My intent behind this blog is to especially focus on marksmanship, i.e. precision shooting. But precision is a relative term. 10m air rifle and pistol involve extreme precision, because the rifles and pistols used are capable of one-hole accuracy. Because they are shot from a relatively short distance (you guessed it, 10 meters or about 33 feet), the scoring rings are tiny.
Air rifles and pistols are great first "guns," and great last guns if you still believe good Jewish boys and girls aren't supposed to have real guns. Both 10m rifle and pistol are Olympic sports, and great fun for all ages. The NRA has an air rifle program for juniors, and kids can compete at the regional and national levels.
The rifles aren't toys...your Jewish mother will still be worried because you can put someone's eye out...the pellets leave the muzzle around 600 feet-per-second. Learn to handle them safely. They can kill small rodents, and some people use these rifles for that. Target pellets usually won't penetrate drywall. Traps are usually made of steel, but some people get by with a cardboard box filled with rags. You can also use putty in a box, and then there won't be any sound upon pellet impact.
This evening I shot the target above that will serve well for discussion. There are actually four shots in that hole in the middle. But I flubbed a 7 (any shot that breaks the higher scoring line is awarded the higher point). Consider that all five shots fit within a dime, but my score on that target was not so good. Is that kind of challenge up your alley?
Getting started in 10m rifle is relatively easy. First you need a rifle intended for 10m competition. I'm going to throw some big numbers at you, but relax...think Total Cost of Ownership. Smart Jews buy used cars, or luxury cars that hold their value. The same approach can be applied to firearms. You can buy a high end model and sell it a few years later for about what you paid, or you can find a real bargain in the used market and enjoy high-end luxury at a discount.
I use a Feinwerkbau 300S (German) that I bought used for a little over $400. 20 years ago it was the top of the line Olympic rifle that sold for twice that. New 10m rifles from Feinwerkbau or Steyr (Austrian) go for about $1500, but you can find them used. My rifle is charged by a lever that cocks a spring piston, whereas the "modern" technology is an aluminum cylinder you fill off of a scuba tank. There are a few American 10m rifles, but they tend to fall short in the quality of the trigger. If you're considering a 10m rifle for a junior, keep in mind the NRA has rules about which 10m rifles are legal for certain matches, i.e. some makes and configurations are allowed and some aren't, so do your homework first.
Once you have the rifle, your costs are minimal after that to get started. You just need pellets, which are really cheap at about $5-$10 for 500. Over time if you get competitive you can add more gear. You can practice at home, even if you don't have a 10m line you can use a shorter distance and just scale down the target for practice.
Youtube has some videos you can check out and see a 10m match in action, but honestly if you're not a participant, watching a match can be like watching paint dry. If you're interested in learning more about 10m air rifle or pistol (I'll blog about pistol soon), drop me a line, I'll be glad to help.
Air rifles and pistols are great first "guns," and great last guns if you still believe good Jewish boys and girls aren't supposed to have real guns. Both 10m rifle and pistol are Olympic sports, and great fun for all ages. The NRA has an air rifle program for juniors, and kids can compete at the regional and national levels.
The rifles aren't toys...your Jewish mother will still be worried because you can put someone's eye out...the pellets leave the muzzle around 600 feet-per-second. Learn to handle them safely. They can kill small rodents, and some people use these rifles for that. Target pellets usually won't penetrate drywall. Traps are usually made of steel, but some people get by with a cardboard box filled with rags. You can also use putty in a box, and then there won't be any sound upon pellet impact.
This evening I shot the target above that will serve well for discussion. There are actually four shots in that hole in the middle. But I flubbed a 7 (any shot that breaks the higher scoring line is awarded the higher point). Consider that all five shots fit within a dime, but my score on that target was not so good. Is that kind of challenge up your alley?
Getting started in 10m rifle is relatively easy. First you need a rifle intended for 10m competition. I'm going to throw some big numbers at you, but relax...think Total Cost of Ownership. Smart Jews buy used cars, or luxury cars that hold their value. The same approach can be applied to firearms. You can buy a high end model and sell it a few years later for about what you paid, or you can find a real bargain in the used market and enjoy high-end luxury at a discount.
I use a Feinwerkbau 300S (German) that I bought used for a little over $400. 20 years ago it was the top of the line Olympic rifle that sold for twice that. New 10m rifles from Feinwerkbau or Steyr (Austrian) go for about $1500, but you can find them used. My rifle is charged by a lever that cocks a spring piston, whereas the "modern" technology is an aluminum cylinder you fill off of a scuba tank. There are a few American 10m rifles, but they tend to fall short in the quality of the trigger. If you're considering a 10m rifle for a junior, keep in mind the NRA has rules about which 10m rifles are legal for certain matches, i.e. some makes and configurations are allowed and some aren't, so do your homework first.
Once you have the rifle, your costs are minimal after that to get started. You just need pellets, which are really cheap at about $5-$10 for 500. Over time if you get competitive you can add more gear. You can practice at home, even if you don't have a 10m line you can use a shorter distance and just scale down the target for practice.
Youtube has some videos you can check out and see a 10m match in action, but honestly if you're not a participant, watching a match can be like watching paint dry. If you're interested in learning more about 10m air rifle or pistol (I'll blog about pistol soon), drop me a line, I'll be glad to help.
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shooting in 10 m is really challenging and I love challenges.
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