Shooting Styles - Small Bore
Small bore rifle shooting encompasses three disciplines: 50 meter Sporting rifle, Silhouette rifle, and 10 meter Air rifle. Sporting and Silhouette rifle are both done on the outdoor range at the Prince George Rod and Gun during the snow-free season, and Air rifle is conducted on the indoor range primarily during the winter months.
Sporting rifle uses .22 caliber rifles to complete a 120 shot (1200 point) match, with 40 shots done in each of the prone, standing and kneeling positions. Each target consists of four scoring bulls with five shots per bull. Local matches are held at the PG Rod and Gun in June, in which shooters from around the northern region come together to compete. This match is also often used as the qualifying trial for the BC Summer Games, which occurs every two years in various locations around BC. Other Sporting rifle matches take place throughout the year including other local matches (ie Burns Lake and Mackenzie), regional matches, the BC Shooting Provincials, and the Canadian Shooting Nationals.
Silhouette rifle uses .22 caliber rifles with scopes mounted on them in this arcade-like shooting game. The targets consist of steel plate silhouettes of chickens, pigs, turkeys, and rams at the respective distances of 40 meters, 60 meters, 77 meters, and 100 meters. Ten silhouettes of each animal are placed up on two steel rails in two banks of five. Each shooter is then given 2 ½ minutes to knock the five animals from their perches. Each animal that is knocked down counts for 1 point, for a total of a 40 point match. There are five different classifications of shooters in Silhouette rifle, and each shooter only competes with others in their classification. This makes it easier for a beginner shooter to come out and have some fun while still managing to be competitive. Silhouette rifle is a great sport for shooters who enjoy instant gratification, and for competitors and spectators alike this is a great sport to be a part of. The PG Rod and Gun Club organizes a competitive match every month during the summer, and local shooters also participate in other matches around the northern region, the BC Provincials, and Canadian National Silhouette Championships.
The Sporting and Silhouette rifle events are held on the 100 meter Small bore outdoor range. This range is equipped with a fully enclosed firing line with up to 20 Sporting rifle positions and 12 Silhouette rifle positions (three banks of each animal). Permanent target stands are in place for each discipline, and all are located at the regulated distances set out in the National standards. There is also a scoring/warm-upbuilding equipped with wood stove, located behind the firing line for the more hearty shooters who are braving the elements.
Air rifle takes place on the 10 meter indoor range, located within the main clubhouse facility. Air rifles are a .177 caliber rifle that either uses compresses air or CO2 to propel the pellets. An Air rifle match consists of 60 shots for a total of 600 points possible. As easy as this may sound, a perfect shot has to hit a target the size of a pinhead, thus making this rifle sport the most accurate of its kind as well as rapidly becoming one of the most popular of the shooting disciplines of Small bore shooting. The PG Rod and Gun has 8 indoor shooting positions for Air rifle, all which are equipped with self-winding returning target stands. Air rifle shooters often compete in the BC Summer Games, BC provincials, Canadian Nationals, and the Canada Winter Games.
Each of these three shooting sports are conducted at the PG Rod and Gun at various times throughout the week. Feel free to contact the Small bore rifle coordinator for any more information concerning scheduling
For more information on this section, contact the director(s): John Bock / Steve Storch