Critters Match

[Cowpokey]

From my first ever “NRA Critters” match today. Targets are small, all done standing unsupported; chicks @ 15 yards, pigs @ 20, turkeys @ 30, and rams @ 40. Worst round gets thrown out, averaged 24/40 for the best three rounds. My rimfire addiction was bad before, incurable now. Anchutz 1712AV (model 54), .22lr. Thanks to @GoggledIt for the invite!

Happy with my performance, left plenty of room for improvement.

 

[GoggledIt]

Turkeys and Rams kicked my butt today!

 

[Cowpokey]

Turkeys and Rams kicked my butt today!

The feeding issues from my 10 round mags was quite aggravating. I'm terrible with taking pictures, should have gotten some of you when I was sitting out in the rotation...sorry.

 

[Cowpokey]

I started off with Rams my first string (round)...hit the first two, and let my confidence kick me in the tail. Hehe. It was a challenging match for sure, the heat didn't help.

 

[GoggledIt]

I started off with Rams my first string (round)...hit the first two, and let my confidence kick me in the tail. Hehe. It was a challenging match for sure, the heat didn't help.

You done good today. Heat started getting to me by the third relay but, overall, I'm glad I did it. I hadn't shot a match from a standing unsupported position in 30 years. I sure need to get out practice!

 

[GoggledIt]

I'm looking forward to the next one. Maybe we'll get lucky and it'll be about 20 degrees cooler?

My 1710 is set-up more for long range varminting and the bench than it is for standing, unsupported shooting but, it still worked pretty well. I think a Tikka T1x might be a better choice for standing shots? A friend said I could borrow his for the next Critters Match. I have shot it a couple of times and it's a solid performer with CCI SV and SK Standard Plus and with a Weaver 3x9x40 scope, it's weighs considerably less than an Anschutz.

 

[Manning5R]

Kudos for doing a silhouette match. Silhouette is a fun challenge. Wish more people would participate.

Are the distances in the first post correct? Looks further from the pictures, but judging distance from pics is deceiving. A hit on a chicken at NRA smallbore distance of 40 meters can put them quite a ways back from the stand. A hit on a chicken at 15 yards could put them into low earth orbit......

 

[Cowpokey]

Kudos for doing a silhouette match. Silhouette is a fun challenge. Wish more people would participate.

Are the distances in the first post correct? Looks further from the pictures, but judging distance from pics is deceiving. A hit on a chicken at NRA smallbore distance of 40 meters can put them quite a ways back from the stand. A hit on a chicken at 15 yards could put them into low earth orbit......

The chicks go flying pretty good with a solid hit. Picture is a little deceiving.

 

[Cowpokey]

It's called silhouette shooting. The original 22 long range shooting. Critter shoot lmfao

Read the header on the score sheet.

 

[Cowpokey]

I'm looking forward to the next one. Maybe we'll get lucky and it'll be about 20 degrees cooler?

My 1710 is set-up more for long range varminting and the bench than it is for standing, unsupported shooting but, it still worked pretty well. I think a Tikka T1x might be a better choice for standing shots? A friend said I could borrow his for the next Critters Match. I have shot it a couple of times and it's a solid performer with CCI SV and SK Standard Plus and with a Weaver 3x9x40 scope, it's weighs considerably less than an Anschutz.

I've never handled a Tikka, but your 1710HB did look a bit heavy. 20º cooler would be perfect!

 

[Milo 2.5]

I'm looking forward to the next one. Maybe we'll get lucky and it'll be about 20 degrees cooler?

My 1710 is set-up more for long range varminting and the bench than it is for standing, unsupported shooting but, it still worked pretty well. I think a Tikka T1x might be a better choice for standing shots? A friend said I could borrow his for the next Critters Match. I have shot it a couple of times and it's a solid performer with CCI SV and SK Standard Plus and with a Weaver 3x9x40 scope, it's weighs considerably less than an Anschutz.

Am I messed up here, it looks like a 10/22 with a 2 moa red dot would kick ass?

 

[Cowpokey]

Am I messed up here, it looks like a 10/22 with a 2 moa red dot would kick ass?

You must have very good eyes. Those targets are pretty small. There was a 10/22 in our group, but it was topped with a scope, he did well from what I saw. There was another guy (Edit: or maybe the same guy?) in our group that switched to a pistol with iron sights part way though...he didn't hit nearly as much as he was with the rifle. These were the Miniature Metallic Silhouette targets, 1/5th size.

As far as distances, that's what the club/range has on their website. I didn't measure any of the distances, but I'm guessing they are right on the money. @GoggledIt could probably chime in on that, since he's a member there.

 

[Cowpokey]

My 1710 is set-up more for long range varminting and the bench than it is for standing, unsupported shooting but, it still worked pretty well. I think a Tikka T1x might be a better choice for standing shots? A friend said I could borrow his for the next Critters Match. I have shot it a couple of times and it's a solid performer with CCI SV and SK Standard Plus and with a Weaver 3x9x40 scope, it's weighs considerably less than an Anschutz.

What magnification did you have your scope at yesterday? I had mine at 9x, which worked well, but maybe I should have cranked it down a little...targets were moving around pretty good through it...they never got out of view, but they were "dancing".

 

[Milo 2.5]

You must have very good eyes. Those targets are pretty small. There was a 10/22 in our group, but it was topped with a scope, he did well from what I saw. There was another guy (Edit: or maybe the same guy?) in our group that switched to a pistol with iron sights part way though...he didn't hit nearly as much as he was with the rifle. These were the Miniature Metallic Silhouette targets, 1/5th size.

As far as distances, that's what the club/range has on their website. I didn't measure any of the distances, but I'm guessing they are right on the money. @GoggledIt could probably chime in on that, since he's a member there.

LOL, no I do not have great eyesight, just going off pic, and no actual size of the targets. For me, sometimes the just do it with a dot eliminates the wobble associated with crosshairs being perfect.
Carry on, lol

 

[Cowpokey]

LOL, no I do not have great eyesight, just going off pic, and no actual size of the targets. For me, sometimes the just do it with a dot eliminates the wobble associated with crosshairs being perfect.
Carry on, lol

I think the difficult part might be trajectory with a dot. I have the scopes on my "hunting" .22lr rifles zeroed at 25 yards, which is pretty close to a dead on hold for 20-40 yards, but at 15 yards the bullet is still climbing to match point of aim and .44" low. Which is a lot more than you think on a 1/5th chicken. I was trying to hold at the top of the back on those, and aiming dead center for the 20, 30 and 40 yard targets, easier to judge with magnification and cross hairs. YMMV.

 

[Cowpokey]

 

[Milo 2.5]

I think the difficult part might be trajectory with a dot. I have the scopes on my "hunting" .22lr rifles zeroed at 25 yards, which is pretty close to a dead on hold for 20-40 yards, but at 15 yards the bullet is still climbing to match point of aim and .44" low. Which is a lot more than you think on a 1/5th chicken. I was trying to hold at the top of the back on those, and aiming dead center for the 20, 30 and 40 yard targets, easier to judge with magnification and cross hairs. YMMV.

I get it, I zero a dot at 17 yards, with the lower sight height, from 15-60 yards, you are never more than .6" off.

I just know we set a kyl rack at 25 at times, small plate at 1/2" is tough with a dot, the rest are doable.

 

[Cowpokey]

@GoggledIt sent me this picture from the day before the match, he took his (in his words) "better half" to give me an idea of the actual target sizes. They are small.

 

[Cowpokey]

I get it, I zero a dot at 17 yards, with the lower sight height, from 15-60 yards, you are never more than .6" off.
View attachment 7900721
I just know we set a kyl rack at 25 at times, small plate at 1/2" is tough with a dot, the rest are doable.

For the match we did, and having lower sight height, you'd be "money" with it zeroed at...say 22 yards I think. What is your actual sight height? I'll punch it in the site I used and see what it spits out..with everything else being "default-ish" for MV and BC.

 

[Milo 2.5]

For the match we did, and having lower sight height, you'd be "money" with it zeroed at...say 22 yards I think. What is your actual sight height? I'll punch it in the site I used and see what it spits out..with everything else being "default-ish" for MV and BC.

All my dots are on QD mounts, by calipers, with pic rail that you need for a dot, 1.7" looks as close as I can get, so my data is skewed slightly.
I did not mean to disrupt your post. looks like your rig works and you are having fun.

 

[Cowpokey]

All my dots are on QD mounts, by calipers, with pic rail that you need for a dot, 1.7" looks as close as I can get, so my data is skewed slightly.
I did not mean to disrupt your post. looks like your rig works and you are having fun.

I don't trust QD mounts, if you take them off and put them back on I think you'd really need to re-zero. I took a couple scopes off and put them back on, with the rings staying on the scopes and they were off 1.2-1.7" at 25 yards.

You're not disrupting the thread, this is how we get everyone's experiences laid out. More information is always good.

 

[Cowpokey]

Should have added, with your 1.7" sight over bore height, it's extremely close to what my scope is on the 1712; with my digital caliper it read 1.7020".

 

[Cowpokey]

I run, pause for groans, Holosun 507C on my rimfire race guns. Haven't measured bore/height, but I think it would be little lower than a QD mount? It's not nearly as important when the targets are YUGE (8" and bigger) out to 30ish yards.

 

[Milo 2.5]

I run, pause for groans, Holosun 507C on my rimfire race guns. Haven't measured bore/height, but I think it would be little lower than a QD mount? It's not nearly as important when the targets are YUGE (8" and bigger) out to 30ish yards.

View attachment 7900758

Damn, enter twice next time and rock that bad boy!

 

[Cowpokey]

Damn, enter twice next time and rock that bad boy!

I have another one with a Leupold 4x28 fixed power on it, not crazy about the 60 yard parallax though, at 25 yards it's a bit blurry. I'd like the scope a lot more if the parallax was set at 35 yards...tempted to adjust it myself, but would rather wait and see if Leupold re-opens the custom shop so I could send it in and retain the warranty. I might take a Leupold 3-9x33 EFR off one of my other rifles (have three of those scopes) and put it on this Kidd...I got the 4x28 to keep it light weight...or buy another 3-9x33 EFR for it. It's just money, right?

 

[egd]

I've never shot this type of match. Is there a limit on the number of shots you can take, or just the time allowed per round? If no limit on shots I too would think a 10-22 with a 2moa dot would be the way to go.

 

[Cowpokey]

I've never shot this type of match. Is there a limit on the number of shots you can take, or just the time allowed per round? If no limit on shots I too would think a 10-22 with a 2moa dot would be the way to go.

10 rounds per set of 10 targets, 4 minute time limit per set of targets. A feed problem can get you an extra round (if the round is damaged, or lost on the ground) and an extra 30 seconds. I had several feed problems, and got the MD's attention to use a new round (one time), didn't ask for extra time. Time was not a factor for anyone yesterday that I'm aware of.

For reference: Link to the Critter Match as per the club that put it on.

 

[Cowpokey]

I guess I missed this when I read through it before the match...probably the 12+ years stationed in Japan and Korea where everything is metric.

"Targets are set at the following distances. Chicks = 15-meters, Pigs = 20-meters, Turkeys = 30-meters, and Rams = 40-meters."

 

[GoggledIt]

It's called silhouette shooting. The original 22 long range shooting. Critter shoot lmfao

LOL Hey, in Murland we calls 'em, Critters. We ain't real bright but, we know how to have a good time.

 

[Cowpokey]

For you imperial pigs, of which I'm one:

15 meters = 16.4 yards
20 meters = 21.9 yards
30 meters = 32.8 yards
40 meters = 43.7 yards

Rounded to the tenth.

 

[GoggledIt]

There was a good variety of 22's represented: Annie's (mine and Cowpokey's), 10/22's, CZ's, etc. One shooter even brought his early-1960's Browning Medallion target pistol in the original case with all accessories. Now that's something ya don't see every day! Point is, the match is fun because you can bring what you have and you'll probably do OK with it. It's all just for fun and bragging-rights anyway.

 

[GoggledIt]

What magnification did you have your scope at yesterday? I had mine at 9x, which worked well, but maybe I should have cranked it down a little...targets were moving around pretty good through it...they never got out of view, but they were "dancing".

I was at 5x for everything yesterday, which is the minimum on that Zeiss.

 

[Cowpokey]

I was at 5x for everything yesterday, which is the minimum on that Zeiss.

Wow, I read somewhere else (MD Shooters, maybe?) that you also mentioned the targets moving around in the scope. Maybe I missed your point? I think the 23" heavy barrel may have been more of a factor for you. That's a good bit of extra weight out front. I'm not attempting to say I had better form than anyone, but with my medium taper 18" barrel and using my elbow to "brace" my left arm against my ribs felt as stable as I could get it. I never shoot that way for anything else, but it seemed to work yesterday.

 

[GoggledIt]

Wow, I read somewhere else (MD Shooters, maybe?) that you also mentioned the targets moving around in the scope. Maybe I missed your point? I think the 23" heavy barrel may have been more of a factor for you. That's a good bit of extra weight out front. I'm not attempting to say I had better form than anyone, but with my medium taper 18" barrel and using my elbow to "brace" my left arm against my ribs felt as stable as I could get it. I never shoot that way for anything else, but it seemed to work yesterday.

I was hoping our club treasurer was going to be there with his mint-condition Winchester Model 52 with original Unertl scope. It probably weighs as much as my 1710 and his shooting technique/style is very effective. He averages in the 30's on a good day.

Next time I'm gonna bring my buddy's Tikka T1x if he'll let me borrow it. It's got a Weaver Grand Slam 3x9x40 on it and probably weighs 5 lbs. less than my Anschutz does. It's plenty accurate-enough with SK Standard Plus or CCI SV.

 

[GoggledIt]

I was surprised that I did as well with this as I did. The last time I shot a rifle that heavy, from a standing position, was probably an FN FAL with a loaded 20-rd magazine. Of course, it didn't have a scope and wasn't quite as well-balanced as an Anschutz but, it weighed darn near the same.

I had two 9's but, unfortunately, not in the same relay. LOL Went 9 for 10 on chickens in the first relay and 9 for 10 on the pigs in the second relay. Best I could do on the turkeys was 5 out of 10 and 6 out of 10 on the rams but I can't blame the gun at all. I just never practice standing shots.

 

[Cowpokey]

I was surprised that I did as well with this as I did. The last time I shot a rifle that heavy, from a standing position, was probably an FN FAL with a loaded 20-rd magazine. Of course, it didn't have a scope and wasn't quite as well-balanced as an Anschutz but, it weighed darn near the same.

I had two 9's but, unfortunately, not in the same relay. LOL Went 9 for 10 on chickens in the first relay and 9 for 10 on the pigs in the second relay. Best I could do on the turkeys was 5 out of 10 and 6 out of 10 on the rams but I can't blame the gun at all. I just never practice standing shots.

Did you dial at all for distance? I don't have exposed turrets, so I didn't worry about trying to adjust anything, just tried to hold over for the chicks.

 

[Kisssofdeath]

Cowpokey,

That 1712 you're shooting in the first post was designed to shoot off hand in NRA Silhouettes, should be the perfect gun unless weight is a factor. I would suggest the use of 5 round mags in lieu of the 10. I have a 1712 like yours but the wood would expand and contract so much that I ended up selling the stock and getting the MDT you see on top of the Zephyr II. That Zephyr II would make a great off hand rifle.

I'm curious to know what the winning scores are.

 

[Cowpokey]

Cowpokey,

That 1712 you're shooting in the first post was designed to shoot off hand in NRA Silhouettes, should be the perfect gun unless weight is a factor. I would suggest the use of 5 round mags in lieu of the 10. I have a 1712 like yours but the wood would expand and contract so much that I ended up selling the stock and getting the MDT you see on top of the Zephyr II. That Zephyr II would make a great off hand rifle.

I'm curious to know what the winning scores are.

There's a 1712 Silhouette with 21.5" barrel, mine's the 1712AV (American Varmint). I have some 5 round mags, they do feed way better than the 10s. There has to be something can be done to remedy the 10 round feed problems, but I haven't tried tracking it down yet.

I haven't seen the tallied scores from the match yet.

The picture (attachment) from your message doesn't load.

 

[Cowpokey]

I have a 1712 like yours but the wood would expand and contract so much that I ended up selling the stock

Did you sell the stock recently? I saw one in the PX here, last week I think it was...can't find the thread now. It was a good looking stock, don't think it had any marks on it. I sure hope my stock doesn't decide to expand and contract. I'm thinking about putting Renaissance Wax on it.

 

[Kisssofdeath]

No, sold the stock well over a year ago. Some days it would shoot as expected and some days not. I use a typical business card to check barrel to stock clearance and discovered contact was being made "sometimes". I decided to sell the stock because if I tried to bed it or modify in any way and it didn't work I would have destroyed the value. Sold it, bought the MDT and still had $200 left over.

Now the 1712 shoots consistent and as good as my 1710 XLR.

 

[GoggledIt]

Did you dial at all for distance? I don't have exposed turrets, so I didn't worry about trying to adjust anything, just tried to hold over for the chicks.

No, I didn't. The only targets I used a little holdover on (top of the back) were the pigs. I didn't make any adjustments after checking my zero the day before the match.

 

[Cowpokey]

I don't know how much barrel length and weight help with this game. I need to do more "standing unsupported" practice with some of my other hunting rifles. The 1416AV, Kidd ULW, Bergara BMR Carbon; those are all lighter than the 1712AV...by a little or a lot. I might get another Leupold 3-9x33 EFR scope for the Kidd; the BMR is in a Boyd's Barracuda stock now, same color as the Kidd.

 

[Cowpokey]

No, I didn't. The only targets I used a little holdover on (top of the back) were the pigs. I didn't make any adjustments after checking my zero the day before the match.

Have they posted the scores yet from the match?

 

[GoggledIt]

Have they posted the scores yet from the match?

No, they haven't been updated yet. I'll e-mail the match director today and ask for an ETA. They may be in the process of adding that section to our homepage because, in the past, you could only view match results after logging-in with a member username and password.

 

[STex]

Great way to spend a day afield! Good luck next time.

 

[HeathAdams]

Our kids have been sitting this for a while in our 4-H Shooting Sports program. They use a T/C Contender scoped pistol and various rifles all shooting CCI Standard Velocity. It's a fun course to run, especially with the pistol.

 

[Deputy Dan]

A local club runs the same silhouettes in a long-range bench-rest match - Chickens at 75m/82 yds, Pigs at 112m/122 yds, Turkeys at 144m/158 yds, Rams at 189m/207 yds. Ten minute limit per set - Unlimited ranging shots and then one shot per silhouette for score. Miss one - tough, move on. Max score is 40; a few guys hit 40 on a regular basis - I've got a ways to go . . .

Rams kick everybody's butt there too!

 

[Cowpokey]

A local club runs the same silhouettes in a long-range bench-rest match - Chickens at 75m/82 yds, Pigs at 112m/122 yds, Turkeys at 144m/158 yds, Rams at 189m/207 yds. Ten minute limit per set - Unlimited ranging shots and then one shot per silhouette for score. Miss one - tough, move on. Max score is 40; a few guys hit 40 on a regular basis - I've got a ways to go . . .

Rams kick everybody's butt there too!

That sounds like fun! Would be a good game for the Vudoo.