A couple of questions:

1) By the time I get to the 50th round or so, my left shoulder starts to make itself felt in a big way, and it's really distracting. Can anyone recommend a decent exercise to build up endurance?

2) I've found a hold I like but my hand touches the front of the trigger guard. I just received my copy of the NRA Rile Silhouette Rules, and I didn't see anything about how the shooter is allowed to hold the rifle with respect to hand position with the exception of rule 5.8 stating thusly:

"...all parts of one hand must be forward of the pistol grip."

During my practice sessions (while trying to find a decent hold), I've avoided using the magazine for support because I seem to remember seeing somewhere that you're not allowed to touch the magazine (or it might have been "use the magazine for support"). If it's a NRA-sanctioned match, that doesn't appear to be the case, but I intend to keep avoiding the magazine anyway.

3) Are there any pictures available on the net that illustrate common hold techniques? I've seen one site that describes the entire offhand position, but it doesn't show any pics of the hold.

Side note - At the range, I'm almost always the only one shooting offhand, and I'm usually the only one there with a .22 rifle. I kinda feel like a freak.

One of the members of our club, the Hassayampa Rod and Gun Club, Jerry Webster, has put together a great site on SB silhouette shooting, full of excellent information on rules, holds, scope info, etc.

The main page is http://members.cox.net/riflesilhouette/index.html,

and there are multiple examples of technique on this page:
http://members.cox.net/riflesilhouette/Techniques2.htm.


Thanks Jerry, I think it was surfing the net and looking through your site that got me hooked!!

Side note - At the range, I'm almost always the only one shooting offhand, and I'm usually the only one there with a .22 rifle. I kinda feel like a freak.

Yeah! The "freak" who can shoot the flies off a cow's a$$ from 100 yards away!
If that's what it means to be a "freak" then sign me up! ;)

As to the exercise, I can't think of much besides light weight lifting and range of motion exercises you'd find in any YMCA exercise class, etc. I'm assuming you don't have bursitis, arthritis or any other kind of inflammatory problems. Right?

Barring any problems like that, you could try some light calisthenics before shooting.
(Just go find a spot where nobody's around. THAT might land you back in "freak" territory! ;) )

Worker 11811 wrote:

Side note - At the range, I'm almost always the only one shooting offhand, and I'm usually the only one there with a .22 rifle. I kinda feel like a freak.

Yeah! The "freak" who can shoot the flies off a cow's a$$ from 100 yards away! If that's what it means to be a "freak" then sign me up! ;)

Ditto, but they all just tend to stare and whisper among themselves.

As to the exercise, I can't think of much besides light weight lifting and range of motion exercises you'd find in any YMCA exercise class, etc. I'm assuming you don't have bursitis, arthritis or any other kind of inflammatory problems. Right?

I'm 51, but I don't have any of that stuff yet (that I know of).

Barring any problems like that, you could try some light calisthenics before shooting.
(Just go find a spot where nobody's around. THAT might land you back in "freak" territory! ;) )

Competitor #1: "What's that guy doing?"

Competitor #2: "I dunno - looks like jumping jacks..."

Competitor #1: "What a freak."

Competitor #2: "No kiddin'. I hope he's not shooting next to *me*..."

Done properly, you could use it for "psych-out" value. ;)

Worker 11811 wrote:Done properly, you could use it for "psych-out" value. ;)

That's what one-arm pull-ups are for.

jsimmons
I'm with Worker 11811 on this. Consider yourself among the shooting elite
- that you shoot offhand in a very demanding sport.
I love winning turkey shoots with the ability that I've developed from
years of silo shooting and practice.
David Tubb and many 3p shooters believe their matches are all won from superior offhand scores. Keep doing it!!
As for exercises for the shoulders, general calisthenics are great and
throw in some lateral raises with light weight for the side shoulder muscles and some bent over lateral raises to stress the rear deltoids
or shoulder muscles.As you raise the arm laterally elbows slightly bent,
rotate your arm as if you are pouring a teapot. Do repetitions rather than
more weight - remember you're going for stamina not muscle mass !!
The best with your shooting!

Thanks for the exercise input as well guys, I just turned forty and I have noticed I may have to start doing some of that. The strength and stamina that I've always taken for granted just isn't there like it used to be.....

Offhand shooting is tough and I know from my little time shooting NRA HP that matches were lost in prone, but won in offhand!

jsimmons, send me a PM with your Email address and I will send you pictures my son took of me using different holds.

I turned 57 last week and still manage to turn in respectable scores now and then. Today I shot 33X40 HP and 34X40 - 37X40 in SB

Lone Ringer,
A belated happy birthday to you sir. Soon you'll be able to compete in the senior catagory....

Mary

Thank you very much Mary, looking forward to compete as a Senior is one of the things that keeps me going in the sport. I started shooting NRA approved silhouette matches in 1978 and have not looked back.

Tony,
Got you beat by a year on starting in silhouette, (1977) but I will say that I'm not middle aged yet so I've got a ways to go to hit that senior category, but I do look forward to it.

mary

Innocent wrote:Tony,
Got you beat by a year on starting in silhouette, (1977) but I will say that I'm not middle aged yet so I've got a ways to go to hit that senior category, but I do look forward to it.

mary

She's just a youngster compared to us..... Unfortunately I didn't start shooting this sport till about 2000, when I was to old to see them anymore or hold the rifle steady

My first match was in 2001, boy am I behind the power curve or what?

OK, back to the original question. I finally got around and found what I was looking for after I saw your original question. I wanted to get the title correct. An excellent book to read is "Ways of the Rifle" by Reinkemeier ( Starting on Page 63 - Standing Shooting). It can be found at several sources here are a few Champion Shooters Supply http://www.championshooters.com/books.htm,
Neals, (Scroll down) http://www.nealjguns.com/ss_store/BooksandVideos.html and one more Champions Choice http://www.champchoice.com/shop.php?pline=BOOKS