Typical Questions for:

Dedicated to the Promotion of IHMSA Silhouette in Minnesota

Q: Can I try silhouette before joining IHMSA or MSA?  -  Yes you can.  There are several way to accomplish this.  First, the Minnesota Silhouette Assn. hosts a clinic for all interested in the sport.  We would recommend this approach as it is the best way to answer all questions and get some tips on shooting positions and what you will encounter.  The second way, is to show up at a scheduled match.  Many times things are quite hectic but you should get some of your questions answered. If you are from Minnesota please feel free to take a look at our Match Schedule or if not, look for a match in your area.

Q:  When do I have to join IHMSA or MSA?  You may shoot one (1) IHMSA match as a non-IHMSA member according to IHMSA rules.  We would recommend joining IHMSA as soon as possible as the information obtained in IHMSA NEWS that you receive with membership will allow you to see what other people are shooting and will provide further insight into the sport.  It also indicates that you are serious to others at a match and they will tend to treat you as such. Membership in MSA is technically only required in order to shoot the State Championships as MSA subsidizes all trophies for the State Championships.  The $10.00 membership in MSA will provide some useful items.  You will receive the MSA newsletter,  wallet card with match schedule and the right to get involved.

Q:  What type of handgun will I need?  Any kind you have is the simple answer.  If your handgun was purchased and if it has not been modified you are in good shape.  Our competitions are such that you should be able to shoot something.

Q:  What if I'm not a good shot?  Can I still shoot?  This sport has a way of humbling the best of handgun shooters.  Due to the classification system, everyone can compete with individuals of equal ability.  As a shooter progresses in ability, so does his classification.  Shooters of like ability always compete with their peers.  In a State, Regional or International Championship it is the lower classification shooters who always seem to garner the most trophies.  All trophies are of equal size.

Q:  Do I need to handload ammunition?  No you do not need to be a handloader.  Factory ammunition will do the job, however cost will become a contributing factor to the amount of shooting you do.  The best way to become a better shot is to shoot.  As you shoot more, handloading ammunition will save you money.  Of course, you could shoot strictly the Small Bore game exclusively.  22LR ammunition is not prohibitive in cost, and the game is one of the most difficult.

Q:  If I were to buy a new gun for Silhouette, what should I get?   The easy answer is to get the best handgun you can afford.  For most new shooters, the Thompson Center Contender will meet or exceed your requirements for the first few years.  As your abilities, needs or wants go beyond the Contender, there are many good manufactures of silhouette pistols to consider;  BF Arms, MOA, RPM, Freedom Arms to name a few.  The Thompson Center will always find a place in the sport and changing calibers is a matter of getting a new barrel.

Q: How much elevation do I need to hold from animal to animal? It is best if you don't try to hold elevation ( use Kentucky windage). It is best if you get in the habit of changing elevation by moving the elevation screw on the rear sight. Get a small note pad to write the amount of sight change down, "clicks", for each yardage. This will give you a good approximation for the next time you shoot. Over a period of time, these sight settings will become your "Bible" for the game. Always use the same aiming point on the animal, be it leg/body juncture, belly line, rail or what suits you. For starters, ask an experienced shooter that shoots the same caliber as you, what he uses for settings. That should get you going.

Q: Isn't changing the elevation on a scope very hard on the Internals mechanism of a scope? I don't know of any shooter that has worn out a scope by simply adjusting it. We do not want to try and adjust beyond the limits of the scope, and at times we may shim a scope so that we stay within those limits. A good quality scope will repeat in adjustment over its life. At the same time, that scope will generally have a lifetime warranty. If the manufacturer did not wish you to change elevation on the scope, he would not have provided easy adjustment.

Q: Does target color affect my sight settings? Target color will affect your sight settings. If you were to set two targets of the same size at the same range, one being black and the other white, the white target would appear much larger. If you "sighted in" on a black target, you will probably shoot low when aiming at a white target. If you "sighted in" on a white target, you will probably shoot high on a black target. The difference will probably be from one to three clicks, depending on the load and range.

Feel free to ask questions.

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