Here is an edited version of the rules for Smallbore Rifle Silhouette competition. These are not the "Official" NRA rules. But enough to give someone new an idea as to what the rules are.
Rules of the Targets and the Firing Line
RELAY: A relay is a session of shooting always done in sets of 5 silhouette targets. Each set of 5 is aclled a "Bank". If you are to shoot 10 targets in each relay, you shoot 2 Banks of 5 targets, if you are to shoot 15 shots in each relay, you shoot 3 Banks of 5 targets. The method of shooting each Bank of 5 is described in the "Time Limit" section.
Targets
Chicken or Gallena targets are set at 40 meters (43.7 yards). Pig or Javalina targets are set at 60 meters (65.6 yards), Turkey or Guajalote targets are set at 77 meters (84.2 yards), Rams or Borrega targets are set at 100 meters (109.4 yards)
Match Formats
A match consists of 40, 60, 80 or 120 rounds with equal shots at each of the 4 different animals.
40 round match consists of 4 relays of 10 shots at each animal.
60 round match consists of 4 relays of 15 shots at each animal.
80 round match consists of 8 relays of 10 shots at each animal, this is shot over 1 or two days as two 40 round matches. It is also possible to shoot it as 4 relays of 20 shots at each animal but I have not seen this method.
120 round match consists of 12 relays of 10 shots at each animal. This can be shot over 2 days as an 80 round match followed with a 20 round match, 2 days as two 60 round matches or over 3 days as three 40 round matches.
Time Limits
This is how each bank of five targets are done............
You rifle begins unloaded in a "Benched" position, you cannot be holding it or touching it in any way. You can have no more ammunition with you than is needed in your relay, or 5 rounds maximum per pre-loaded clip if it is clip fed. If you are shooting 10 rounds in each relay, you have a maximum of 10 rounds with you, or a maximum of two clips with 5 rounds in each clip.
"READY" or "LISTO" command is given, You then can load your rifle with your first bullet or snap in your clip and you can adjust your scope. YOU CANNOT SHOOT YET!
15 seconds later the "FIRE" or "FUEGO" command is given. You then have a total of 2 minutes and 30 seconds to shoot one shot at each target, after the 2 minutes and 30 seconds the command "CEASE FIRE" or "ALTO FUEGO" is given.
While firing, you must shoot only one shot at each target and in the correct order from left to right. Any shot done incorrectly is counted as a miss even if a target is knocked down. If you miss a target, you move to the next target. If you accidentally discharge your rifle, if for any reason a round is discharged, it is counted as a shot and you move to the next target. If you nick a target and move it, it is not a hit unless it is moved off the pedestal. If it is a two footed animal, Pig or Ram, if one foot moves "completely" off the pedestal, it is a hit. If the bullet ricochets, spins, tumbles, does a back flip and then the intended target is hit and knocked down, it is a hit. If you have a mis-fire shell, one that fails to discharge, or your gun malfunctions, you declare an "Alibi" for that shot, and any other occurring during that bank of 5 targets, fired as described below, immediately following the "CEASE FIRE" or "ALTO FUEGO" for that bank of 5 targets, you are allowed this privilege only once in a match. Also, if your gun malfunctioned, you may replace it for the remainder of that match, or repair it if it will not delay the match, and use an "Alibi" for each shot in that bank in which it malfunctioned.
ALIBI: You will be allowed the 15 seconds after the command of "READY" or "LISTO" to prepare your rifle and 30 seconds to fire after the "FIRE" or "FUEGO" command.
NOTE:
During
a relay, a minimum of 30 seconds will be allowed between the command
"CEASE FIRE" of the First set of 5 and the command of "READY"
or "LISTO" for your next set of 5 in that relay.
Shoot-offs for ties: You will be allowed the 15 seconds after the command of "Ready" or "Listo" to prepare your rifle and 30 seconds to fire after the "Fire" or "Fuego" command. This will repeat until the tie is broken.
HOME ........... RANGE RULES ........... RIFLE RULES
CLASSIFICATIONS, SCORING & AWARDS .......... TECHNIQUES 1
TECHNIQUES 2 .......... TARGETS1 ..... TARGETS2
TESTING & MOUNTS .......... MY WIFE AND I ...... MY SHOOTING HISTORY
SILHOUETTE HISTORY .........SCOPE ADJUSTMENTS AND BALLISTICS
CLEANING ........ CUSTOM ENGRAVING