Understanding NRA Silhouette Pistol Competition

by
posted on August 27, 2016
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
silh-pistol-2.jpg
Above: Only 100 Anschutz 1416 Silhouette pistols were manufactured.

In long-range silhouette pistol competition, a competitor may shoot up to six pistols in four freesytle and two standing categories. The freestyle events include unlimited, unlimited half-size, revolver, and conventional pistol.

Freestyle refers to the shooting position that has very few restrictions other than the firearm must be supported by the shooter's body without artificial support. Combine this latitude with the two unlimited class pistols which are restricted mainly by their overall weight of 4 1/2 lbs., 15-inch barrel, and 15-inch sight radius and you can see the potential for outstanding long-distance accuracy. Shooting with iron sights (with one scoped standing exception) at targets roughly equivalent to five-inch circles at 200 meters.

Targets used in the competition are not conventional circles or squares, but in the shape of chickens, pigs, turkeys and rams. In the long-range competition, the chickens are placed at 50 meters, pigs at 100 meters, turkeys at 150 meters and rams at 200 meters.

Unlimited half-size category refers to the targets being scaled to half the size of the normal targets used for the other five events. In this case the ram, which is shot at 200 meters would be six inches from the top of his back to his belly rather than the 12 inches of the full-sized ram. Half-size animals look much smaller than their full-size counterparts, because they only have a quarter of the surface area.

Smallbore pistol silhouette is very similar to long-range, but there are significant differences. First the distances are generally half the long-range distances, and rather than the targets being half-size, they are 3/8 scale. The exception to the 3/8 scale targets are the chickens, which are half-size but moved out to 40 meters rather than 25 for safety reasons.

Smaller targets, the greater effect of wind and the lack of control over ammunition makes the smallbore match much more demanding, and the scores reflect this. There is also no half-size target event in smallbore competition because it would be far too difficult. It would be impossible to draw shooters in numbers large enough to justify holding regular competition.

Learn more about NRA silhouette pistol at this link: competitions.nra.org/how-to-get-started/silhouette-competition.aspx.

Latest

1925 National Matches 1
1925 National Matches 1

A Decade on the Firing Line: The National Matches 1920–1929

From Camp Perry’s wind flags to Sea Girt’s surf, the 1920s remade the National Matches into America’s proving ground for pistol, smallbore and high power competition.

Registration Open for 2026 Winchester & White Flyer Top Shot Youth Championship at NILO

Winchester and White Flyer bring the Top Shot Youth Championship back to NILO for a third year with big prizes and family-friendly competition.

Team Remington’s Powell and Hitch Dominate 2026 Caribbean Classic

Team Remington’s Powell and Hitch posted solid scores across multiple events at the 2026 Caribbean Classic in Florida.

Collegiate Rifle: Career Highs Power Akron to Bean Pot Title

Akron rifle captured the Bean Pot Invitational and climbed to No. 14 nationally, fueled by career-best performances from Kaleb Santiso and Kathleen Moran.

New: Leupold VX-4HD Riflescopes

Leupold’s VX-4HD line includes three sizes with 4:1 zoom, custom CDS-ZL2 dials and prices from $799.99 to $1,199.99.

New Mauser M98 Das Original Bolt-Action Rifle Includes .300 Win. Mag. Chambering

Mauser updates its classic M98 with DLC bolt components, Grade 5 wood and new calibers including a first-ever .300 Win. Mag. option.

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Sports USA delivered to your inbox.