Handgun silhouette world championship

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  • Hawkeye7br

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    Terre Haute
    Diana & I have made our 3rd trek to Oklahoma City for the International Handgun Metallic Silhouette Association (IHMSA) world championship. She watches the weather forecast constantly to keep me updated, don't know why she does that. They only have 2 weather conditions, hot, and Damn Hot.

    Day 1-- we roll in about 4pm, get our hotel, then head to range. Air pistol is scheduled the next 2 nights in the indoor fieldhouse. I scoped a gun just hours before we left and we went to one of their outdoor ranges to dial it in. Get my scorecard, they again changed from 80 rounds to 40 without prior announcement. They suck at communication. Missed a target that I shouldn't have, went to hotel. Will shoot other air gun tomorrow.
     

    Hawkeye7br

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    Day 2--- starts warm but no wind. I change my game plan to shoot standing event each morning & shoot freestyle events after lunch. Smallbore Standing is a bust. Nervous, not yet comfy with new sights. Back half of targets was only slightly under par, but the first half killed my score. By the time I got my gun checked in, wind started & flags were flying straight out from flagpoles. 50x80 is worst I've done in decades. I suck at this.

    Second gun was Big Bore Unlimited Any Sight. My scoped 6br was dead nuts on. 80 hits from 50-200 meters. Missed the fist preliminary shootoff then hit next 4 for 80+4. Already down to tenth place, and it will only get worse.

    Then I find out they changed the air gun schedule to Sat & Sun instead of Sun & Mon as posted. So my second gun (i won this event 2 years ago) is null. They really suck at communication.

    They do have a fully equipped reloading room for the International shooters, so I went back after supper and loaded heavies for the 6br for the 500 meter match on Saturday.
     

    Hawkeye7br

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    So how's the communication? Seriously, Good Luck!

    Lol! I am not the only one unhappy!

    Day 3-- shot the scoped TC in .22 Unlimited Standing. Another ho-hum result. A 60 puts me maybe top ten by weeks end. Disappointing, I shot a 66x80 in 1993. In all the standing events, the adage is "when you're hot, you're hot, and when you're not, you're not.

    Second gun was my 6br in half-scale. Half-scale means targets are half the height & half the width, and so they are 1/4 the surface area. Ran nicely the first 77 targets, then bad timing with my pulse pushed the bullet an inch over #78. This was a heartbreaker, through 150 meters I was stacking shots on target. 79x80 is good enough for about 15th?

    Delegates meeting that night had enormous discussion on the bull**** red dot trial period. I hope our officers remember later how unpopular this proposal was.
     

    Hawkeye7br

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    Day 4-- heat will start to be oppressive. Temps have been mid to high 90's, looking at 100 in afternoon.

    Morning gun was scoped Anschutz 22. Really like this gun. A little breeze pulled shots a bit left & high at 100y, but I shot groups with the occasional flyer (still on target). Ran the 80, made slight adjustment for the shootoff prelims. Targets were the 25y chickens at 100 yards. Same result as with 6br, slipped first shot over the target. Aimed a bit lower and ran the last 4. 80&4 looks good on scorecard but won't make top ten here.

    Shot Big Bore Unlimited Standing in afternoon. This has been a fave of mine. I just like the concussion of the brake about 20 inches in front of my face. Started great, 39 of first 40! Fell apart on final 26 targets & ended with 64x80. Very disappointing, given the start. Temps crossed the 100 mark. Time for beer....
     

    Hawkeye7br

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    Day 5-- only one gun today. Shooting the Anschutz 22 again, this time in 1/5 scale. Those who shoot our 22 Long Range Rifle match at Riley Conservation Club understand the sizes. Ran the first 40. Missed the first little Turkey at 75 yards, and also the last one. Then lost the first 2 rams at 100yards and I'm about to go into despair. Recovered enough to run the last 18 targets for a 76x80. A ho-hum score for this match, there are probably 6 perfect scores on the board already.

    I had brought a second gun for this event, a re-entry is allowed for funsies but the score doesn't count towards awards. That plan for nixed after a quick glance at Diana, the temp was approaching 105 and she was barely standing. Back to motel, did laundry & cleaned guns, then headed to casino.

    Diana won $123 at casino.
     

    Hawkeye7br

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    Day 6-- did I mention this was a marathon? This is my sixth day, and they shot 3 full days before I arrived Sunday afternoon.

    Shootoffs & Awards
    We stayed in motel until noon, then went to awards. Turns out my sucky score in Big Bore Unlimited Standing was good enough for third place. Other scores were personally satisfying, but no not at placing high at this event.

    After awards, Shot a 500 meter entry. Diana tried to spot my sighters, but gave out halfway thru. New record temp here, 110 degrees with 14 mph quartering wind. 18 percent humidity, I drink but don't sweat.

    Shilen 6br again, this time loaded with 100 grain Hornady's. 9x10 at 200 meters, then clean at 300 meters. Spotter could watch bullet in flight, he got excited and started calling hits with the bullet still in flight.
    Ran First 5 Targets at 385 meters, but wind died for a couple minutes and I didn't correct enough. Went 8x10 at 500 meters, spotter could call the shot and I could watch it fall, that's exciting! Ended with new personal best of 34x40.

    One more gun, tomorrow, to finish out the 500meter event. I know some readers may scoff at these posts, a beach ball size target at 400+ yards is an easy shot with a rifle and a bipod. These guns weigh 5.2 pounds with scope, and no artificial rest is allowed, have to support it on your own, your pulse bounces the crosshairs 8-10 inches at 500meters. This is fun.
     

    Hawkeye7br

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    There is about 70? shooters here, 460 entries. Lots of them are local and only shoot a few of the unlimited events.

    NRA rifle is going on at Raton I think. I saw posting they had 45-50 in each of the high power silhouette guns, and 170 shooters in each of the 3 lever gun categories.

    Today starting out a balmy 78 & slight breeze. Where's my sweater?
     

    Twangbanger

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    There is about 70? shooters here, 460 entries. Lots of them are local and only shoot a few of the unlimited events.

    NRA rifle is going on at Raton I think. I saw posting they had 45-50 in each of the high power silhouette guns, and 170 shooters in each of the 3 lever gun categories.

    Today starting out a balmy 78 & slight breeze. Where's my sweater?

    What was the drama with the "red-dot trial period?" Are red dots useful for shooting at that long of a distance?
     

    Hawkeye7br

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    A proposal passed last year for a one year trial to allow age 60+ to have a red dot optic on their production gun and still shoot in iron sight class. It was sold as a means of keeping people with aging eyesight in the game with their factory guns. Problem is...we already have Practical Hunter category that is defined as factory gun with up to 6x optic. And with a variety of definitions of "red dot" it is a Pandora's box. Trial period is half over, this idea needs to expire.
     

    Hawkeye7br

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    Day 7-- another 500 meter entry, this time with the 6.5x47 Lapua and sports a 8x scope. Had a bit of trouble finding the ram sighter target but finally figured it out. Clean at 200, missed the last pig at 300, that one will haunt me. Ran first 5 Turkey's at 385m, but then dropped 3. Rams at 500 meters, ran short on time & missed #4, then cleaned final bank. So a 35x40 and 9 out of 10 at 500m, a new best for me. Pleased overall with this final 2 guns, a fun but strenuous event.
    And finally a nice day, 85 degrees when we left at noon.
     
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    You need to do two things. 1:Go to events like this all the time 2:Get a twitter account and post daily updates.
    These are pretty entertaining to read especially when I sit in my 72 degree house. Good updates!
     

    Twangbanger

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    I forgot to ask: what sort of air pistol does one use for this type of event, and what is the target layout?
     

    Hawkeye7br

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    I forgot to ask: what sort of air pistol does one use for this type of event, and what is the target layout?

    My fave is a Russian IZH46 or 46M. Probably now unavailable, and pricey when you find one for sale. Daisy makes an entry model, but trigger is poor. Crosman makes a CO2 model that people like. Then there are the high dollar Steyr, Feinwerkbrau, Morini, etc.

    Targets are 1/10 scale. Chickens at 10 yards, pigs at 12.5y, turkeys at 15, rams at 18 yards. We shoot them in the clubhouse in the winter. We have a set on a reset string, so we don't actually have to go down and set up the little buggers. Chickens are the hardest, about dime size. A lot of fun for the 4H kids, we have them shoot from 3p or 4p for a match with their rifles. Great indoor match during adverse weather.
     

    Hawkeye7br

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    An amended post... just got the semi-official results and the 2 guns I shot in the 500m match scored 4th & 5th overall, so that was my little sliver of silver lining in the wake of some ho-hum performances. If I figured it right, the 6br had about 102 inches of drop at 500m (over 8 feet) and the 6.5x47 dropped 132 inches, or 11 feet.
     
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