I have tried to shoot several of the Pharr/Pearson rifles that current competitors own and one custom action rifle. None of them fit me as well as my Anschutz 1712 FWT in a black Mcmillan stock. When trying the Pharr/Pearson type rifles I could not even see through the scope because the comb was too high for the shape of my face, the length of my neck and the width of my shoulders. No matter how much cheek pressure I used I could not shoot those rifles. So, I do not have to spend the money on a Pharr/Pearson rifle. It would be nice to have that fully adjustable 5018 or 5022 trigger though. My son is just the opposite: tall, long neck, narrow face, wider shoulders. He can pick up any Pharr RT/S and shoot it as well or better than his current rifle. There is only one rifle on the line that I have ever picked up that I can shoot as well or better than my own and that was a plain-jane wood stocked 1712. For me spending money on a more expensive rifle would not help. The reason the best silhouette shooters use the rifles they are using is because they fit. Potential newbies do not understand the concept of fit.

Bobby R. Huddleston

I agree with the last poster - fit of a rifle is important and something that does not to my knowledge apply to race cars. I cannot readily use somebody else's gun no matter how nice it is. I shoot left handed and I have big hands and a long neck and I like my comb as high as it can be and meet the rules (and allow a cleaning rod through). I don't want to have to make another stock for a new rifle no matter how much money you give me.

Another factor I did not notice mentioned is ammo. I have also spent a fair amount of admittedly pleasurable time figuring out what ammo my gun likes. I would not want to start over on that front either.

All the tuning stuff - getting the trigger to feel "right", getting the magazines to all feed correctly, getting the right kind of sling loops on the gun, getting the length of pull (at least) right would be lost if I had a gun claimed. I would not like facing the challenge of having to do this before the next months shoot. It isn't a monetary issue, it is my time on a forced schedule.

I will admit, however, that it is a somewhat interesting twist on the "box stock" kind of category. If you are really shooting a gun that is completely unmodified, you could, except for ammo preference, just go buy another.

Rimfire rifles are not consumables like race engines, however. It's easy to get attached and have a strong preference that money does not solve.

Jim

Kittys absolutly right. I had the pleasure of watching Dave and Jarred shoot at the Conrad Cup. Day 2 when Jarred's rifle wasnt working and Dave let him borrow his I personnally found it amazing that Jarred could still shoot as good as he did. I guess it does prove(to me at least) that it is NOT the rifle but the SHOOTER. What I learned from that weekend is now matter how much money I spend on a gun it all comes down to the body thats holding it. Does that mean I'm going to shoot my Kimber and be happy? Yes for now but like all competitors I want the best thats availble for me to buy. I think that for me its a mental game with myself, when I miss an animal I kind of think "If I had a Annie I wouldn't have missed" but I know thats false. I need to practice more. I know I could get the same scores with my Kimber if i just practiced more but those Pharr/Annie rifles are just so damm cool.

shakes wrote:I need to practice more. I know I could get the same scores with my Kimber if i just practiced more but those Pharr/Annie rifles are just so damm cool.

I have seen Pharr/Kimber Rifles too and they also look cool . I should know I just got mine back from Evelio

I love Chicken's reply. Have 4 guns, one for each animal, set up by the owner and have people rotate thru. I'md love watching all you rightys trying to shoot my lefty stuff........

The downside to having an Anschutz is that everyone knows why you missed. Practice, pay attention, and find someone willing to coach & encourage! Good equipment helps, sure, but it's no substitute for the others.