Rimfire/Smallbore Silhouette
Smallbore Rifle Silhouette — A Quick History 

Hosted at Victoria Fish and Game
 

Smallbore rifle silhouette began as a precision offshoot of metallic silhouette shooting, a discipline where shooters knock down steel animal targets using accurate, repeatable fire. The sport’s roots trace back to Mexico in the early 1900s, where live-animal silhouette shooting was popular. For safety and consistency, steel targets replaced live animals, and the format spread north.

 

In the 1970s, silhouette shooting was formalized in North America through organizations like the NRA and later the IHMSA. Smallbore rifle silhouette emerged as an accessible, skill-focused variant using .22 LR rifles at scaled distances.

 

The course of fire features four animal targets—chickens, pigs, turkeys, and rams—shot from the standing (offhand) position. Success depends on balance, trigger control, and mental discipline rather than recoil management or speed. Today, smallbore silhouette is valued for its welcoming community, affordability, and its ability to build elite marksmanship fundamentals.

 

One Video You Should Watch (Getting Started)

This is a solid, beginner-friendly introduction to metallic silhouette fundamentals, rules, and mindset:

Getting Started in Metallic Silhouette Shooting 
(Watch it once now, then again after your first match—it’ll make more sense.)

 

Matches at Victoria Fish & Game - contact Steve Shulhan at silhouette@vfgpa.org

Arrive early (by ~8:30 am) to help set up, register, and get a lane. 

Bring notebook, DOPE, and patience — local shooters will gladly show you what works on the Malahat.

 

 

Suggested Equipment for New Shooters

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  • 22 LR rifle compliant with Standard or Hunter weight limits

  • Scope (6× fixed or low-power variable for Hunter; higher allowed for Standard)

  • Match-grade .22 LR ammo (test lots; consistency matters)

  • Shooting glove (support hand only)

  • Eye & ear protection (mandatory at Canadian ranges)

  • Spotting scope/binoculars (wind calls, hit confirmation)

  • Torque wrench & basic tools (check action screws)

  • Scorebook & pen

  • Flat-soled shoes with good grip

 

 

Top 5 Rimfire Rifles Commonly Preferred in Canadian Silhouette:  These are popular because they balance well offhand, hold zero, and have excellent triggers or upgrade paths:
 

  • Anschutz 1712 / 54-action variants – Gold standard for balance and accuracy

  • CZ 452 / 455 / 457 (especially MTR or Silhouette trims) – Outstanding value and reliability

  • Tikka T1x – Modern ergonomics, excellent barrel quality

  • Kimber 82G / 82 Classic – Legendary offhand balance (used market)

  • Anschutz 64-series – Lighter option, very competitive in Hunter class

 

 

Canadian Smallbore Silhouette Classes

In Canada, rules are administered by Silhouette Canada, closely aligned with NRA smallbore silhouette standards.


All firing is standing/offhand only at steel animals:

  • Chickens — 40 m

  • Pigs — 60 m

  • Turkeys — 77 m

  • Rams — 100 m

  •  

Hunter Rifle Class (More Restrictive, “Field-Style”) Intent: Keep rifles light and practical, similar to a hunting rifle. This is where most new shooters start.

Rifle Rules

  • Maximum weight: 8.5 lb (3.86 kg) including scope
  • Traditional hunting-style stock only
  • No adjustable cheekpieces or butt hooks
  • Trigger pull typically ≥ 2 lb (verify match bulletin)
  • Optics
  • Scope magnification limited to 6×
  • Fixed 6× or variable capped at 6×
  • No oversized target scopes
  • Typical Hunter Equipment
  • Lightweight .22 LR bolt-action rifle
  • Fixed 6× scope (Leupold FX-II 6× is very common)
  • Slim barrel for balance
  • Standard sling studs allowed (sling not used)
  • Thin shooting glove (support hand only)
  • Flat-soled shoes (no shooting boots)
  • What matters most
  • Balance and hold
  • Clean trigger press
  • Consistent ammo, not “benchrest” accuracuracy

 

Standard Rifle Class (More Flexible, Performance-Focused) Intent: Allow heavier, more competition-oriented rifles while staying offhand-only.

Rifle Rules

  • Maximum weight: 10 lb 2 oz (4.6 kg) including sights
  • Adjustable stocks allowed (within reason)
  • No hooked buttplates or palm rests
  • Triggers may be lighter than Hunter class
  • Optics
  • No magnification limit
  • High-quality target scopes common
  • Larger objective lenses allowed
  • Typical Standard Equipment
  • Heavier .22 LR bolt-action rifle
  • Variable-power scope (e.g., 10–24×)
  • Heavier barrel for steadier hold
  • More vertical pistol grip stocks
  • Shooting glove (often thicker than Hunter)
  • Same footwear rules as Hunter
  • What matters most
  • Stability through the shot
  • Follow-through
  • Mental discipline over 40 shots

 

Getting Started: DOPE (Zero & Holds)

 

  • Zero your rifle at 40 meters (chickens).
  • Confirm that zero from standing, not the bench. Bench is for mechanical zero only.
  • DOPE Requirements (Simple and Proven)
  • You need four confirmed elevation settings or holds:
  • Chickens – 40 m → Zero
  • Pigs – 60 m → +MOA or mildot hold
  • Turkeys – 77 m → +MOA or mildot hold
  • Rams – 100 m → +MOA or mildot hold
     

Best practices
 

  • Dial elevation if your scope tracks well.
  • Hold if your scope is capped at 6× (Hunter).
  • Record real-world hits, not ballistic calculator guesses.
  • Write your final numbers on tape on the stock or in a pocket notebook.
  • Reality check: f your rifle/ammo combo knocks over rams reliably, your DOPE is good enough.
    Precision is about repeatability, not tiny groups.

 

Dry Fire: The Fastest Way to Improve (Free & Legal)

  • Dry fire is where silhouette shooters are made.
  • How often: 10–15 minutes, 4–5 days a week
  • How: Unloaded rifle, verified safe
  • Aim at a small mark on the wall
  • Use your match stance
  • Break the trigger without disturbing the sights

 

Key drills

  • Hold drill: Hold on target for 8–10 seconds, rest, repeat
  • Trigger drill: Smooth press straight to the rear
  • Follow-through: Keep sights on target after the click
  • Reset drill: Rebuild position every rep (don’t cheat)
  • What to feel
  • Natural point of aim
  • Minimal wobble, not zero wobble
  • Calm breathing and clean trigger break
  • If you dry fire consistently, live fire becomes confirmation—not practice.

 

It's always best to "bring what you have" (.22 LR with scope) with your data for the 4 distances. At the event, you can see what other shooters are using and ask questions and in most cases try other rifles if you are considering an upgrade or new purchase path.

 

A couple of examples of affordable and reliable builds are as follows:

 

Build A — Hunter Class (safe, compliant, competitive)

Rifle: CZ 457 American (.22 LR) — $620.99 CAD (example Canadian sale price)
Why: correct “hunting rifle” profile and balance; avoids the heavy/varmint barrel issue that can get you bumped from Hunter class.

Scope: Leupold FX-II 6x36 — ~$550 CAD used (common in Canada)

Rings: Warne 1" Rimfire rings (11mm dovetail), Medium — $64.99 CAD 

Ammo: Buy 2 boxes of a consistent match-ish load to start lot testing (e.g., SK / Eley / Lapua tier) — budget $50–$100 depending on what your shop has.

 

Must-have “to shoot the match” add-ons

 

Eye/ear pro — ~$40–$100 if you don’t already own it

Small notebook + pen — ~$10

Total (typical): ~$1,326 + ammo/accessories = ~$1,450–$1,600 CAD
(comfortably under $2,000 and very hard to “outgrow”)

 

Build B — Standard Class (max performance for the dollar)

Rifle: Same CZ 457 American — $620.99 CAD

Scope: (more magnification allowed; better for precise holds) Burris Fullfield E1 6.5–20x50 — $589.95 CAD 

Rings: Warne 1" Rimfire rings (11mm dovetail), Medium — $64.99

Ammo + basics

Same as above (2 boxes to start lot testing + glove + eye/ear).

Total (typical): $620.99 + $589.95 + $64.99 = $1,275.93 CAD
Leaves ~$700 for ammo testing, spotting, and any comfort upgrades while staying under the cap.