I just read in Shooting sports USA that Silhouette will be changing classifications to match what NRA HP is.High Master,Master,Marksman ,Sharpshooter,etc.No more books,maybe a card.
Maybe this is just an Aprils Fool joke.
If not, its nice to know we don't have a say in what we shoot.
Anybody else catch this.

I missed that. But hmm, I would think at least a little input from the shooters would be nice.

http://www.nrapublications.org/index.ph ... ports-usa/

Page 4, fourth paragraph down. Click on "current issue".

Here's the quote from Dennis Willing, NRA Competitive Shooting Division Director, in the Competitor's Corner.

Silhouette competition will be undergoing a change, moving away from the match books, currently sold for participation, and onto the NRA Classification System. Competitors should not notice any significant changes in that the current classification ratings will be converted to the long standing NRA classifications. Master, AAA, AA, A, B will become High Master, Master, Expert, Sharpshooter, and Marksman respectively. Classification cards will be issued according to data collected in 2013, 2014, and 2015. This change will help maintain consistency with other NRA programs and make for much improved ease of use with the new NRA web site when it's completed.

That's actually good to hear that we won't have to deal with shooters having to purchase classification books and that the new NRA website, that will be functional enough to work with classifications, is coming.

I think this might be what Mordecai was teasing us with.

"Classification cards will be issued based on data collected"
Are we supposed to send in our books? This is my first year shooting silhouette and I am not sure what to do with 2014's book.

hermit5 wrote:I just read in Shooting sports USA that Silhouette will be changing classifications to match what NRA HP is.High Master,Master,Marksman ,Sharpshooter,etc.No more books,maybe a card.
Maybe this is just an Aprils Fool joke.
If not, its nice to know we don't have a say in what we shoot.
Anybody else catch this.

But we DO have a say... This decision was made by the Silhouette committee, who represents the shooters' views and requirements based on the reams of letters they receive from the competitors (not emails nor posts in a public forum).
Some of these folks are fellow competitors.

- Tim

Emietenkorte: I would advise you to take your 2014 book with you this year. It has your classification in it from 2014 that will be used for 2015.
Others: I would bet that this was done above the silhouette committee level and they had nothing to say about it. And they are changing the names of the classifications because the NRA probably could not figure out how to have a second set of names of classifications for silhouette. I would also suggest, especially to new shooters that are moving up in classification, that everyone keep a sheet of the scores they shoot for this year as this new system will definitely be screwed up.

Implementation of the change is obviously above/separate from the Silhouette committees' function. Dennis did feel compelled to credit the committee with making the change, so I believe that is a positive step, regardless of why or whom made the final decision to implement it.


- Tim

I didn't know the current system was broke...................

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Actually, when it comes to comparing skill levels to other disciplines, especially when very experienced competitive shooters come to silhouette and we match directors need some sort of guess on where to classify them initially or who to pair them up with for their first few matches, the current system is fairly broken. I would very much prefer for disciplines to all use the same qualification tiers. The more descriptive names should make it easier for new shooters to understand also. All of the letter designations don't really convey the fact that a new shooter shouldn't expect to compete with the masters and high masters on his/her first few matches.

I think this is a positive direction in all the ones I've shot Light Rifle, HP, International, Bullseye they all use the same system PLUS the sending in of scores, which seems to be a part of this announcement/change and recording in a database, will help with those that do not record all their scores and help with proper classification if the match directors have to send all the scores in now (read that as Sandbagging). And the fact you get a new classification card from the NRA helps as well.

but......you don't realize instead of a book, you will now have individual cards for everything you shoot. CLA, 3 rifles, 3 cards, SB, 2 rifles, 2 cards, air rifle, 3 rifles, 3 cards, oh and if you shoot indoor air rifle, 3 more cards, HP, 2 rifles, 2 cards, black powder...etc, add that to the Long range, F-class, F 0pen, Mid range and long range, 3 P. If you have children, more cards. Along with your NRA card, your range membership card, your state membership card......

Looks like a book to me.......but who am I? No one asked if it needed to be fixed. Oh, and who is going to maintain the database to log all the scores (Mrs. Chen? ) will you be able to look it up? Or only the NRA????

Don't know if it's the gospel yet, but I got an e-mail this am stating that the NRA is going to charge 4.50 per shooter, as stated earlier don't know if it's fact or fiction. Doesn't take Holmes and Watson to figure who is going to soak up that cost if true. Another point it would be nice if the Match Directors were notified prior so they wouldn't be stuck with a bunch of trophies labeled the old class system. IMHO.

hugh wrote:but......you don't realize instead of a book, you will now have individual cards for everything you shoot. CLA, 3 rifles, 3 cards, SB, 2 rifles, 2 cards, air rifle, 3 rifles, 3 cards, oh and if you shoot indoor air rifle, 3 more cards, HP, 2 rifles, 2 cards, black powder...etc, add that to the Long range, F-class, F 0pen, Mid range and long range, 3 P. If you have children, more cards. Along with your NRA card, your range membership card, your state membership card......

Looks like a book to me.......but who am I? No one asked if it needed to be fixed. Oh, and who is going to maintain the database to log all the scores (Mrs. Chen? ) will you be able to look it up? Or only the NRA????

Well no one knows yet, maybe Silhouette will be one card with each listed, I can't believe the NRA would spend money on a half a dozen different cards for one person or increasing their effort. Guess we'll all know when they 'officially' announce it.

Jim Beckley wrote:Don't know if it's the gospel yet, but I got an e-mail this am stating that the NRA is going to charge 4.50 per shooter, as stated earlier don't know if it's fact or fiction. Doesn't take Holmes and Watson to figure who is going to soak up that cost if true. Another point it would be nice if the Match Directors were notified prior so they wouldn't be stuck with a bunch of trophies labeled the old class system. IMHO.

JB your right on the Trophies, but I'm sure they never thought (or cared) about that.

After the first reports on the new CMP range if I was the NRA I'd be worried about Camp Perry attendance as it looks like the CMP has done it right.