BlauBear wrote:Use a very thin one! It doesn't take much.

Okie-dokie.

BlauBear wrote: To answer your question about trigger pull, other shooters probably have a trigger gauge, but until I got one I just used a fish scale that was laying around the garage. It isn't great, but it was close enough to pass tech inspection at matches, and once pull was down to about 2lbs, 2ozs, it was plenty light anyway.

More Questions:

1) Are trigger gauges expensive? All I have is a bathroom scale, and it lies to me all the time.

2) As far as cleaning goes, what kind of stuff should I get? I already got a bore snake (hard to find locally for a .22 rifle, but I eventually did). I've seen cautionary tales regarding metal bore-cleaning devices (and even coated ones). What kind of oils and/or lubes should I get? I kind of ignored the kits because they seem to have a) stuff I didn't need such as brushes for larger calibers, and b) stuff I don't think I want like multi-section rods.

3) Is there a good "how to clean your rifle" guide anywhere on the web?

4) Should I clean the rifle before shooting it the first time? I'll have it apart anyway to install the Brooks trigger stuff.

5) What ammo is reasonably accurate yet is not prone to fouling the action or bore, not to mention reasonably easy on the wallet? I think I can get Federal Auto Match locally, aa well as SuperX and maybe even DynaPoints. I got a 100-round box of CCI Mini-Mags this weekend, and my neighbor gave me a box of Remington Target (Eley Std).


Related Side Note:

I discovered that one of the guys where I work shoots offhand open-site small-bore pistol silhouette. He said he doesn't really know why, but he stopped shooting a year or so ago, and my enthusiasm to start shooting has refreshed his interest to a moderate degree.

There's a CTSA rifle match (big and small-bore) coming up in the first week of October and he suggested that I start competing right away. If all of my stuff is delivered in a timely manner, maybe this weekend I'll throw a couple hundred rounds down range in preparation for completely embarrassing myself a week later.

Regarding the bore-snake....I hear they are great little devices. I've got one and used it just the other day for the first time. Easy...absolutely! Any better than conventional "rod and brush" techniques???.....I don't know.

Regarding trigger gauges....a technique I've heard about is to just hang a weight from a string and attach the string to the trigger. 2 1/2 pound weight lifted means your trigger pull exceeds 2 1/2 pounds. It ain't cool and sexy but it works!!!

Regarding ammo....most of what I've read suggests that these target rifles don't like the magnum/hyper-velocity rounds very much. I'm shooting CCI green tag and Wolf Match Target, both of which seem to do relatively well. Eley is supposed to be another reliable brand.

Caveat/disclaimer: While in no way at all am I new to shooting, I am new to small bore target shooting. So....take my input with that in mind.

][quote="jsimmons"][3) Is there a good "how to clean your rifle" guide anywhere on the web?

I have to laugh at this one

Welcome to the forum jsimmons, it's great to get more and more people involved in the wonderful sport of smallbore silhouette.

Don't be affended by my first comment, they reason i have to laugh is there are more posts about how, when, where, with what to clean with than you can shake a stick at. Grab yourself a cup of coffee and have at it. You'll find many differing opinons on the subject. Myself I use a bore snake and some q-tips with cleaner on them to get rid of the gunk at the bore end and then run the bore snake through, it seems to be working alright. Don't forget to clean the bolt face as well. By the way congrats on your score of 21 for your first match. Matt

shakes wrote:By the way congrats on your score of 21 for your first match. Matt

Ummm, haven't even got a gun yet - that was someone else.

However, I will be reporting back on my first match on Oct 7.

WHOOPS MY BAD that was dee. I'm sure you'll get a 21 your first time out, anyway welcome to the forum. Matt

shakes wrote:WHOOPS MY BAD that was dee. I'm sure you'll get a 21 your first time out, anyway welcome to the forum. Matt

I'm hoping for something between 25 and 30.

Unless you have a good bit of experience with other offhand shooting disciplines, a score of 25-30 (out of 40 possible) would be phenomenal for your first time.

Good luck and have fun.

SteveM.

Jetmugg wrote:Unless you have a good bit of experience with other offhand shooting disciplines, a score of 25-30 (out of 40 possible) would be phenomenal for your first time.

Good luck and have fun.

SteveM.

Yeah I know, but if ya don't shoot for the moon, you'll never hit it.

When I was shooting archery, it took me about two weeks to get my first robin hood, and then I started doing it with all too much regularity - I ruined over two dozen arrows in a month's time. I still have my first one - I'll take a pic tonight and post it on my web site.



A couple of questions about extra magazines:

Would it make more sense to get a few 10-round mags (only available in "polymer"?), or should I stick to the five-round? Seems to me the 10-round would be the wise choice (and man, they're expensive little suckers).

Get the 5 round, we never shoot or load over 5 rounds at a time and the longer 10 round magazine culd be considered a rest if you are placing it on your hand.

That was a 21 on my last match of the year not the first.

Shooting for a 25-30 your first time out huh.. Yeah.. Good luck with that your going to need it. Not to say its not possible as I have no idea of your abilities overall so maybe you will shoot a 35

As Blaubear said a thin washer is best and I have no idea of the exact size I used I just went through my tin of misc washers to find the right size. You should be able to find some at any hardware store.

For the trigger pull, if you have a accurate scale you can weigh up a bunch of big nuts and hang them on a piece of coat hanger which you hook the other end of to the trigger blade. Lift the whole thing straight up and if it doesn't go click you know your at least at that weight and can adjust down if wanted till the weight makes it go off then back it off a touch. Everyone has told me to set it for an ounce or so over 2 lbs just to make sure it passes any variances in testing equipment at different matches.
*MAKE SURE THE RIFLE IS UNLOADED* as always for testing the trigger weight.

As for archery I stopped shooting tight groups and went to 5 spot targets due to destroying arrows. Thats supposed to be the nice thing about archery, reusable ammo but not if your slapping one on top the other.


Make sure you let us know what your score was after your match

Dee

Hey now.. I shot a 30 on my first ever silhouette match, so it's possible. Of course, it was a 60-shot match, not 40, but let's not get caught up in technical details... It was also a long time before I got back up to that first score again, too.

Yeah no need to split hairs eh Jason

I wish our shoots were 80 shot matches since it seems like it take me 20 or so animals to get warmed up so my score would have to go up right ;)

I'm starting to become concerned. I ordered the BKL-257 rings and the Brookes trigger kit, and it seems people are complaining about rather sluggish shipping times for both items (weeks and even months before they receive their orders with no communication from either Brookes or BKL).

The guy I ordered my (Mueller APV) scope from has already given me a UPS tracking number, but all I've seen regarding the rings and the trigger kit are notices that my credit card has been charged.

I'm hope everyone involved have their supply/shipping issues under control - I'd really like to go the range this weekend...

I've gotten 95% of my orders from BKL withing 2 weeks tops, hang in there.

BKL has never sent me any tracking info or item shipped notices the rings always just show up in about 10 days. If they were back ordered I think they would have notified you. Brookes did send me a email thanking me for my purchase and telling me it was shipping out after my paypal payment cleared to him.

All this was in the past 3 months or so. Hang tight I am sure it will show up in time for you to get sighted in to shoot your 30/40

BTW- My rifle shoots the CCI Blazers pretty well. I know now that they shoot around 1250 fps after shooting over a chrony. They are advertized on Midway as 1080 fps rounds. So while they may shoot a little hotter for the money for practice rounds they shoot well for me. Still looking for the right standard velocity round for my rifle. Wish I could find the CCI standards in the paper box at a good price.

Dee