The nineteen (19) separate disciplines of Silhouette Pistol are placed in four major categories of Hunter's Pistol, Air Pistol, Smallbore Pistol and Long Range Pistol.
The Hunter's Pistol category consists of four unique disciplines. They are Smallbore Hunter's Pistol Any Sight, Smallbore Hunter's Pistol Open Sight, Hunter's Pistol Any Sight and Hunter's Pistol Open Sight. All of these disciplines are shot in the offhand (standing) position. The any-sight categories are typically fitted with a scope. The Open Sight categories also allow a peep sight. The Smallbore Hunter's Pistol disciplines are typically shot with the .22 long rifle cartridge. The Hunter's Pistol cartridges are primarily limited to straight walled cases. The targets are ½ size metallic silhouettes of chickens, pigs, turkeys, and rams placed at 40, 50, 75 and 100 yards or meters respectively. To envision the size of a half-size target, I would estimate that the effective area of the closest target, the chicken, to be that of a medium size apple.
The Air Pistol category contains two disciplines shot indoors, Air Pistol Any Sight and Air Pistol Open Sight; and the same two disciplines shot outdoors. The type of air pistols used range from single pump pneumatic to Spring Air, Compressed CO2, or Compressed Air. The target size is the smallest of all Silhouette Pistol, 1/10 size, placed at 10, 12.5, 15 and 18 yards. It may seem as if you are standing on top of the target, until one realizes that the effective area of the chicken, again the closest target, is that of a common postage stamp. The Air Pistol disciplines are unique in that one could construct a range in a medium to large backyard. The pellets range in size from .177 to .22 caliber.
The Smallbore category consists of five disciplines. They are: Smallbore Standing, Smallbore Unlimited Standing, Smallbore Conventional, Smallbore Conventional Revolver, and Smallbore Unlimited. These discipline names represent unique rules that dictate the types of pistols as well as the shooting positions that are allowed. Typically only the .22 long rifle cartridge is used. The target size is reduced to 3/8 size, except for the ½ size chicken, and they are placed at the same distances as used for Hunter's Pistol. The two standing disciplines must be shot in the offhand position only. The remaining disciplines are shot in the freestyle position. The position typically used is the Creedmoor.
The final category, Long Range Silhouette Pistol, consists of six separate disciplines. They are: Conventional Standing, Unlimited Standing, Conventional, Conventional Revolver, Unlimited Freestyle (Full Size), and Unlimited Freestyle (Half Size). Calibers range all over the place, including many wildcats, cartridges here to fore thought of as rifle cartridges and many that have been developed specifically for Silhouette Pistol. The target size is full size and the targets are placed at 50, 100, 150 and 200 meters. To help envision the full size target, the dimension, belly to back, on the 200-meter ram is approximately 11 ½ inches. The exception is the discipline of Unlimited Freestyle (half size), which uses the ½ size targets described above.
All competitors establish a starting classification based on the first score shot and then advance upward at their own rate of progress. The classification system allows an individual to compete with others who are in the same stage of development, without concern that he/she might not be able to keep up with those that routinely clean the bank of targets.
Rifle Silhouette
Siluetas Metalicas, in which steel silhouettes shaped like game animals and birds are used as targets, was introduced into the southwestern United States from Mexico in the 1960’s. The sport came into being in Mexico during the 1950’s, evolving from the old "shootin’ match” of pioneer times. Originally fired only with the High Power Rifle in this country, the sport evolved from its relatively simple beginning in Mexico to the use of smallbore rifles as well. Today the Spanish-derived name "Siluetas Metalicas” applies only to the High Power game, with the more familiar French-derived "Silhouette” used as a generic term which takes in all shooting using targets of metal and shaped like game animals.
Our Mexican neighbors worked out a set of regulations for conducting Siluetas Metalicas competition in order to achieve uniformity of conditions in their various range locations. The size of the silhouettes, types and sizes of stands, range distances, shooting equipment allowed, and match operation procedures were all spelled out before the first United States shooter fired in one of the matches.
When the Siluetas game was brought across the border into Arizona, the Mexican rules were adopted with very few changes. Probably the most significant change was to add horns to the sheep target to give it the appearance of a Rocky Mountain sheep rather than a domestic sheep
In the meantime, Smallbore Rifle Silhouette lagged behind. Several clubs tried to work up targets and distances, but somehow none of them really caught on as had been expected. There was a problem in determining what kind of smallbore rifle should be used. The Mexican version did not have the appeal of their high power game and was never popular, probably because it used only one kind of target at a single distance. Gathering information from several sources, the NRA Silhouette Committee worked out a version which is basically a miniature version of the High Power game fired at one-fifth scale targets and one-fifth the distances of High Power. This provides a very similar challenge to High Power. High Power chickens are shot at 200 meters, pigs at 300 meters, turkeys at 385 meters, and rams at 500 meters. Silhouette Air Gun competitions are fired on one-tenth scale targets, at one-tenth distances.
Other Silhouette Rifle disciplines are Black Powder Cartridge Rifle, which is described as a hunting or military style rifle, single shot, originally made for black powder cartridges, of United States manufacture prior to 1896 and being typical of the era.
Recently becoming very popular is Cowboy Rifle Silhouette. There are three "Cowboy” categories of firearms: Cowboy Lever Action Silhouette (High Power Long Range), Smallbore Cowboy Rifle Silhouette, and Pistol Cartridge Cowboy Lever Action Silhouette.
Muzzleloader Rifle Silhouette is sanctioned by CRPA for State Championship competition.
Regardless of what kind of Silhouette Competition is being fired, the attraction and appeal of the sport is very evident at matches.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
For details regarding the California Rifle and Pistol Association State Championships, Junior Marksmanship Programs or general information relating to the SILHOUETTE SHOOTING DISCIPLINE, please contact:
