I finally found a range that does competitions

[zerobarrier]

I have been looking for awhile and now finally found a range that does competitions every 4th Sunday. I think its more of a fun thing for them to do vs prize money and stuff, just bragging rights. Its $5 per gun. Each match consists of 15rds for a rifle. For center fire 5@100yds, 5@200yds, and 5@300yds, I have a 308 I shoot 1/2moa @500yds and my AR that shoots 1moa at 400yds. As far as I know this is silhouette shooting, I do not not what size or shapes, I am guessing NRA knockdowns.

They also do rimfire. 5@50yds, 5@100yds, and 5@150yds, also silhouette. I have a 22mag and 22lr I am looking forward to using:

My question is, does anyone have any advice for someone going to their first match? I do not know what turn out they usually have. I am planning on using my 308 and one of the 22"s.

They have 3 classes hunter class( under 10 lbs) varmint class ( 10 - 13 lbs) and open class (over 13lbs), my 308 will probably be open class 15lbs. You are allowed to use any type of front rest only, no rear rest. Which is fine, I never use a rear rest just a bipod.

I have a 100yd range in my back yard and I tend to shoot alot, so I will try to be more serious about it this month to shrink my groups down. Any advice or opinions are welcomed.

The range is 20min from my house which is awesome.

 

[twofifty]

Lucky you. The silhouette game is fun and the competitors usually generous with advice.
20 minutes away is a dream!

Bring along a plastic open chamber indicator, they are usually required by match organizers.

Arrive early enough to check your zeroes at whatever yardages the match is shot at. You will pretty well need a target turret in order not to get 'lost' as you move from one animal station to another and the zero distance changes.
Adjust you parallax as you go.

It helps to know what range commands to expect, and how much time is allocated between commands. There is usually 2 minutes to clean up 10 animals, which is plenty of time if you are organized.

Most matches are 40 targets: 10 chickens in 2 banks of 5; 10 pigs in 2 banks; 10 turkeys...; 10 rams... Shoot the bottom row first, left to right, then the top row left to right. You only get 1 shot at each target, and must knock it down to score. You will likely be given a score sheet that you tally up for yourself.

I drilled holes in a small board to hold up the 40 cartridges that I can use in one match. Have a few spares on hand in case you get a dud.

http://Steelchickens.com is a good website for background info.

 

[zerobarrier]

Shoot the bottom row first, left to right, then the top row left to right.

Why? Whats the advantage to doing this?

 

[twofifty]

The rules require that the targets be shot left to right, bottom to top.

The reason for shooting the top row last is that it can happen that a
target shot off the top row will spin or bounce and knock off an unshot target on the bottom row.

The reason for shooting left to right is that this is how the course of fire is shot. Doing so allows the range master to see where people are at in their string. A target shot out of order doesn't count for score.

edit: Another tip is that you will be assigned targets of a certain color, say yellow. So remember to only shoot at the yellow animals, not the ones of another color right next to yours. Hitting another competitor's animal is frowned upon as it disrupts the flow of the match.

 

[zerobarrier]

The rules require that the targets be shot left to right, bottom to top.

The reason for shooting the top row last is that it can happen that a
target shot off the top row will spin or bounce and knock off an unshot target on the bottom row.

Ok that makes sense. Thanks for the tips

 

[jtischauser]

Good luck!

 

[ford8nr]

Our club has two shoots. One is a NRA small bore weekly league. 40 targets, 10 at each 40, 60, 80 and 100m all offhand
The other is a monthly shoot at larger steel sil's, 20 total 5 at each distance. Center fire is 50, 100, 150, 230yds. Rimfire is 25, 50, 75 and 100yds. Both have three options, praire dog which is off a front rest and timed...you run all 20 targets in order with or without a reload. Double dog, run 20 targets closest to furthest, reload and run furthest to closest. Third event is offhand 5 targets at a time. Great fun, my wife and I shot it this weekend. I shot a very fast 19, 19. She shot a slower 17, 18, 20. I was reminded by the event chair that a slow 20 beats a fast 19 I ran my 19's at 30.6 and 36.0 secs and a 36 in double dog in 115 with a major jam. Steel targets are sooo much fun. Especially .22 at longer distances. To run fast you need to know your hold over/unders.

 

[Drail]

Jump on it. Have fun. Meet good people. Learn stuff.