Small bore silhouette question

[Super Dave]

Hi,

I shot my first match a couple of weekends ago. It was a fun match open to non club members. It was a blast. I'm hooked.

I'd like to order some targets to practice with but a little confused. The match that I shot in used 3/8 side targets.

Could someone please explain the difference between Small Bore and Small Bore Rifle.

I understand the the Small Bore Rifle use the 1/5 size targets (darn those are small) and the Small Bore use the 3/8 targets. But, I can't figure out more than that. For example, would "Small Bore" be for pistols or something more challenging than a rifle?

Thanks,
Dave

[lone ringer]

Hi,

I shot my first match a couple of weekends ago. It was a fun match open to non club members. It was a blast. I'm hooked.

I'd like to order some targets to practice with but a little confused. The match that I shot in used 3/8 side targets.

Could someone please explain the difference between Small Bore and Small Bore Rifle.

I understand the the Small Bore Rifle use the 1/5 size targets (darn those are small) and the Small Bore use the 3/8 targets. But, I can't figure out more than that. For example, would "Small Bore" be for pistols or something more challenging than a rifle?

Thanks,
Dave

Super Dave, in my opinion there is nothing more challenging than shooting silhouettes with scoped rifles and the only targets we shoot in sanctioned matches with .22 rifles are 1/5 size targets.

The handgun silhouette shooters both NRA and IHMSA use 3/8 and also 1/5 size targets but the first are more common for their iron sight matches and the second for their unlimited class that allows them the use of a scope on their pistols. At one of the local handgun shooting ranges I go to they have all the different size targets and they allow us to shoot them with rifles as long as we do not damage them with our loads. I hope this is not very confusing to you. It took me a while to figure out what targets my pistol shooters friends used for each one of their some twenty different events.

[PhxShooter]

Just to add to the confusion there is also Smallbore Cowboy Lever Action Rifle that uses 1/2 size targets. When someone refers to "Smallbore" or "Smallbore Rifle" it is generally referring to NRA .22 cal scoped rifle events that uses only 1/5 size targets in sanctioned matches. The key there is sanctioned matches. Many clubs allow non sanctioned guns to shoot along with the sanctioned guns so that they don't turn shooters away. Only the sanctioned guns on the appropriate sanctioned targets are reported to the NRA for score. Then of course there the clubs that have fun shoots that allow almost any gun on varying sized targets as long as it's safe and the ammo doesn't damage the targets. I shoot in a match in Phoenix that is labeled as a pistol match but there are 1/5, 3/8, 1/2 and full sized targets all being shot at the same time with pistols as well as lever action rifles using both IHMSA and NRA rules with the appropriate gun/target combo being reported to the appropriate governing body. Everything from a .22 pistol to a 45-70 lever rifle is used at the same time. Some of those pistols used on the long range targets BARK!

On a side note IMHO the smallbore chickens should be called butterflies rather than chickens!

Oh yeah, of course there is also smallbore that has nothing to do with silhouette. They just shoot at paper.

[Super Dave]

Wow, that's amazing. Those 1/5 sized targets are so small I don't think I would be able to hit many of them. I guess it takes lots of practice and good form.

Now I see why you need such powerful scopes.

Thanks for the info.

Dave

[Super Dave]

I would like to have some steel targets made for my back yard pelet trap that is set at 25 yards.

Does anyone have any tips on that. Should I just take the Air Rifle (1/10) scale targets and scale them for 25 yards.

Maybe my math is screwd up...but when I run the numbers it seems like the 1/10 targets run a little larger than the 3/8 targets when scaled for a set distance of 25 yards. In other words, it seems like the AR competitions would be easier to do well in than the Small Bore Rifle.

Does anyone know where I can get paper targets scaled for 25 yards?

Thanks,
Dave

[Super Dave]

Ahh, nevermind on the above question. I'm glad all of you are asleep...

I didn't realize the airgun numbers I was running were for air pistol.

Newbie in a state of confusion...

Thanks,
Dave

[durant7]

As a rule, if you want to get true feedback on your practice, paper is king. Below is a link for 1/5 printable targets.

http://www.curragh.com/silhouette/targe ... _rifle.pdf
and air
http://www.curragh.com/silhouette/targets/airgun.pdf

For the visual of full, 1/2 and 1/5th below is a link. I did not have the old 3/8 which due to the lack of interests in the pistol sport, had kinda dried up.

http://durant7.blogspot.com/2012/06/pic ... words.html

Welcome to the game.....where ever you are.

[Boyd L.]

I would like to have some steel targets made for my back yard pelet trap that is set at 25 yards.

Does anyone have any tips on that. Should I just take the Air Rifle (1/10) scale targets and scale them for 25 yards.

Maybe my math is screwd up...but when I run the numbers it seems like the 1/10 targets run a little larger than the 3/8 targets when scaled for a set distance of 25 yards. In other words, it seems like the AR competitions would be easier to do well in than the Small Bore Rifle.

Does anyone know where I can get paper targets scaled for 25 yards?

Thanks,
Dave

Make this simple for yourself:
http://sport.birchwoodcasey.com/Targets ... c5035bcdd7

These are roughly scaled for 25 yards, according to my measurements and math. FWIW, I use an air rifle 10 meter target for dry fire practice.
Good luck and welcome to the sport.

[dustinflint]

Super Dave,

Here is a paper target with all of the animals scaled to 25 yards.

Dustin

[Jerry G]

Targets that fall over are so much more fun but............... the paper targets tell the truth about where you hit and miss. Don't practice, train.

[Super Dave]

Those targets are so small I don't see how you guys guy hit them consistently.

That's pretty impressive.

Dave

[boats]

Here is a quick re-cap

Full size targets High Power BPCS and CLA Rifle Every thing is based on the full size target
1/2 size targets CLA Rimfire and Pistol Caliber Lever Action Rifle
3/8 targets very few people use anymore IMSA pistol I think
1/5 targets Rimfire rifle
1/10 targets Air Rifle



Steel falling over is fun in matches, practice you have to keep walking down range to re-set and can't self spot misses. Spotters can be good but most are not real precise. Good spotting partner is hard to find. Swingers kept freshly painted show hits on steel well no telling where misses went.

Best practice is to cut out stencils actual size, Spray paint targets on scrap cardboard. You can change color black to white change the background cardboard color and flip the stencil left of right. Lately I have been cutting small-bore stencils out with 3 holes. Spray 3 move it over use the first hole to index spacing then spray the last 2. That way you have a actual match condition 5 critter paper target that will record hits precisely.

Shoot a group box in most of the hits, your normal group, with a framing square, then connect the corners of the box with a pencil. Your pencil box’s X marks center of impact and can be used to make precise sight adjustments. Groups well centered make for higher scores.

Boats

[Boyd L.]

Those targets are so small I don't see how you guys guy hit them consistently....

I don't. That's the reason I keeptrying.

That's pretty impressive....

Some in our sport truly are impressive. There are indeed some fine shooters in our ranks.

[Super Dave]

Hey, thanks a lot guys.

"So you think your a good shooter?"

My ego said yes but the paper shows that I'm pretty much in the "you suck" classification.

I live in an area with consistent winds. What MPH winds start to cause you to wobble more? Say if you were shooting at 10 meters and the wind was to your back...when does the wind start to cause you to wobble more (5mph, 10mph, 15mph, 20mph etc).

Thanks,
Dave

[Dee]

10+ mph and gusting is usually when I start to see the affects of the wind on my body and rifle as I try to take a shot. 20+ and it gets real interesting just getting the shot off. Plus there is the undeniable reality that between relays and while targets are reset the winds will lay down. Then when FIRE is called they will kick right back up. Never fails.


Dee