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Air Rifle Silhouette Equipment List

Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2017 7:28 am
by ShootingStar
OK Guys and Gals,
Some of you may know that I run the Smallbore Silhouette Matches at Asheville Rifle & Pistol Club in Asheville, NC.
What you may not know is, I'm seriously considering starting up Air Rifle Silhouettes as well!!! More shooting is better, right?
Even though my wife may not think so, I'm hoping to start small and work up and do it before or after the SB matches.

I know I'll need some targets from TexasSilhouette.
What I really need is INFORMATION, since I've not swam in these waters yet myself!
(I'm guessing) People are going to ask things like:
1) What is the difference between a "Target" and "Open" air rifle? I read the rule book, but what's really the difference? What should buyers be looking for? I know the 10M target rifles are slow, what about Open?
2) Does a "Sporter" have to have a metal spring? Can it be a Gas Spring?
3) What caliber(s) can I shoot?
4) I think I can use my Target Rifle in Open, but what am I giving up by not buying a 3rd gun?

I don't know, there are probably a million other questions - I know because I have them myself!
Anyway, the most important question might be:
What are all the other folks who currently compete in this sport use for each categories?

So, if you have a moment, would you respond with what rifle/scope you use in each class and maybe pellet too?
That would be a GREAT HELP to me (and my potential/future shooters)!!! Maybe we could get more juniors shooting this way. Parents may see pellet rifles not as "real guns" - though we know differently (safety is equally important and they can be accurate too)!!!
Don't want this to be a "what's best" just more of a listing that we all can use to begin our learning and searching process.
You can't expect more shooters if you don't do something to try and get them coming out, right?

Thanks in advance,
ShootingStar
Greg

Re: Air Rifle Silhouette Equipment List

Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2017 10:53 am
by acorneau
My top piece of advice is to start things off being very forgiving about the equipment rules. Let people shoot what they have as long as they don't damage the targets. As people get into it and want to start doing things "right" they can get their equipment in spec.

To your other questions...

1. Target rifles are Olympic-style 10 meter rifles, typically shooting 600 FPS or less. Open is just about anything you want to shoot.
2. Don't know.
3. Most are 0.177, anything larger has a much higher chance of damaging the targets.
4. Yes, any Target or Sporter fits for Open. What you're giving up using your Target rifle is the wind has the most effect on the pellet whereas a Sporter or Open rifle will buck the wind better.

I'm sure other folks will chime in with other answers.

Re: Air Rifle Silhouette Equipment List

Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2017 11:08 am
by richard
First of all I am thrilled that you want to run AR silo. Air rifles are not just practice for other shooting. They are as much or more fun and challenging as any other silo shooting and are quiet and need less real estate. Gas ram guns have always shot in the sporter class at our matches but you won't see many of them so it's kind of a moot point anyway( they are hard to cock and not the greatest in accuracy either). As far as needing three guns goes that is up to the individual. The reality is that you will probably be running only one or two relays which effectively limits the different classes anyone can shoot at a given match anyway.
I hope you attract a lot of junior shooters however we never have even though juniors shoot free at all of our matches. Having already run matches you have a leg up on us. I started running AR silo first and new absolutely nothing about silhouette and not too much more about air rifles. Some people say that hasn't changed over the years.
The previous poster did a nice job with your other questions. Good luck.

Re: Air Rifle Silhouette Equipment List

Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2017 5:11 am
by ShootingStar
Thanks Gents for the answers to those Newbie type questions. It will help us all to understand what is what!

Now, let see if we can get the Equipment Survey going!
I and my potential shooters need some rifles to begin looking into.
I've been over on the yellow board and I realize I have to learn this "foreign language" of air rifles.
A list of what is used in what category will really help the learning process.

Thanks in advance!
ShootingStar
Greg

Re: Air Rifle Silhouette Equipment List

Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2017 6:47 am
by atomicbrh
Target Division:
Anschutz: 2002SSP, 2002 Superair, 2002CA, 8001, 8002, 9003, 9015. If you are on a tight budget buy the Single stroke Pneumatics. It does not hurt to dry fire them and once you cock them, they are as good as the precharged Pneumatics.

FWB: 300S, Other FWB's have cocking arms that make scope mounting difficult. I understand some of the newer FWB's have cocking arms that can be remounted in a down position. Maybe the 800/800X series.

Walther: LG300, LG400

Steyr: Unmodified LG100, unmodified LG110. Hard to find a unmodified LG100 because so many have been modified into Open rifles.

For a older target rifle that can be scoped, the best way to buy one is to contact Jim E (Edmondson) the number one importer of used 10m target rifles. He always has ads on all the airgun forums.

Open Division:
Walther Dominator and Walther Hunter.
Anschutz 2025. Some of the older 2025's had a smaller cylinder neck than the newer cylinders. Be sure you don't buy one with the smaller neck because it will be hard to find adapters and cylinders. Our son loves his 2025.
Steyr: LG110FT, LG100 or LG110 modified by Allen Zasadny. Get ready to wait on Allen. He has had some things beyond his control that forced him to get backed up.
FWB 800XFT, FWB's modified for Open Division. I personally do not like how high you have to mount the scopes on the FWB's.
RAW(Rapid Air Weapons) These are good Open Rifles manufactured in America close to you. I am not familiar with the model numbers. Someone else needs to chime in on the model numbers.
I am not familiar with the Air Arms FTP 900 but I think some folks use them in Field Target.

Sporter Division:
You will see more Air Arms TX 200 MkIII's on the line than anything else. TX's do need a tune to shoot well in Silhouette. They are too fast out of the box.
HW97K and HW77K You will see very few of these but you will see a few. More difficult to work on than the TX.
For the weak like my wife the Beeman R7 or the HW30.
Remember that if you dryfire a Sporter division rifle, it may have to have an expensive rebuild depending on how many parts are destroyed. Remember that you must zero a sporter standing. It cannot be zeroed or shot accurately off of a bench.

Got a Scuba shop or fire station near you to fill your tanks?
Cause you are going to need one. Especially with those Open Rifles. Hand pumps are going to make you tired and introduce moisture that will destroy your rifles. Get a bunch of different pellets also because chances are you will buy a rifle that will only group good with only one brand and size of pellet. We have many air rifles and every one of them likes a different pellet in a different size. Only my wife's R7 and the HW77k which is the backup to our TX shoot the same pellet well.

Re: Air Rifle Silhouette Equipment List

Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2017 7:18 am
by atomicbrh
The tremendous quantity discounts on pellets do not really happen until you start buying 10,000 or more at a time.
You did not ask about pellets but that is the next step.

Re: Air Rifle Silhouette Equipment List

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2017 5:56 am
by atomicbrh
Greg, If costs of these rifles scare off your potential participants, try air pistol instead.
Baikal IZH46M single stroke pneumatic and Crosman 1701P pre-charged pneumatic are the lower end models but both are capable of shooting a 40. There is an iron sight division and a scoped any sight division. Most people utilize the taco hold. Ram at 18 yards.

Re: Air Rifle Silhouette Equipment List

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2017 2:34 pm
by kevinkunkle
You might find some shooters in this NC group.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/THAGC/

Kevin

Re: Air Rifle Silhouette Equipment List

Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2018 5:42 pm
by GSL
HI ALL ,

DO NOT FORGET the almighty ANSCHUTZ 380 spring piston TARGET air rifle !
IT single handedly put an END to the FEINWERKBAU 300S dominance and KICKED ASS !
They are hard to find but LETHAL at 660 fps with JSB 7.3 pellets ...

TARGET is slow but may be used for OPEN if you are GOOD with it ...

GOOD LUCK , GSL .

Re: Air Rifle Silhouette Equipment List

Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2018 8:24 am
by ShootingStar
Thanks again for all the information I'm getting! Can't have too much info when you are new to it all!

Anyone else want to chime in on what equipement they use in each Category (or what they see others using)?

Thanks again!
ShootingStar - Greg

ps - I did see in the rule book, that .22 is the largest pellet that's allowed (and that we could make the chicken thicker to prevent damage).
So, what thickness do folks change to (if they have to)? 3/16" or thicker?

Re: Air Rifle Silhouette Equipment List

Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2018 9:00 am
by acorneau
ShootingStar wrote: Mon Jan 08, 2018 8:24 am Anyone else want to chime in on what equipement they use in each Category (or what they see others using)?
I'm using an Anschutz 2002 SuperAir SSP for Target Rifle and an Air Arms TX200 for Sporter and Open.

I'd love to get a nice dedicated Open rifle with the ergonomics of the Target rifle but the power of the Sporter, but I shoot my TX200 so well it's hard to justify the expense of the rifle and everything else to go with it (air tank, refills, etc.).

Greg, you should come down for the Chicken Coop shoot so you can try out a bunch of air rifles!

Re: Air Rifle Silhouette Equipment List

Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2018 9:19 am
by ShootingStar
acorneau,
I would absolutely LOVE to, but. . .
Work is killing me with new product line introductions and problems with new super-duper equipment - I hardly have time to breathe, much less have ANY type of fun!!!
Plus Match Director stuff here AND trying to start-up Air Rifle Silhouette here - have I gone mad?!?

It is on my list of matches to work into my schedule though! It's a mere 11.25 hours of windshield time from my house, but only 5.5 hours from my parent's house. So, I might schedule a work visit to my parents then head up to the match one year! They are in bad shape so I can't wait too long. I already go there at least 2x per year now and need to go more, just can't seem to work everything in!

I've looked at all the pictures MANY times dreaming about going!
One of these days. . . just not THIS year!

ShootingStar

Re: Air Rifle Silhouette Equipment List

Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2018 11:27 am
by Doodaddy
ShootingStar wrote: Mon Jan 08, 2018 9:19 am acorneau,
I would absolutely LOVE to, but. . .
Work is killing me with new product line introductions and problems with new super-duper equipment - I hardly have time to breathe, much less have ANY type of fun!!!
Plus Match Director stuff here AND trying to start-up Air Rifle Silhouette here - have I gone mad?!?

It is on my list of matches to work into my schedule though! It's a mere 11.25 hours of windshield time from my house, but only 5.5 hours from my parent's house. So, I might schedule a work visit to my parents then head up to the match one year! They are in bad shape so I can't wait too long. I already go there at least 2x per year now and need to go more, just can't seem to work everything in!

I've looked at all the pictures MANY times dreaming about going!
One of these days. . . just not THIS year!

ShootingStar
Bring the discarded Christmas tree from the Biltmore Dining Hall on your way down. I think it would look good at the range. Image

Re: Air Rifle Silhouette Equipment List

Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2018 5:45 am
by ShootingStar
[/quote]
Bring the discarded Christmas tree from the Biltmore Dining Hall on your way down. I think it would look good at the range. Image
[/quote]

That's funny Doodaddy! I'd have to fold it up to "fit" on my Chevy Silverado, then we'd have to lay it down from the firing line all the way to the targets!

Re: Air Rifle Silhouette Equipment List

Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2018 7:11 am
by Doodaddy
ShootingStar wrote: Tue Jan 09, 2018 5:45 am
Bring the discarded Christmas tree from the Biltmore Dining Hall on your way down. I think it would look good at the range. Image
That's funny Doodaddy! I'd have to fold it up to "fit" on my Chevy Silverado, then we'd have to lay it down from the firing line all the way to the targets!
That's no exaggeration! It's huge! My wife and I always enjoy our trips to Asheville. We just don't quite have that scenery down here. Image