2016, 2nd year @ Silhouettes

[Nuclearcricket]

Jim, yes you will need X sticks and there are rules that govern them but I don't know what they are off the top of my head other than the spikes are limited to 3".
The hood on the front sight might be a good idea. For a 40 shot match I would say that 60 would be a minimum and 80 would be better.
I would just start out with 100 Winchester cases and not worry about the chamber length at this point in time. Just get a good load worked up with a quality 500 grain bullet or so and go from there. Any good quality Creedmore bullet should work well as well as the good old Lyman Government bullet. I would think that the Postel design should work well also.
One thing I would suggest that you do not do is open up the flash holes in your cases. That really isn't necessary, and many people have found that they get good or better results by putting a piece of paper of some sort over the flash hole.
Seems tht the current wisdom for loading is CCI BR2 primers, a case full of powder, a wad and yoru bullet. DO NOT use your bullet to compress the powder. Depending on the flavor of powder you use, how much you compress will change, some brands like very little, some do a lot better with a lot.
You will need a blow tube or flexible rods if your going to wipe between shots. Also patches and solvent.
As far as the target ranges go, the Chickens are shot off hand at 200M, everything else is shot off of sticks either setting or laying down. Pigs at 300M, Turkeys at 385M and the Rams at 500M. Chickens are tough because of trying to hold a heavy rifle off hand. Turkeys are a little hard because you want to center up on the leg and the body is actually a bit off center to the leg. Pigs are pretty easy, and the rams, well they are just a long way away, they are well over 1/4 mile out there.
Now all that being said, I cant really think of things that are much more fun than pulling the trigger and hearing that clang and looking down there to see the critter you were aiming at isn't there any more.
And the funny thing is, even with everyone else shooting and hitting, somehow you just know when that clang is your target.
Sam