NRA Smallbore Rules? Equipment?

[MeanStreaker]

I'm going to go check out my range's smallbore league and would appreciate some info beforehand.

In winter, they shoot indoors at 50 ft. Are there different classes like some pistol competitions I'm familiar with? Namely, is there a "production" class that you can shoot and still compete without tricked-out $3000 rifles?

If so, what are typical entry-level rifles used for smallbore that can be competitive for a new shooter trying it out?

 

[Soupy44]

There is something called Rimfire Sporter Smallbore that is gaining popularity, but if this is at 50ft, I don't know if they have a course of fore for that. Most indoor smallbore leagues at 50ft are either prone or three position. If it's not sporter, then no, there likely won't be a "production" class in most cases.

At the same time, you don't need a top level gun to get very good experience out of this smallbore league. I personally don't know too much about .22s that don't say Anschutz or Feinwerkbau on them, but a cheaper rifle I know of that can get you started would be a Kimber 82. I've seen them for sale used for as little as $500.

Smallbore rifle shot prone, standing, or kneeling is a great way to really concentrate on your shooting fundamentals. A lot of the things you can get away with in other disciplines you can't in smallbore. Smallbore also teaches you one of the tougher things a coach can teach, taking your time and make sure that every shot downrange really is perfect.

If you can post a bulletin or tell me the course of fire and targets that will be used, I can probably give you a little more information.

 

[TEDDY]

22 rifle

I bought a chinese 22 bolt gun and it is accurate.I was into compitition targe so I have knowledge of quality.I used a mossberg 43B yrs ago and it would keep up with the win 52s.
The gentleman wants to shoot but a KImberly is a little high priced.guess I am to old and living in the past when guns were much cheaper.

 

[WNTFW]

Soupy44,
Sounds like you might have done some .22 shooting.
Regarding this: "A lot of the things you can get away with in other disciplines you can't in smallbore."
Could you elaborate? I am told that follow through is more important in .22lr as the bullet is in the barrel longer. Is this true? Makes sense just looking at muzzle velocities.

I haven't tried any .22 competitions yet other that .22 on bowling pins. The .22 tactical match is gaining popularity also.

I may put on some sort of .22 match locally as there are none. That may be a can of worms for me.

 

[Soupy44]

I've shot smallbore prone and 3P since I could walk through college, and now I help coach my old college team. Heck, my mom shot smallbore matches when she was pregnant with me, so I guess I was born for it.

I've always been wary of saying the lock time is significantly shorter than high power, but it is true that you have to have a better follow through in smallbore. Also, in standing, you can't wave the gun through the bull you want to shoot and pull the trigger in the middle and do well that way. At 50ft, our ten ring is .05mm in diameter, and at 50 yards, it's roughly a centimeter in diameter. I shoot air rifle as well which is yet another step beyond smallbore, but I won't get into that.

Lastly, I've always said it's easy to teach someone to shoot faster, it's slower that's the challenge in coaching. I shot a match on Saturday that was 20 shots prone, standing, and kneeling. Our time limits for those plus sighters was 30min, 50min, and 40min respectively. I took 15min, 35min, and 37min, respectively. Once you learn to slow down and really make each shot perfect, it makes all other shooting you do better as well.

What area of the country are you in? I may be able to point you in the direction of some local smallbore matches like what I shoot. Yes, I'm one of those people with a high dollar Anschutz and $1000 sights, but that's the level I compete at. Like all shooters, smallbore folks will bend over backwards to help you get started. Just gotta find you some smallbore folks.

 

[Howard Roark]

I'll second what Soupy said.

Follow through in SB is critical because of barrel time. The bullet is soo much slower in the rimfires. One wouldn't think that would make much differance but it does.

I shoot SB prone as a diagnostic tool and practice for high power long range. The feed back you get with SB is outstanding. I know if I broke a good shot if the sights move through recoil and come right back down on target and I could shoot another x. If the shot felt off and the sight comes back on target off center I know the bullet hole will be where the sights settle.

I'm in Columbus Ga.

 

[WNTFW]

I'm on the outskirts of New Orleans. I am just finding out about the smallbore stuff here. Every event is about an hour away. I am lucky that I am a member at an indoor 50yd range that I can shoot a rifle in (.30-06). I will probably end up sponsoring an event there after I learn what is involved in putting on a match.

I shoot a Marlin 60 and a Beretta Neos. I have a Sheridan air rifle that I still shoot. None are high end guns. I do really enjoy them and shoot OK with them.

I have found in general the biggest hurdle in getting to a match for a beginner is the info on what is involved.
Things like:
How much $ to enter, round count, Range location, time to get there & how long it last. I have no problem running what I have as long as it fits the rules. Some guys won't go if they don't have the right equipment.

1 guy sends the email saying: "We are having our regular match this weekend" He does put a lot of effort out on all points of running a match, so I can understand that.

You guys are right. I have met the best group of people at matches. There is something about holding yourself to a higher standard that is present in the way they live there lives & treat other people.

Thanks for the info.
WNTFW

 

[Howard Roark]

Here are some links:

The NRA page on getting started.

The NRA SB rules.

Rimfire Central is a good place to find out about many types of competitions.

The CMP Rimfire Sporter matches are something you might like. These matches are hard to find however.

Don't worry about competing against the fancy rifles. If you shoot NRA you will get a classification card and will shoot in that class. I've seen guys out there shooting their falling block cowboy looking rifles and having as much fun as I am. Never shoot aginst anyone other than yourself and the last score you shot.

 

[WNTFW]

Thanks for the links.
The CMP Guide looks like a really good read even for a casual .22 shooter. It definitely give you an idea of what you will encounter in a match.

 

[pccraig]

"Never shoot against anyone other than yourself and the last score you shot. "

Howard's statement is probably the most sound advice I've seen given in a long time. Bravo !!

 

[westerngrizzly]

I have been shooting smallbore for 2 years now. Before that I shot NRA Highpower. So I have expierence in both.

I love smallbore!! It really teaches you the fundamentals.

In highpower, you can get away with so much more than you can in smallbore. If your position is not identical between shots your groups will open up. If your trigger control isn't perfect your groups will open. And don't even get me started on NPA!!

When I started I had a kimber 82 gov. But the club I went to would have none of that! The next week I was shooting a older Anschutz model 54 in a big blue Neal Johnson stock. I now have my own rifle, and all the gear: pants, boots, sweater, jacket, gloves, sling, scope, scope, stand, offhand stand...

If you really want to get serious you will have to get some or all of the equipment. If you just want to dabble in NRA Smallbore to hone your skills, you could get a used rifle and the minimum amount of equipment.

Also do you want to shoot prone, 3p, both?
Matt

If you care, my rifle is as follows
Anschutz 2013 500mm barrel
MEC stock
TEC HRO buttplates
TEC HRO palm shelf
Anschutz 7020 sight set
Anschutz spirit level
Centra Competition Iris
MEC handstop
Uptagrafft tuner tube

 

[d2wing]

What is the minmum Rifle to bring to a match to see if you want to try it? CZ sporter ok, I have a few rifles and would be interested in trying it. I already have 2 CZ's, a 146B
Mossberg and a modified Ruger. Any of those ok to start?

 

[Slamfire]

If you want to shoot NRA Small Bore Prone you will need a rifle that is easy to load single shot.

I have allowed people to shoot magazine fed rifles as long as they broke position between each shot, that is took the rifle from the shoulder.

One of the great benefits of small bore is learning how to re establish your position, though the most advanced shooters load their single shot rifles without breaking position.

 

[tuj]

Look for a CMP Kimber 82G. Very accurate rifles that the CMP program was selling for around $400 in "rusty" condition (not actually rusty, just covered in storage gunk).

 

[jcwit]

CMP has no more Kimber rifles, rusty or otherwise.

I attended the NRA National Metric SmallBore matches the last two years. All rifles used were High Dollar Anschutz except for 1 or 2 shooters from Great Britain, they had BSA IIRC.

 

[wanderinwalker]

If you're shooting club-level, don't over look something like a Winchester 52 or the Remington 37 (?). If it has a stock inletted with a rail and an adjustable buttplate, you've got a solid starting point.

If you want to shoot NRA Small Bore Prone you will need a rifle that is easy to load single shot.

I have allowed people to shoot magazine fed rifles as long as they broke position between each shot, that is took the rifle from the shoulder.

One of the great benefits of small bore is learning how to re establish your position, though the most advanced shooters load their single shot rifles without breaking position.

To me the Eureka! moment came once I learned to keep the rifle in my shoulder. Now, so long as pit service isn't too slow, I leave my AR there when shooting 600 yards and even when I reload in a prone rapid. It's not even a question when I shoot prone with the Winchester 52 I'm borrowing; it only comes out if I need to adjust something or I've finished the string.

And I've seen the wisdom of "a good smallbore shooter will make a great Highpower shooter"; still working on becoming good at either!

 

[d2wing]

I guess I'm more interested in a more casual stock sporters like of shoot. Not an equipment race. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I'm just not into the commitment.

 

[ford8nr]

Find a local club with either an indoor 50ft shoot or an outdoor Silhouette league. I have found both are very welcoming and can be resonably shoot with a CZ452 Varmint grade rifle ($400). I shoot an older Winchester 52 ($400) against Anschutz's and my shooting IS my limitation, I'm getting to the point of holding my own after a 30 year absence from the sport.