Smallbore Rifle Silhouette Match @ River Bend Gun Club March 16, 2019.

[frankmako]

This Saturday there will be two Smallbore Rifle Silhouette Matches at the River Bend Gun Club, Marble Hill Geoegia area.  One 40 shot Standard Rifle match and one 40 shot Hunter Rifle match. Match start time is 10 a.m. with practice starting around 9 a.m. The matches will run rain or shine. The firing line is covered. Match will be on Range 13, Rimfire Range. Go to River Bend Gun Club site for range map and more information. 

The Smallbore Silhouette matches at River Bend Gun Club are open to all competitors so you do not need to be a club member to attend the matches. All shooters are required to sign a match release. All junior competitors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who must sign a youth release.

There are several types of rifles that can be used for smallbore rifle silhouette but generally they are hunting type rifles most often with optical sights (scopes) attached. There is no requirement that optical sights be used but due to the relatively small size of the targets, they generally make the sport more enjoyable since they allow the competitor to clearly see the targets. Ammunition is restricted 22 Long Rifle ammunition with no high velocity ammunition allowed. Subsonic ammunition is more accurate than high velocity ammunition, minimizes the possibility of damage to the range equipment and reduces the chance that a ricochet will make it back to the firing line.

Hunting Rifle class can weigh a maximum of 8 1/2 lbs. (including sights) and must have a minimum trigger pull weight of 2 lbs, with a taper barrel and hunting stock. Standard Rifle class can be a maximum weight of 10 lbs. 2 oz. (including sights), any type of barrel/stock, and does not have a minimum trigger pull weight restriction (but it must be a SAFE trigger!). A number of competitors opt to shoot a rifle that meets the more stringent Hunting Rifle class requirements in both the Hunter and Standard matches. Single shot and semi auto rifles can be used.

The course of fire for the Standard Rifle Match and the Hunter Rifle Match is 10 shots at each of the four animals/distances for a total of 40 shots for each match. 

10 chicken targets fired at 40 meters
10 pig targets fired at 60 meters
10 turkey targets fired at 77 meters
10 ram targets fired at 100 meters

The course of fire is subdivided into 5 shot strings (first bank of animals), during which the competitors are allowed a 15 second ready period to load and prepare (change sight settings, etc.) for the first shot followed by 2 ½ minutes to fire five shots. A 30 second break then you will do it all over for your second bank of animals. The line commands are “READY”, “FIRE” and “CEASE FIRE”. You will need 40 rounds of ammo for each match for a total of 80 rounds. But bring more ammo for practice/zero and in case you are in a shoot off. 

There are no sighting shots included in the course of fire. You must know your zeros for the four distances and make adjustments during the match. There will be a sighting/practice period prior to the start of record fire. During this time, competitors are allowed to confirm zeros with an unlimited number of rounds but once the match starts, no sighting shots are allowed.

Smallbore Rifle Silhouette is shot “offhand” standing unsupported on the clock. No bench rests, no slings, no heavy shooting jackets, no laying down, no running, no gunning, no nothing. Just old school shooting. It is you and your rifle/ammo trying to knock the animals off the rail. Get the 22 LR rifle out and come have some fun.

[frankmako]

It looks  like  it  is  going  to  be  a  great  Saturday.  Break  out  the  22lr  rifle and shoot  some  steel.  River  Bend Gun Club  is a two hour  drive  from  Chattanooga.   Not far and a great place to shoot. 

Practice  at 9, match  at 10.  Come  on  out  for  some  low  pressure  shooting.  

[frankmako]

No rain and in the mid 50.  What not to like on match day.