NRA Marksmanship Qualification Program

[mav]

The club I belong to has held unofficial smallbore rifle silhouette shoots for a couple of years with fair to poor success. We've considered holding official matches. I think we would have better attendance, but I suspect we would attract existing competitors not new shooters. We have had moderate to good success with the Light Rifle (smallbore) and Sporting Rifle (highpower) sections of the Qualification Program. It seems that the Qualification Program might be official enough for someone looking for a more structured shooting experience without the boogeyman of "competition". Does anyone have experience with the Silhouette Rifle Qualification Program? Thank you.

[yankee]

I have been playing the game for over 20 years and never heard of the "silhouette rifle qualification program".  Most rifle silhouette matches are low keyed with the emphasis on having fun.  Official or approved matches will get advertised in the "Shooting Sports" magazine and you could draw more competitors. It is a good idea to contact other clubs shooting rifle silhouette in your area when scheduling dates so you don't step on each others toes.  A call to the NRA silhouette department can get you all kinds of information.

[mav]

I guess the Marksmanship Qualification Program  http://www.nrahq.org/education/training/marksmanship/index.asp is something the NRA came up with as a middle ground between plinking and sanctioned matches. The silhouette rifle program may be new.
I've been shooting Cowboy silhouette (smallbore and pistol cartridge) for three years. When I attended my first match I had only observed one previous match, I didn't know anyone who shot silhouette, I had never shot in any type of competition before. I just paid my money and took my chances. ;-)
I guess the real question is how to bring new shooters into the fold? What is the best way to introduce someone to silhouette shooting? Are club shoots, fun shoots and, or qualification programs the way to go?
Yes, most if not all of the matches I've been to are low pressure and welcoming. But, the new shooter needs to be there to feel welcome. How do we get them there? Is the one on one approach best? You know, "bring a friend", lend them you equipment, encourage them.
I just showed up and shot. I think most people need a little push or pull.

[yankee]

interesting;  Just read the info from the NRA.  Never saw any of that before.  The best way I have found to get people interested is to invite and take them and loan them equipment.  And try to get them hooked.  Most places will let a person "shoot what they have" as long as it won't damage targets.  If we had the answer of how to get new shooters and keep them that would be great.  You have to try anything.  I have done fun shoots to get them started based on the existing rules but being quite flexable.  Then bring them into the regular matches.  Keep the cost to the shooter down.  Some places return a portion of the proceeds  to the winner or winners of each class.  You can also add some fun shoots after the match.

[jneihouse]

Getting and keeping new shooters is tough in any sport, and smallbore and high power silhouette may be one of the toughest to attract and keep new shooters involved in due to the extreme difficulty factor.  At our club we run a "fun shoot" in conjunction with the NRA approved matches using 1/2 scale targets.  And we try to be especially helpful with new shooters to ensure they experience success, that is they knock down some of the targets.  We also maintain a rifle owned by the club set up as a hunter class silhouette gun to offer the use of if they don't have the equipment or if their equipment is just really bad.  We try to make it fun, fun, fun, and encourage, encourage, encourage.  Good luck with your program.

Kitty