TargetTalk

I'm considering purchasing an air rifle for our club for the silhouette part of the 4-H air rifle contest.

Since the rule change allowing rifles other than sporters in this event, does anybody have a suggestion for good rifle to use for this?

Thanks

A Suggestion:

Since the venue for the 4-H Nationals is moving to Texas for the next 2 years, I'd hold off and see what changes are implemented to the rules yet again.

Normally these are out in late Feb or early March.
If you cannot wait that long, I would begin my searching with pneumatic (hand cocking) field target rifles.

Until they are willing to at least go to NGB rules, I think the rules can (as they have in the past) change year to year.

The most educated guess of where the rules may move to would be to go to the Texas 4-H website and look at their rules
http://shootingsports.tamu.edu/
Of interest is their 30" length (action-barrel) limit

Again .... that's only a guess and all is up in the air until the rules are published, and even then (as they have in the past) they can be changed prior to the event.

I'm sure there are some that will dispute this, but I think the 888/887 and XSV-40's just are not fast enough to buck the wind with domed or wadcutter pellets.

I also think the sporter rifles just don't have what it takes to make sihouette shooting a viable contest.

I also agree that the recnet change in rules makes it difficult to plan ahead for events. I think I'll take your advice and hold off until the "new management" is in office a while and I see which way the wind blows.

Thanks

Last year there were some suggestions such as an 80% event or even making it an indoor event where the 888/887-XSV40's would have a chance.

Unfortunately the PTB don't seem to be the coaches/volunteers who are very familiar with the limits of these rifles. Most are well intentioned administrators that seem to feel uncomfortable in asking for advice from the tip of the spear, some take offense if the tip "prods" them.

I DO understand that the reason for changing the rules away from the NGB rules is to keep it affordable for teams/individuals to shoot a single gun for all three events. What is not really understood is that the sporters are designed & built as 10m guns .... not really much more.

A realization needs to be made:
1) Air Pistol uses different guns for the three events
2) .22 pistol uses different guns for the three events
3) Many .22 rifle users use different guns for the three events (or should)
4) Many shotgunners use different guns for the three events

If the PTB want the air rifle shooters to use the same gun in all 3 events, then the silhouette event rules should be modified so that (factory stock) sporter air rifles are competitive as two out of the three events require these rifles. Otherwise, punt on the "feeley good" mods and go with the NGB.

Some say that these guns are competitive ... maybe, yes, but not across a whole day when some relays have no wind and some are bucking 45mph gusts .... then it becomes a gambling event

My $0.02 anyway .... I can always afford $0.02