UIT Shooting - Getting Started

Comment Form

The Events

Pictures

Results

Records

USST Stuff

Matches

UIT Mailing List

Links

About the Author

To get started in international style rifle shooting, I would strongly suggest finding a club in your area that is already active in the discipline. This way you can borrow equipment to make sure this hobby is right for you before sinking money into it. The best route of finding a club is calling the NRA or USA Shooting to see which clubs near you are affiliated with these organizations. NOTE FOR JUNIORS - you can now accept NRA award points or other monetary-type awards as long as it doesn't exceed the cost of the competition and not jeopardize your NCAA eligibility.

Once you've had some practice and matches with borrowed stuff, it's time to think about getting some things on your own. Before getting into equipment issues though, I'd like to suggest you start out shooting air rifle or air pistol. This is because it's cheaper to buy and shoot and you can practice anywhere you can find room for a 10m range (plus a few feet to stand). I know several people who shoot through a couple rooms and a hallway in their homes. I shoot in my 37 foot basement. Thus, you can practice anytime it's convenient rather than having to drive to a smallbore range somewhere. Plus the ammo is much cheaper. The more practice the better, of course, but make sure you get decent instruction first so you practice the correct things. The air pistol suggestion is for those on the smallest budgets. You can start with a very basic air pistol like a Daisy 747 ($110 US) or 777. Plus you don't use the jacket and pants like you do in rifle. This will give you a taste of the competition though and you can move up to a decent air rifle and necessary clothing as money allows. Of course, you may find pistol is more to your liking and will upgrade to a better air pistol or smallbore pistol.

If you expect to compete at the highest levels, you will need the best rifles. I would recommend Anschutz for smallbore rifles (e.g. - 1912, 2012, 1913, 2013) though Feinwerkbau and Walther can also be had for a similar cost in the US. Walther seems to make the most economical high-end air rifle (LG-300) for international competition. The Anschutz 2002CA and FWB P70 would be at the same level and are more popular but cost a bit more in the US. You will pay another $200-300 to get an aluminum stock model. If you get a compressed air model (like I listed above) rather than a single stroke one, you'll need either a hand pump or SCUBA tank (and nearby dive shop) to fill it.

If you wish to compete in just local and state matches or hold your own nationally, you can buy a used Anschutz or FWB smallbore, or get a new Marlin 2000, Weihrauch, or Brno though these aren't very suitable to 3-position shooting. The same goes for used US-made rifles like the Remington 40X or Winchester 52D; you'll need to buy a new stock for position shooting. For air rifles, a used Anschutz or FWB is the way to go. There should be several of the pneumatic models available as many competitors have moved to compressed air. Look for the Anschutz 2002 and FWB 600/601/603. For even less money you can pick up a good used spring piston gun such as the Anschutz 380, FWB 300, or RWS 75. All have accuracy equal to the air rifles listed above, but still have noticeable recoil compared to the pneumatic or SCUBA air rifles used today and slightly less-refined triggers. If you're a young junior, you should look at the new Daisy Avanti ($440) and P70 Jr ($800). These are smaller guns meant for 3P air and at least the P70 Jr can be modified as you grow.

I won't go into ammo as that's very subjective. I will simply say that Eley, RWS and Lapua are the ones I've seen being used the most. Pellets are H&N and RWS though several other makers like Vogel and JSB have recently come on the scene at lower cost.

You have many choices for clothing. Many top shooters like a leather jacket and canvas pants. I like canvas for both since it's cheaper and stiffer, though I would try to get a jacket that has suede leather on the side of your supporting arm. Kurt Thune, Mouche, Kustermann and Sauer are often considered the absolute best, but you definitely pay for it ($500-750 for a jacket and $400-600 for pants). Monard from Sweden offers what I consider the best value ($250 for a custom jacket and $220 for custom pants). Below that are offerings from Anschutz and Gehmann, which don't offer the custom fitting of the others ($150 for jackets and $120 for pants). Of course, you can try to buy used clothing also. Anschutz has the most popular boots (#133) in the US and they are cheaper than most.

Other equipment you may need is a rifle stand, spotting scope and stand, glove, sling, kneeling roll, adjustable rear iris (and maybe filters), timer, shooting mat, a large, sturdy luggage bag or suitcase, and a rifle case.

It is essential that you practice the proper fundamentals, especially if you don't have access to a decent coach. For those looking for some books, the best basic position book is probably On the Training of Shooters by Heinz Reinkemeier, Ways of the Rifle by Reinkemeier, Buhlmann & Eckhardt or Shooting For Gold by William Krilling. The best mental book in my opinion is The Mental Art of World Class Competitive Shooting by Chet Skinner.

The NRA's Shooting Sports USA (by subscription) and USA Shooting's Quickshots (free with membership) list events that have been registered with the respective organization. You may also enter the variety of postals that are available (I list several).

To make the US Shooting Team in rifle, you must be a member of USA Shooting and fire in the top 3 positions at the National Championships (USASNC). To get an invitation to the USASNC, you must fire a qualifying score (which really aren't that high) in an approved match, which are generally called preliminary tryouts (PTOs) though they have dropped that requirement the past couple years. There are usually one or two other matches that you may use as a backdoor, but this has been reduced to allow only the top finisher who isn't already on the team. The NCAA individual champions are also given slots on the team. You may also petition to the national coach for inclusion under special circumstances.

Need some equipment? My normal sources are Champion's Choice, Center Shot Sports, Champion Shooters Supply and Pilkington Competition Equipment. You can also try Neil Johnson's Gunsmithing, which caters mostly to international-style rifle shooters. They have a good selection of used equipment and rifles, too. Though I think the prices are a bit high on many used items, you can find some good deals. BTW, I have no affiliation with any company, just a customer. Some other places to check for used gear are WA SB Stuff For Sale list and Riflesports Classifieds.

Please let me know if there are other questions I should answer here. I've included the most common ones I receive.

Additionally, you may wish to view the UIT Mailing List I edit, which contains a lot of good information for shooters of all skill levels. You can join via email.