I shot my first silo match this past weekend. Used my Izhmash 7-4 biathlon rifle which doesn't fit any NRA class so I was put into the catch-all Club class. The rifle has aperture sights. My virgin and only round was 24/40. I took some targets out of sequence and actually dropped a few more that the score. The peep sights were great. Biggest hassle I had was figuring the elevation change at distances. I shot the match as a change of pace from straight-up biathlon training/racing which is shot at 50 meters. I used some basic math to change the elevation between distances. I wish I had time to have a few more tries as I had a blast. My kids shot too. My daughter is 7 and son is 5. They shot from a rest and she took the top 5 and he the bottom. Both used a restocked Savage 17YR with Anschutes aperture rear sight and a Lyman 93 front globe. She hit 7/20 and he was perfect missing everything. We all had fun and plan on trying again.

I don't believe the sights are a detriment. My only pig miss, the last one standing, did come on a target with grass behind so it wasn't super contrasty like the other 9. I think I was also excited to potentially drop 10 so I jerked the trigger. As soon as I released the shot I knew it was a miss.

I`m picking up a Toz 78 which has rear sight with distances set at various distances. I might give it a try if I like the sights.

Kevin,
First, welcome to a great family addiction...
You don't say what part of the country you are from but there are a few of us around that have shot iron isghts for a long time. I only went to scope in the last 11 years, it is enough fun for me to be considering going back to irons though, if my eyes will hold up long enough.
THe Biathalon is a great rifle ( I have one and enjoy shooting it) but technically does not meet the NRA rules for depth from the centerline of the bore to the bottom of the stock. Most clubs will let you compete in an open class anyway, their are a number of us that recognize that the NRA does not respond quickly to the group of shooters in the competition arena, thus NRA rules for club matches tend to get ignored in certain areas.
THe kids sound like they are having fun and I can only encourage that strongly, mine is now 17 and is headed for college in the fall but is already trying to figure out his schedule to make some of the bigger matches, he started competing from the bench at 6 with a chipmunk, then to an Annie varmiter, through a 10/22 very breifly on to a Winchester 52 and now is in the process of having 54action built up.
Good luck in sorting out the elevations on the sight settings, and most of all have fun with the kids, when they get their first 5 in a row pin they will delighted.

Innocent Mary

Sorry about the location. I was just approved into the forum and was all geeked up to get posting. We're in Post Mills, VT which is 20 minutes north of White River Junction.

I thought the rules were a bit odd when the stock can't be too deep but you can use a scope capable of seeing the rings of Saturn. Guess I'll have to get another rifle for silo.

Thinking of an Izhmash 7-2. It has the same Vostok straight pull action and will take the iron sights. I shoot lefty so will need to install the LH cross over just like on my 7-4. My wife is all interested in trying the next match so it might mean grabbing two of them. She shoots summer biathlons too so the rifle will get used either way and I can see some familial bragging rights moving in just like the baseball rivalry. I'm a Yankee fan and the rest of the brood wears the Red Sox caps with pride.

We shot this silo match at the Pemigiwasette Valley F&G Club in Holderness, NH. They host a match every month in addition to biathlons in the summer. Great group of shooters there. John, the match director, was great about accommodating the family's needs to have the kids shoot and my oddball rifle.

Anyway, I'm sticking with irons for now. Less cash to spend and the sight picture and alignment is just like biathlon so I can call the matches training events. If you're in southern New England come check out the biathlon races at Pemi and Harvard Sportsman's Club. They have a walking class if you're not into running. The extra HR training will do you good at the Nationals when there is one last target to drop for the top step of the podium or for the last 10 pin to complete the collection.