They say it can't be done

[Don McDowell]

Sam, as weird as it sounds that match down by Denver is the closest one there is, so in all these years of messing around we've just never made it to one. But as this match was the Charlie Semmer memorial match, and I knew him years ago when shooting muzzleloaders....
Cody Smith has been pestering that we should come try the game as well.
We have shot the 22 bpcr quite a bit, and so we decided to twist off and give this a try.
I do agree a lot with your statement about it. Altho it is better than a gong match in that you don't have some yoyo standing there telling you when to shoot, and with the exception of some of the chickens, a bullet into the ground in front of the target isn't going to give someone a hit they don't deserve, and you don't have to worry about the radio not working and getting cheated out of a hit. No waiting for hours between relays,,, the sillouette game does have a lot going for it.
Had a bad day on Saturday, my sight caddy has decided to become AWOL , so the only aperature I had was the lollipop I like for the creedmoor matches. Not exactly ideal for shooting those animals in low light and heavy overcast conditions. Sunday, Jim, the guy that got stuck shooting with Carol and I found out about my aperature problems and graciously borrowed me one to use for the day, and that helped immensely.
I would like to try the game again, and maybe do so with a scope.

[Nuclearcricket]

Don, it sounds like you did enjoy it and I think it is a fine and fun game to get out and enjoy. That sucks that you lost your sight caddy. Having the right aperture in the front can make a lot of difference. Personaly I like the ones that are supported by 4 wires if you will, as opposed to the ones that stand on a single post like the Lyman aperture's do. I have yet to see someone throw a low shot and still take the animal down. Not saying it can't or don't happen, just that I haven't seen it.
I do think it would be interesting to shoot a match with a scope, if nothing else just to see what its like. Since your an unclassified shooter, go for it.
As to someone standing over you and yelling for you to shoot, I don't think that would set all that well with me. That seems like it would add a lot of unneeded pressure that no shooter needs. I have found that shooting silhouettes one of the most fun and most relaxing competitions I have ever been involved in. Good people, good fun, and an excellent test of your abilities as well as that of your rifle and ammunition. And its kind of funny how you can pick out the "plang" of your target being hit above all the other shooters on the line.
Sam

[Don McDowell]

Sam actually they did class Carol and I in the B class.
I got a certificate for the high B class shooter on Sunday. I think there were 3 or 4 of us.
I shot the 22 sillouette a couple of times with iron, and we have 2 full banks of those targets here. As much as I try I can't get the hang of the turkeys with the irons, but the scope makes them a bunch easier.
There at Watkins the chickens are on stands that are fairly low to the ground at it can and does happen that a low shot will hit them hard enough with rocks and gravel to knock them off, also a low pull that hits the road in front of them will let the bullet skip up and take them down. Sort of like a bank shot on the pool table
The hard part is getting to the point where the timer doesn't intimidate a person. Once you figure out the time management, it's easy to finish the 5 targets with time to spare.
Yes it's a bit hard to be told when to shoot sometimes. It can work out alright if the shooters in front of you can set a good cadence, but if they stop to argue about whether or not the radio worked etc,, it can throw your timing and all completely off.

[Gunlaker]

Those turkeys are definitely tricky to get a consistent sight picture on with apertures. It's much easier with a scope.

I think the time limits are what throws a lot of people off of their game. I've found that I can wipe 2 patches between shots and still have lots of time left. I usually have a minute extra to spare per bank. Sometimes there even is enough time to wait out a condition change.

Chris.

[Nuclearcricket]

On the time limit thing, maybe I have a slight mental edge there as I have shot many different types of competition over the years. IPSC being the one where you shoot directly against a clock and time as well as score counts. After that I went and shot a conventional pistol bulls eye match and even in the rapid fire stage where you have 10 seconds for 5 shots, that just seemed like an eternity. The one and only time where I thought time was a problem in silhouette was when there was very little air moving and I got smoked in as I was on the down wind end of the range and I got to enjoy everyone's smoke. Other than that a minute a shot seems like a lot of time.
Next time you shoot the turkeys with iron sights, center up on the leg and then add a half to one minute of wind towards the head and see if that will help your score out a little.
As far as chickens go, yes I can see that someone can skip a hit in on ocasion depending on the way the range is set up. I for one, have never done well on chickens, and I have never found a range that I really felt comfortable shooting at them on. Personally, I would much rather shoot the rams off hand instead of the chickens. And I think that my score would be just as good if not better. I know it may sound strange or what ever but maybe I am just a tad off, but I just find it easier to hold on the rams than I do to try to hold on them dang chickens. I also know of one shooter that dislikes the chickens so much when he gets his score card, he automatically marks the chickens DNF. Saves his ammo for better things.
Sam

[Nuclearcricket]

Something else to consider, if you are going to be wiping between shots. The one thing that will help the most and speed things up, is to have everything set up and laid out just where you need it to be. This is something you can practice at home. Figure where to lay your rod, where to set your patches and where your ammo will be setting, that way you can just reach for it and go. No looking around trying to find this or that. Something else to consider, and I saw this at the 1000 yard match at Read Range. Set up a catch basket under your muzzle infront of your sticks if you can. This will catch your patches and make clean up after your done a heck of a lot easier and faster. Also you can then pack your stuff on top of your used patches to carry it to and from the firing point. Saves time and trips back and forth. Don't need to be huffing and puffing when it comes time to start shooting.
A final word, shooting those steel critters can get addicting. While its nice to be able to see where you hit on the paper, hear the clang on a gone, its just neat as hell to see them jump around and fall over after you pull the trigger. I think that the greatest shot I have made to date was the day a friend of mine came out to the range to shoot my Sharps, as he was walking up I was shooting off hand at the rams and as he watched I hit one in the ass. I spun it around and took it off of both stands so it would count as a hit but it didn't fall down, just turned to face us.
Sam

[Dave Roelle]

Sillywets are a kKIK !!!!!----------even with layout and planning i find wiping two patches is like being the conductor at a chinese fire drill--------------i get it accomplished but i don't think i have a minute left after 5 sighters and 10 critter shots-----------shooting PP at em is definitely a challenge, just makes it better when you have a good run

Dave