I have been re-reading my older journals and came across "mistakes were made" by our editor.  Back in the early 1980's, High power silhouette matches were being held in Alma, Mi.  They decided to add .22 rim fire rifle matches.  The only rifle I had at the time was an Australian cadet re-barred with a Remington Match-Master barrel, with a non- click appature sight mounted on reciever, and  blade front.  A med. weight sporter with shotgun butt.
    I made up an elevation chart based on number of turns up from 25 yd. zero.
    Went to first match..knocked down a few rams...and I was hooked!
The targets used were the .22 handgun Silhouette  chicken at 25yd., pig at 50yd., turkey at 75yd. and ram at 100yd.  all offhand of course.
    Targets were a challenge...but not so hard as to be thought impossible with irons.
     Thought I had found my new game..and practised every chance I had looking forward to the next month''s match.
    Then a week or so before match, I get a letter stating all further matches cancelled due to NRA stating targets were not official. 
Club had to purchase or make the tiny legal NRA approved targets.
    These smaller targets are designed for scope use..I tried shooting the paper printed rams at 100yds, and couldn,t see them with irons...and 26 year old eyes!  I didn't want to use scope for offhand..and still prefer irons.
   It seems sometimes the shooting fraternity are our own worst enemys.  With all the anti''s out there....it seems to me we could loosen up on some of the rules.  I still like the idea of .22 handgun targets for offhand..especially for getting the youngsters involved...remember if it's not fun and too difficult, their back to the internet.
     Awhile back I made up a bunch of Buffalo silhouette targets..about 3"×4".  The idea was to set these out at some unknown distances, using a single shot .22 and cross sticks and see how many one could knock over in so much time..unlimited # of shots..just time constraint..I bet the kids would go nuts over this...before I could give it a try..Club ruled no steel knock down targets allowed...Arggh!  Oh well..perhaps another location..anyone know of abandoned gravel pits in Mi.?

I used to shoot NRA smallbore silhouette back in the day with a BSA M12 w/original sights. I selected globe front sight inserts that matched the "official sized" targets and did quite well as an AA-class shooter (edging into AAA before I lost interest and moved on). Whupping up on the other guys mainly armed with expensive Anschutz's with fancy optics didn't make me particularly popular. At the end of the day, as in all shooting sports, constant practice was the leveler of the playing field.