Any lever action, pump, or semi-auto rimfire rifle with a tubular magazine. Only .22 long rifle ammunition is allowed. Hyper velocity ammunition is prohibited.

Targets: Smallbore Hunter’s Pistol, at distances of 40-50-75-100 meters.

The intent of these rules is to establish a match for common hunting carbines and other lever action rifles. The match is focused toward shooters who enjoy shooting hunting arms and do not want to make the investment required of other specialized types of shooting competitions.

a. Rear sights may be open, receiver, or tang sights, mounted as originally intended. No extended mounts are permitted. The front sights must be a post or bead or if changeable inserts, may use a post or bead insert only. A front sight anti-glare tube, which may be no
longer than 1 1/8” to include any attachments and no larger than a 3/4” outside diameter, may be used.
Fiber optic material may be used in or on the post or bead and may not be longer than its support blade and not to exceed 1 1/8” in length. In an anti-glare tube, the fiber optic material may not be any
longer than the tube or extend outside the tube. The fiber optic sights
do not need to be commercially manufactured.

b. Barrels must be original or may be relined. Original barrels re-bored to a larger caliber are allowed. Any safe trigger is allowed. Stocks must be of original configuration. Recoil pads, replacement buttplates, and removable cheek pieces are allowed.

c. Ammunition may be loaded with smokeless or black powder, using jacketed or cast bullets, with or without gas checks. All bullets must be round or flat nosed suitable for tubular magazine use. Any cartridge causing target damage or deemed unsafe may be banned.

d. Firing period will include a 30 second ready (loading) period, and 2 minutes for 5 shots. Ammunition must be loaded through the tubular magazine. Ammunition may not be loaded directly into the chamber.

e. Binoculars may be used for spotting. Spotting scopes or stands may not be used. Clothing that adds stability to the shooting position is not allowed. Rule 6.9, concerning wind flags will not apply. Personal wind indicating devices are not allowed in the vicinity of the competitors.

f. Classification:
Master ….35-40
AAA ……29-34
AA ………22-28
A …………15-21
B …………0-14

Smallbore (.22 rimfire) silhouette is played in two forms, i.e. Smallbore Rifle and Smallbore Hunting Rifle. In either form, a match consists of 40 targets scored one (1) point each, ten (10) targets at each of four different distances. All competition is done in an “off-hand” or standing position. The competitor scoring the best out of the 40 targets wins. 

Competitors are classified into classes based upon their previous scores. In Smallbore Rifle a score of 0 to 14 is B  class; 15 to 20 is A; 21 to 27 is AA; 28 to 33 is AAA; and Master is 34 to 40. The classifications change slightly for Smallbore Hunting rifle. A score of 0 to 14 falls in B class; 15 to 19 for A; 20 to 25 AA; 26 to 31 AAA; and 32 to 40 for Master class.

A rifle used in Smallbore Rifle class can weigh no more than 10 lbs. 2 oz. with the scope, and may be single shot. The caliber must be .22 rimfire in short, long or long rifle. No “stinger rounds” are permitted. The stock can be no wider than 2 ¼ inches and no deeper than 2 ¼ inches deep measured from the center-line of the bore and must extend at least 8 inches forward of the trigger guard. It may have a cheek piece so long as it does not extend more than ½ inch over the off side and the butt plate must not extend below the stock. Any safe trigger set at any pull will work in this class.

The Smallbore Hunting Rifle class is much simpler. A shooter may use any “box stock” .22 rifle of commercial manufacture weighing no more than 8.5 lbs. with scope. The caliber must be .22 rimfire in short, long or long rifle. No “stinger rounds” are permitted. The trigger pull can be no lighter than 2 lbs., but the rifle may be a single shot configuration or loaded from the magazine. Like open class you may use any scope you wish.

The targets are cut from steel or made of cast iron. They’re replicas of specific plains animals, namely prairie chicken, javelina (pig), turkey, and ram goat. As small bore targets are placed at 1/5 the distance of high power targets, they are 1/5 the size of high power silhouette targets. Chickens are set at 40 meters, javelina at 60 meters, turkeys at 77 meters and rams at 100 meters. The competitor fires ten shots at each target in banks of five (5) targets.

Relays are timed as follows: The first five (5) targets are timed at 2-1/2 minutes. The second five (5) targets are also timed at 2-1/2 minutes. Sighter shots are not permitted. A 15-second “ready” command is given prior to each “fire” command.

Shooting coats and gloves are not permitted. You may have a shotgun style vest that’s loose enough to permit a 4” inch diameter pipe to pass underneath. Coats and gloves can be worn as the weather dictates. No artificial assists of any kind are allowed and every shot must be from the standing position.

Most shooters begin their silhouette experience through small bore silhouette matches. Most shooters have a scoped .22 rimfire rifle in their gun safe. Combine that firearm with some good-quality ammo and you’re ready.

Come on out and give it a try. You won’t be disappointed.