Hi All,
New woman SB silhouette shooter as of the beginning of the summer and yep, fully addicted. Live in Cumberland, MD in the summer and Sanibel, FL in the winter.
Thanks for having this awesome site. As a newbie, everything here is interesting. I'm in awe of all the knowledge.
I visited the gun store last week and ended up making an impulse purchase (it just felt so darned good when I pulled it up in the store); maybe should have researched more but... oh well. Got an Anschutz 1710. It's at the gunsmith's presently having the stock shortened, iron sites removed and the scope rings lowered (I was craning my neck to site in). Now I'm wondering if I have too much gun for my smallish self. (I'm 5'4", 115 lbs)
My previous gun was a Marlin 925 and although pleased with it's accuracy, needed a lighter trigger.
When I started, it was suggested, so I started out shooting from the bench with my Marlin and a Bushnell 3-9 scope until I got the hang of the targets and shooting in general.
I started shooting a lot better several weeks ago when I upgraded my scope to a Leupold 6.5-20 x 40 EFR Target and also at the same time, started shooting off hand. I'm still trying to get those animals to stop moving around so much but do manage to hit some. I'm doing some dry firing and sighting in several times a day.
My biggest concern is that the 1710 will be too heavy for me (although it didn't feel like it in the store - but I was experiencing a natural adrenalin high ). Some have suggested a junior rifle would have been a better fit, others say I'll be happy with the 1710. At any rate, I'm anxious to get it back from the gunsmith, have some trigger time, and form my own opinion. Need to ping some animals and win some confidence with it.
Anyone here using a 1710? What changes have you made to it, if any?

hi Chere,
welcome to the fray! you my friend could not have a better rifle for this game, it is the standard benchmark rifle for hunter rifle silhouette. the stock shortining will lighten it a bit, make sure the 'smith doesnt lighten the trigger more lower than 2# and you have a great gun for both games, the 1710/12 are legal for standard rifle as well.

kudos on the scope too, it is perfect. most folks like a dot cross hairs but regular cross hairs are fine too, and the dot can always be added fir a reasonable cost.
seems like you are well on the road to a life time of the best shooting sport out there!

find an ammo it likes, and the rest is all you.

glad to have you
dave

Thank you for that most encouraging post, Dave. You have no idea how much better I feel; having flown by the seat of my pants on that purchase, I no longer have buyer's remorse.
Chere

Chere... Welcome aboard and congratulations on you new rifle and scope . You have chosen one of the best and it will serve you well.

Thanks very much Bob

silhouette13 wrote:hi Chere,
welcome to the fray! you my friend could not have a better rifle for this game, it is the standard benchmark rifle for hunter rifle silhouette. the stock shortining will lighten it a bit, make sure the 'smith doesnt lighten the trigger more lower than 2# and you have a great gun for both games, the 1710/12 are legal for standard rifle as well.

kudos on the scope too, it is perfect. most folks like a dot cross hairs but regular cross hairs are fine too, and the dot can always be added fir a reasonable cost.
seems like you are well on the road to a life time of the best shooting sport out there!

find an ammo it likes, and the rest is all you.

glad to have you
dave

My scope has a 1 in target dot; kinda wish it was more visible but it seems to get the job done.

Chere wrote:My scope has a 1 in target dot; kinda wish it was more visible but it seems to get the job done.

Chere, You can contact the Leupold custom shop and at the end of your season send it to them and ask for a rectile change to the target cross hairs with the largest dot (.060 I believe). It used to be $50 for the change, but not sure what they get now. I got the Leupold taper cross hairs with my newer scopes and I think the dot on them is a little small as well, but not as bad as the plain target cross hairs and dot.

I don't know much about this game as I'm just now learning about it myself but I do know guns and optics.. you have a very nice set up.. I'd love to have one!!!

Welcome Chere!

There are plenty of ladies that are about your same size shooting full Standard class rifles and they do very well. My opinion is that your choice is a top notch rifle that you will find it just right.

When you get it back from the gunsmith... we like photos.

My daughter has shot a 1710 since she was 13. You'll find that after a while your muscles will get used to the weight. It's supposed to be a bone on bone position so holding the rifle was never the problem, it was put it up, take it down that took the build up. Her gun is in a Pharr stock, with the stock single stage trigger. Over the years I have added weight to the fore end and it is just a tad over 8 lbs. She also went from a Leupold 36x big dot to the Premier 18-40. That added a few ounces. She also shot air rifles which are considerably heavier. Buy a case of decent ammo, Wolf, SK, or Eely and practice. Shoot paper targets and compare your calls to your hits. Good luck and enjoy the ride. It seems the girls are the best shooters, though TPK was soundly defeated in the Team match at Winni...........Of course Cathy won both guns in the individual matches...........

Pat

Thanks everyone... I'm so pumped about my new rifle now; can't wait to get it back from the 'smith and get rolling with it; need to build some strength and stability too. Certainly willing to put in the practice for it.
Just returned from a little practice with my old Marlin. Visited my brother on the way home and he tested the trigger... a whopping 4 1/2 lbs. No wonder I only hit the black half the time with it.
Are there any sites with vids of shooters in action? Visuals are good for me. I hear there's a young girl who is very good; texts in between relays.

that would be Mallory Nichols. AKA Mini Kitty.< almost 4 feet tall> (I'm gonna pay for that) Great shooter, great person. Just a hoot to be around. Don't know about videos on line. Dee may have something.

Bob259 wrote:Chere... Welcome aboard and congratulations on you new rifle and scope . You have chosen one of the best and it will serve you well.

Chere, Bob259 told me the same thing about the custom 1712 I bought from him 2 years ago but I am yet to make master class. I knew I should have had some guarantee of that before shelling out the cash. Buyer beware, you might get a rifle you can never shoot as well as it can be shot even if the seller put the smooze on you

Here is the only video I have up at the moment on my webpage listed below in my signature.

This is Mark Pharr and Theresa Everhart shooting a bank of rams. Still working on getting more video. Also check out Jerry's site riflesilhouette.com which I have linked to from my page as well and even embeded one of his vids on my page since he did a great job explaining things and shooting the video, no desire to re-invent the wheel.

http://www.southernsilhouetteshooters.com/?page_id=344




Dee

Dee wrote:

Bob259 wrote:Chere... Welcome aboard and congratulations on you new rifle and scope . You have chosen one of the best and it will serve you well.

Chere, Bob259 told me the same thing about the custom 1712 I bought from him 2 years ago but I am yet to make master class. I knew I should have had some guarantee of that before shelling out the cash. Buyer beware, you might get a rifle you can never shoot as well as it can be shot even if the seller put the smooze on you
Dee

But look how good you look at the line now Dee

I know I even got a matching red vest and all. I'll have to discuss getting a few style points spotted to me tomorrow by the match director before the Hunter Match Of course he could have spotted me 5 style points today and it wouldn't have helped.

Dee