Cowboy Lever Action Rifle Shooting At The Los Angeles Handgun - Rifle - Air Pistol Silhouette Club
Handgun - Rifle - Air Pistol Silhouette Year Round
 
Cowboy Lever Action Rifle at LASC - Reactive targets to challenge your carbine
Return to the LASC front page Email Mark for info on Rifle Shooting at LASC Handgun - Rifle - Air Pistol schedule for LASC
E-mail Mark With any questions you have concerning Cowboy Lever Action Rifle Silhouette
 
 
Anxious to get that carbine out of the closet ??
You can experience the reactive steel targets of silhouette, or
Well . . . . . . . You could poke holes in paper
 
 
Tony Tello, NRA National Rifle Champion, NRA Silhouette Committee Member, Match Director of the NRA Sanctioned Cowboy Lever Action Rifle Silhouette Matches at the Los Angeles Silhouette Club.
 
Use this email link to contact the NRA Competitions Department for information on your club staging these rifle matches on your 200 meter range:
Email the NRA Silhouette Department
 
Every effort has been made to accurately place these rules here to help you get started in Cowboy Lever Action Rifle Silhouette.
However - Mistakes can happen - The Official - Current - Printed NRA Rifle Silhouette Rule Book has the final word !!
 
More information concerning NRA competitions materials and supplies (including the complete rule book) can be obtained
from NRA Sales at: 1-800-336-7402, Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM EST.
 

If you are interested in Rifle or Handgun Silhouette shooting call NRA Sales and order these rule books. They are only a couple of bucks and you will have all the info on the exciting shooting sport with the reactive targets - Silhouette Shooting.

 
NRA Rule 3.1.3 Cowboy Lever Action Silhouette Rifle -  Listed below are the three classes of Cowboy Silhouette Rifles. The below listed rules apply to all classes of rifles. (The intent of these rules is to establish a match for common hunting carbines and other lever action rifles. The match is focused toward shooters who enjoy shooting hunting arms and do not want to make the investment required of other specialized types of shooting competitions.)

1. Rear sights may be open sights, receiver or tang sights manufactured for the rifle they are mounted on. Front sights must be a post or bead, may be hooded or if interchangeable may use post inserts only.

2. Barrels must be original or may be relined. Original barrels re-bored to a larger caliber are allowed. Any safe trigger is allowed. Stocks must be of original configuration.

3. Ammunition may be loaded with smokeless or black powder, using jacketed or cast bullets, with or without gas checks. All bullets must be flat nosed suitable for tubular magazine use. Any cartridge causing target damage or deemed unsafe may be banned.

4. Firing period will include a 30 second ready (loading) period, and 2 minutes for 5 shots. Ammunition must be loaded through the tubular magazine.

5. Binoculars may be used for spotting. Spotting scopes or stands may not be used. No shooting jackets, shooting vests, or gloves will be allowed. NRA rule 6-9 concerning wind flags will not apply.

 

6. Classification:

Master 37-40  
  AAA 31-36  
  AA 25-30  
  A 15-24  
  B   0-14  
 

(a) Cowboy Lever Action Silhouette -

A. Any lever action center fire rifle 25 caliber or larger with a tubular magazine of original manufacture or replica thereof. A rimmed case loaded with a round or flat nose bullet must be used. (An exception for 35 Remington is allowed.)

B. Targets: Long Range Pistol, at distances of 50-100-150-200 meters.

(b) Pistol Cartridge Cowboy Lever Action Silhouette -

A. Any lever action center fire rifle with a tubular magazine. A rimmed pistol cartridge loaded with a flat nosed bullet must be used i.e. 25-20, 32-20, 38's, 357 magnum, 38-40, 44-40, 45 colt, 45 long colt, 22 magnum, 22 long rifle.

B. Targets: Hunter's Pistol, at distances of 40-50-75-100 meters.

(c) Smallbore Cowboy Rifle Silhouette - Any lever action, pump, or semi auto rimfire with a tubular magazine. 22 long rifle ammunition only, Hyper velocity ammunition prohibited.

B. Targets: Smallbore Hunter's Pistol at distances of 40-50-75-100 meters.

NRA Rule 3.2 Smallbore Silhouette Rifle - Identical to the description of the High Power Silhouette Rifle below, except that the rifle shall be chambered for only factory loaded .22 caliber short, long or long rifle rimfire cartridges. Hot loads such as "Stingers", are not permitted. See NRA Rifle Silhouette Rule Book - Rule 3.17 below.

NRA Rule 3.2.1 Smallbore Hunting Silhouette Rifle - Identical to the description of the High Power Hunting Rifle below, except that (a) the rifle may be a single loading rifle, (b) the weight may not exceed 81/2 pounds, and (c) the rifle shall be chambered for only factory loaded .22 short, long, long rifle rimfire cartridges. Hot loads, such as "Stingers", are not permitted. See NRA Rifle Silhouette Rule Book - Rule 3.17 below.

NRA Rule 3.17 Ammunition - Center fire ammunition having a projectile (bullet) of 6mm or larger but no armor piercing or tracer types are permitted. Smallbore ammunition shall be factory loaded .22 short, long or long rifle rimfire cartridges. Hot loads such as "Stingers" are not permitted. The use  of any other type ammunition may be prohibited by local range or tournament regulations. Loads that damage targets may be disapproved by the Chief Range Officer, Match Director or Jury.

NRA Rule 3.1 High Power Silhouette Rifle - A rifle, 6mm or larger caliber, meeting the following specifications:

(a) Maximum weight 10 pounds, 2 ounces, including sights.

(b) Any sights, telescopic or metallic may be used. Scopes may not be more than 2 inches above the rifle as measured from the top of the receiver to the underside of the scope tube, nor may the scope be offset from the top center line of the receiver. Any sighting device programmed to activate the firing mechanism is prohibited.

(c) Any trigger not subject to accidental discharge. Triggers which function on release are not permitted. In the event of accidental discharge, the Range Officer shall require adjustment or replacement of the rifle.

(d) Stock: The stock must be traditionally styled and may not be bent and/or twisted so as to deviate from conventional configurations such as factory rifle stocks or silhouette stocks as manufactured by Fajen, McMillan, H-S Precision, and others. The forend, including the trigger guard mounts and screws, shall not exceed 2 /14 inches wide, and 2 1/4 inches deep measured from the center line of the bore. Magazines do not have to conform to stock measurements but those that extend below the stock line may not be used as support as per Rule 3.1(h) and 3.14. The forend shall extend a minimum of 8 inches forward of the forward edge of the receiver ring. The comb shall not extend above the center line of the bore, but Monte Carlo roll may rise 1/2 inch on the off side. The toe of the stock including butt-plate or recoil pad shall be no more than 7 inches below the center line of the bore. Butt-plate or recoil pad may not extend below the lower line of the stock.

(e) Attachments which do not cause any portion of the rifle to exceed the weight or dimensions as listed herein are permitted provided they do not exceed past the end of the barrel. Sighting devices are not considered "attachments".

(f) Trigger guard must be present and may not vary from conventional configuration for the purpose of providing added thumb or palm support and shall be no deeper than 1 5/16 inches below the bottom line of the forend. (Note: T/C Contender and Ruger Single Shot rifles are exempt, provided the additional depth of the trigger guard is not used as palm or thumb support.)

(g) The barrel may be no longer than 30 inches including any sleeve or attachment, as measured from the face of the closed bolt to the end of the barrel.

(h) Exceptions: U.S. caliber .30 M1, M14, and M1A. These rifles only may exceed the weight limit. Telescopic sights are not permitted. The magazine of the M1A or M14 may not be used as a palm rest.

NRA Rule 3.1.1 High Power Hunting Silhouette Rifle - A hunting style production rifle, a minimum of 500 being produced in a 12 month period, as a catalog item and readily available for display and sale to the general public throughout the United States, and that is not a custom rifle nor a factory rifle that has been extensively customized for accuracy. With the exception of single shot rifles, all other types must be repeating rifles, which shall be fixed by loading all cartridges from the magazine or clip into the chamber. The intent of this rule is to describe a common hunting rifle as manufactured and delivered from the factory. It shall be the competitor's responsibility to provide any documentation necessary to establish that a High Power Hunting Silhouette Rifle conforms to these rules.

(a) Caliber: In a factory supplied caliber, with the additional restrictions that the caliber be 6mm or larger and that all belted magnums are not permitted.

(b) Weight: Maximum weight including sights: 9 pounds.

(c) Sights: Any telescopic or metallic sight may be used. Scopes may not be more than 1.5 inches above the rifle, as measured from the top of the receiver to the underside of the scope tube, nor may the scope be offset from the centerline of the bore. Exception: for rifles that eject the empty cartridge case straight up and normally use an offset scope, the scope may be offset. Any sighting device programmed to activate the firing mechanism is prohibited.

(d) Stock: Must be the factory stock that came with the rifle. Attachments, either removable or permanent, are not permitted. Swivels and slings are permitted, but slings may not be used for arm support in shooting. Replacement stocks are allowed if they conform to the style and dimensions of the original. If left hand stocks are not available from the manufacturer, a right hand stock may be replaced with a left hand version that is a mirror image of the right hand stock and that is similar in material and finish to a factory original.

Non-bolt-action single shot rifles must have a separate butt-stock and forend.

The only allowed alterations to the factory or factory replacement stock are epoxy and/or pillar bedding, and the addition of a recoil pad that adjusts the length of pull only and that has the approximate dimension as the original butt plate, continuing the contour of the stock. The refinishing or repainting of  a stock that does not alter the texture or configuration of the stock is permitted.

(e) Trigger: Only original factory supplied triggers are allowed. Replacement triggers must be a factory supplied trigger for the same or similar model rifle.

Trigger pull shall not be less than 2 pounds.

In the event of an accidental discharge, Range Officers shall require adjustment or replacement of the rifle.

All factory safety features , including any manual safety, must be functional.

(f) Barrel: The barrel will be that of a factory hunting style rifle, having a taper from chamber to muzzle. Bull or varmint barrels are not permitted. A factory installed tuner that is a catalog item and that does not act as a muzzle brake is permitted. The original factory barrel may be replaced, provided that the factory external shape is maintained as close as possible, the caliber is one offered by the original manufacturer, and the length is the same as the factory original, provided that it does not exceed 26 inches.

(g) Magazines: Factory magazine, loaded to factory capacity not to exceed 5 rounds. During the match, all cartridges must be loaded into the chamber from the magazine. Magazines not capable of holding 5 rounds may be reloaded as required, or for removable magazines, multiple magazines may be used. Exception: During a Shoot Off, single cartridge loading may be used, at the discretion of the Range Officer.