 4th relay I was definitely getting fatigued. I'm hoping practice at the indoor range will help with some conditioning, and just getting more steady with standing unsupported.

*spelling

Grantmac

· #51 · 7 mo ago

2 hours would be grueling. When we shoot without a second relay my scores start to tumble after the first round. Trying to get more consistent is the goal.

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Patriot_MD

· #52 · 7 mo ago

Grantmac said:
2 hours would be grueling. When we shoot without a second relay my scores start to tumble after the first round. Trying to get more consistent is the goal.

Imagine trying to do it with a 1710 set-up for long range. Then, imagine doing it in 91F heat, blazing sun and about 95% humidity. I was like a used dishrag after the third relay. It was all I could do to drag my butt downrange to reset targets. LOL

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Grantmac

· #53 · 7 mo ago

At least the 100m walk gives time for a rest, plus we shoot under cover.

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steyrsteyrsteyr

· #54 · 7 mo ago

Patriot_MD said:
Imagine trying to do it with a 1710 set-up for long range. Then, imagine doing it in 91F heat, blazing sun and about 95% humidity. I was like a used dishrag after the third relay. It was all I could do to drag my butt downrange to reset targets. LOL

@Cowpokey

Sounds like you guys would enjoy the Lapua Super Shoot in May at Ridgway, PA. The nice thing about it is that it's one weekend and the weather will be a mix of freezing and hot. 6 matches on Saturday (3hunter/3standard) and 4 matches on Sunday (2hunter/2standard) The entire weekend is just spotting and shooting, roughly 50 shooters. Tons of prizes. It's hell but a lot of fun.

Oh yea, they have kids that sprint out and setup targets for you. Tip the kids!

Reactions: 2

Cowpokey

· #55 · 7 mo ago

steyrsteyrsteyr said:
@Cowpokey

Sounds like you guys would enjoy the Lapua Super Shoot in May at Ridgway, PA. The nice thing about it is that it's one weekend and the weather will be a mix of freezing and hot. 6 matches on Saturday (3hunter/3standard) and 4 matches on Sunday (2hunter/2standard) The entire weekend is just spotting and shooting, roughly 50 shooters. Tons of prizes. It's hell but a lot of fun.

Oh yea, they have kids that sprint out and setup targets for you. Tip the kids!

They have the Monarch Cup there in the fall too, don't they?

I will make it to Ridgway, PA. At 4+ hours each way that won't happen often, but I'll definitely be there if work doesn't mess me up...again.

Reactions: 1

steyrsteyrsteyr

· #56 · 7 mo ago

Cowpokey said:
They have the Monarch Cup there in the fall too, don't they?

I will make it to Ridgway, PA. At 4+ hours each way that won't happen often, but I'll definitely be there if work doesn't mess me up...again.

Monarch Cup / Nationals is in August. It alternates so keep an eye out for west coast or east coast. I heard rumors lever action nationals will be at Ridgway and smallbore on the west coast.

Lapua is a two day event and Nationals is a three day event.

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Cowpokey

· #57 · 7 mo ago

I doubt I'll be ready for Monarch Cup / Nationals next year...but maybe I'll find a genie in a bottle. Hehe.

Chickenhater

· #58 · 7 mo ago

Cowpokey, you've got plenty of time to get ready. Be sure and shoot a match before going, so you are classified. Then shoot your air rifle all winter and spring, you'll be fine and have tons of fun. I've been going to the matches at ridgway for several years and its definitely my favorite range. Great group of people, just like a big family and friends gathering.

Reactions: 2

thauglor

· #59 · 7 mo ago

Cowpokey said:
@steyrsteyrsteyr Thanks for the info! The Delmarva one is closest to me, live in Bel Air, MD. I wanted to go to their match a week or two ago, but not sure I'm ready...need to work on my standing unsupported game a bit more (mechanics), that's why I bought the 50 foot targets, figure that will be good practice at the local indoor range. Going to give that a try tomorrow before lunch, indoor range is only 3 1/2 miles away.

Are you wanting to show up at your first match and win overall? Go shoot a match and have fun. My first silhouette match I shot a 3/60 but still had fun and got hooked. The best practice for a match is to actually do a match. There are different classes for a reason, have fun and don't worry about your score for a while

Cowpokey

· #60 · 7 mo ago

thauglor said:
Are you wanting to show up at your first match and win overall? Go shoot a match and have fun. My first silhouette match I shot a 3/60 but still had fun and got hooked. The best practice for a match is to actually do a match. There are different classes for a reason, have fun and don't worry about your score for a while

No, I want to actually hit something.

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