Pistol 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 Any Sight 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 Any Sight.

Pistol 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. Pistol 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.

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.

2012 State Championships - Pistol Metallic Silhouette