Rifle Silhouette matches are fun, easy and provides shooters an opportunity to compete with others on his/her level to improve shooting skills over time. The thrill of shooting at “reactive steel animals that clang” when hit and watching them fall makes Rifle Silhouette one of the best shooting sports available. So come on out to a local gun club match and join us!
The following information provides the new or inexperienced shooter with an overview of Rifle Silhouette, the rifles and equipment used, the typical courses of fire and how we regulate our competitive matches.
Governing Bodies:
NASSA is laser focused on promoting the Rifle Silhouette disciplines of High Power Rifle, Smallbore Rifle, Air Rifle and Lever Action Rifle. Quite a few of our Rifle Silhouette shooters participate in all four of these rifle disciplines. All our Rifle Silhouette promotional efforts will be conducted in collaboration with the sanctioning bodies of the Silhouette Rifle Association of Canada (SRAC), the National Rifle Association (NRA) and the Federación Mexicana de Tiro y Caza (FEMETI).
The Silhouette Rifle Association of Canada (SRAC) is a member-funded society and governing body for Rifle Silhouette throughout Canada. In this capacity, SRAC promotes the sport of Rifle Silhouette, sponsors the Canadian Nationals, keeps track of competitor stats and competitors’ personal achievements such as Grands Slams and Canadian National Records.
The National Rifle Association is the governing body for much of the shooting sports in the USA, including Rifle Silhouette. The NRA Competition Resolution is “To foster and promote the shooting sports, including the advancement of amateur competitions in marksmanship at the local, state, regional and international levels”
The Federación Mexicana de Tiro y Caza (FEMETI) is the governing body for shooting sports in Mexico. Governance is conducted through the establishment of statues and regulations, modification of such statues and regulations and monitoring compliance within the shooting sports under its domain. This includes the popular sport of Rifle Silhouette. FEMETI works closely with all Mexico State Affiliated Clubs and related organizations.
Rifle Silhouette Disciplines:
Highpower Rifle — This is the grandfather of all Rifle Silhouette disciplines with the first organized Highpower Rifle Silhouette match shot in Mexico City in 1948. There are two rifle classes, “Standard Rifle” and “Hunter Rifle”, as sanctioned by the NRA and the SRAC with the primary difference being the weight of the rifle and trigger pull. Mexico only has “Standard Rifle” class in sanctioned matches by FEMETI.
To read more about Highpower Silhouette Rifles, click on the links below:
Smallbore Rifle — With the popularity of smallbore .22lr hunting rifles, it was inevitable that the Smallbore Rifle Silhouette discipline would follow highpower and eventually become more popular. Similar to the “High Power Rifle Silhouette discipline, there is a “Standard Rifle” and “Hunter Rifle” class sanctioned by the NRA and the SRAC. In Mexico, there is a “Standard Rifle” class as well as a “Sporting Rifle” utilizing open metallic leaf sights and larger targets.
To read more about Smallbore Silhouette Rifles, click on the links below:
Air Rifle – With the development of air rifle technology for 10-Meter ISSF competition in the 1970’s, it was not long before these same target air rifles found their way into Air Rifle Silhouette competitions. Ultimately, three classes of rifles were later sanctioned by the NRA and the SRAC: Target Rifle, Sporter Rifle and Open-Class Rifle. Mexico is currently reviewing new rules and regulations to participate in future North American-Based Air Rifle Championship Matches.
To read more about Silhouette Air Rifles, click on the links below:
Lever Action Rifle – This is the latest Rifle Silhouette discipline to be sanctioned by the NRA and the SRAC. Smallbore, Pistol Cartridge and Rifle Cartridge Lever Action Silhouette are the three classes of lever action rifles currently sanctioned by the NRA and SRAC. The lever action rifle discipline is currently not conducted nor sanctioned by FEMETI in Mexico.
To read more about Lever Action Silhouette Rifles, click on the links below:
Steel Target Sizes & Distances:
Please be patient with us!
We are working on this section as fast as we can.
Course of Fire for Rifle Silhouette Matches:
Silhouette matches in the USA and Canada follow the NRA Silhouette Course of Fire for Highpower, Smallbore, Air Rifle and Lever Action competition as described below:
Highpower Silhouette Rifle Competition – A sanctioned match consists of 40, 60, 80 or 120 rounds fired in the standing position on Full Size Highpower Rifle Silhouette Targets. Firing period includes a 15 second ready (loading) period and 2 1/2 minutes for each 5 shot bank of animals. Below is an example of the minimum 40-shot course of fire:
- Ten Gallina (chicken) targets at 200 meters (or yards).
- Ten Javelina (pig) targets at 300 meters (or yards).
- Ten Guajalote (turkey) targets at 385 meters (or yards).
- Ten Borrego (rams) targets at 500 meters (or yards).
Smallbore Silhouette Rifle Competition – A sanctioned match consists of 40, 60, 80 or 120 rounds fired in the standing position on 1/5th Scale Rifle Silhouette Targets. Firing period includes a 15 second ready (loading) period and 2 1/2 minutes for each 5 shot bank of animals. Below is an example of the minimum 40-shot course of fire:
- Ten Gallina (chicken) targets at 40 meters (or yards).
- Ten Javelina (pig) targets at 60 meters (or yards).
- Ten Guajalote (turkey) targets at 77 meters (or yards).
- Ten Borrego (rams) targets at 100 meters (or yards).
Air Rifle Competition– A sanctioned match consists of 40, 60, 80 or 120 rounds fired in the standing position on 1/10th Scale Rifle Silhouette Targets. Firing period includes a 15 second ready (loading) period and 2 1/2 minutes for each 5 shot bank of animals. Below is an example of the minimum 40-shot course of fire:
- Ten Gallina (chicken) targets at 20 yards.
- Ten Javelina (pig) targets at 30 yards.
- Ten Guajalote (turkey) targets at 36 yards.
- Ten Borrego (rams) targets at 45 yards.
Cowboy Lever Action (Rifle Cartridge) – A sanctioned match consists of 40, 60, 80 or 120 rounds fired in the standing position on Full Size Highpower Rifle Silhouette Targets. Firing period includes a longer 30 second ready (loading) period and a shorter 2 minutes for each 5 shot bank of animals. Below is an example of the minimum 40-shot course of fire:
- Ten Gallina (chicken) targets at 50 meters (or yards).
- Ten Javelina (pig) targets at 100 meters (or yards).
- Ten Guajalote (turkey) targets at 150 meters (or yards).
- Ten Borrego (rams) targets at 200 meters (or yards).
Pistol and Smallbore Cartridge Cowboy Lever Action Rifle – A sanctioned match consists of 40, 60, 80 or 120 rounds fired in the standing position on 1/2 Scale Rifle Silhouette Targets. Firing period includes a longer 30 second ready (loading) period and a shorter 2 minutes for each 5 shot bank of animals. Below is an example of the minimum 40-shot course of fire:
- Ten Gallina (chicken) targets at 40 meters (or yards).
- Ten Javelina (pig) targets at 50 meters (or yards).
- Ten Guajalote (turkey) targets at 75 meters (or yards).
- Ten Borrego (rams) targets at 100 meters (or yards).
Rifle Silhouette Shooter Classifications:
Silhouette matches in the USA and Canada use the NRA Silhouette Classification System for competition as described below. Mexico is a different story with some Mexico State Silhouette Clubs following the NRA Classification System and some following different rules. We will not attempt to outline the rules here for clubs not following the NRA Classification System.
There are 5 different classifications based on the skill level of the shooter. The classes are B, A, AA, AAA and Master Class. B is the lowest ranking class and where many beginners start out. Master is the highest class where the up and coming shooters aspire to obtain. The first time a shooter participates in a Rifle Silhouette match, they compete as an unclassified shooter. The shooter will be classified based on the scores shot in that first match.
The classification system makes for a more level playing field where shooters compete against other shooters of a similar skill level in their same class. AA shooters only compete against other AA shooters and so on. This makes every shooter in a Rifle Silhouette match competitive within their class. Championship matches give awards or prizes for each class as well as an overall match winner award. The beauty of this classification system is that a shooter competes against other shooters of similar skill levels throughout their Rifle Silhouette shooting career and have a chance at winning in their class.
For more information on the NRA Classification System, click on the link below:
High Power Silhouette Rifle
Smallbore Silhouette Rifle
Air Rifle
Cowboy Lever Action Rifle
