Handgun Metallic Silhouette
Discipline Chairman:
HAZEL BOZIC
Handgun
Metallic Silhouette Rimfire Grading Card
Handgun Metallic Silhouette
Centrefire Grading Card
Handgun
Metallic Silhouette Air & Field Pistol Grading Card
Handgun Metallic Silhouette competition is a unique shooting
sport in a number of ways. Targets are life-sized steel
silhouettes of chickens,
pigs, turkeys and rams. To score a hit, the targets, which are set at varying
distances down
the range, must be knocked from the stands they sit on.
Considering that the ram target in the Centrefire Big Bore
competition weighs
in at 23 kilograms and is set at a distance of 200 metres from the firing line,
powerful handguns
are required to achieve the accuracy and terminal energy
needed to effectively score. Competition rules used include
the NRA Pistil Silhouette Rules and the
International
Handgun Metallic Silhouette Association Official Rules.
Competitors are graded by ability and only compete against
others of the same ability. Queensland Championship
events are
conducted annually on a rotational basis.
There are several categories in each match separated according to the type of handgun used. They are as follows:
-
Revolver category: only revolvers as produced by the manufacturer may be used.
-
Production category: any semi-automatic, revolver or single-shot handgun weighing not more than than
1.8kg and with a barrel length not exceeding 266mm may be used. -
Standing category: any handgun from the previous two categories may be used but the competitor must
adopt a standing position only. -
Unlimited category: any handgun weighing not more than 2.04kg and with a barrel length not exceeding
355mm may be used. Telescopic sights may be used.
There are four official Queensland Handgun Metallic Silhouette sections:
-
Rimfire .22: In this competition targets are set at 25, 50, 75 and 100 metres and the .22 Long Rifle
cartridge is the only calibre permitted. There is a Revolver category, Production, Standing and
Unlimited sections as outlined above. -
Rimfire .22 50m Iron Sights: In this competition targets are set at 20, 30, 40 and 50 metres and
competitors must use the Standing position only. -
Field Pistol: In this competition, targets slightly larger than those used in the .22 match are set at the same
distances as the .22 targets but, due to their increased size and weight, heavier calibre centrefire handguns
need to be used to achieve knockdown. Standing is the only shooting position allowed in this competition
to participate in the two events contested - Production category and the Any Sight category. -
Big Bore: In this competition, full-sized targets are used. Chickens are set at 50 metres, pigs at 100 metres,
turkeys at 150 metres and rams at 200 metres. Powerful centrefire handguns only, are used in this competition.
These include .357 and .44 Magnum revolvers, specialised single-shot pistols chambered in rifle calibres
including a variety of 7mm and .30 calibre wildcat cartridges. As with Rimfire .22 section, there are four possible events which may be contested - Revolver, Production, Standing or Unlimited.
Handgun Metallic Silhouette competition
offers a wide range of categories and skill levels to cater for any
interested
shooter.
The shooting of a handgun over long distances with immediate visual
results makes this sport
both interesting and challenging.
S.S.A.A. (QLD) Inc. Handgun Metallic
Silhouette is run in separately to IHMSA QLD, conducting separate State
Championships
and Postals. It is not necessary for S.S.A.A. Members to join IHMSA, but it is a
recommended
if you have aspirations to compete in their Championships.
Available
from IHMSA Australia as part
of the annual membership pack is a current IHMSA Rule
Book,
patch, grading card
and 3 copies of "Silhouette" newsletter
per year.
(Cost is
$20.00, $10.00 for Family and Pensioners.)
S.S.A.A. (QLD) Inc. now has official
approval from Weapons Branch to allow those Branches already approved
for shooting Handgun Metallic Silhouette to use NRA Pistol Silhouette shooting
Rules without the need to gain
separate approvals for their use.
For any Discipline information, please contact: Hazel Bozic - (07) 4128 0467 or hbozic1@bigpond.net.au