Rifle Metallic Silhouette Shooting

Rifle Metallic Silhouette (RMS) is a competitive shooting discipline where shooters aim to knock steel targets shaped like chickens, pigs, turkeys or rams at progressively longer distances. The sport has roots in Mexico in the early 1950s, came to Australia in the late 1970s, and now is firmly established within the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (SSAA) system.

Matches cater to centrefire, rimfire (.22LR) and air rifles, each with its own target size and distance scaling.

Centrefire

• Two main classes: Centrefire Silhouette Rifle (custom-built rifles allowed) and Centrefire Hunting Rifle (commercial hunting rifles only).
• Minimum calibre usually 6 mm or .243 for serious competition scanners.
• Typical targets: chickens at 200 m, pigs at 300 m, turkeys at 385 m, rams at 500 m.

Rimfire (.22LR)

• Two key classes: Rimfire Silhouette Rifle (target-style rifle) and Rimfire Hunting Rifle (off-the-shelf models).
• Distance and target size are scaled at roughly one-fifth of centrefire distances.

Air Rifle

• Targets scale even smaller; distances are one-tenth those of centrefire.
• Classes include target-style air rifles and sporter-type factory models (4.6 kg weight limit for sporter class).

• Steel targets are placed on stands in banks of five at each distance.
• In all classes, five shots at five targets (one per target), typically in 2½ minutes.
• A full match might be 40 shots (10 at each of the four target distances).
• No rests or slings allowed - all shots are fired from the standing, off-hand position.
• Scoring is simple: hit the target, knock it off, and record within time. Miss or hit out of sequence = penalty.

• Pure skill-based fun: it’s about precision, equipment choice, and consistent marksmanship.
• Iconic targets and long distances give the discipline a dramatic feel and genuine challenge.
• Open to experienced shooters and those keen to learn - many branches run “intro” silhouette matches.
• Strong community across NSW and link to national and international competition opportunities.

Rifle Metallic Silhouette Rule Book, No. 9, Revised Nov 2023

SSAA Guidelines for Use of Black Powder

SSAA official metallic targets rimfire

SSAA official metallic targets centrefire

SSAA official metallic targets air rifle

SSAA official practice targets 13

Rifle Metallic Silhouette

Discipline posters 2019 Rifle Metallic Silhouette

SSAA Standard Rules No 9.2 Rev Nov 2022

2025 SSAA WA RMS State Championships

2024 Lever Action Silhouette National Title

2024 Lever Action Silhouette State TAS Title

2023 SSAA Lever Action Silhouette Nationals

2023 SSAA Rifle Metallic Silhouette Nationals

2022 SSAA RMS WA State Titles

2022 SSAA RMS SA STATE TITLES

SSAA (WA) Rifle Metallic Silhouette State Championship 2020

2019 NT Rifle Metallic Silhouette State Championships

SSAA (SA) Lever Action Silhouette State Championships

The 2018 New Zealand Rifle Silhouette Championships

2018 RMS Rimfire Postal Shoot

2016 SSAA Qld Rifle Metallic Silhouette State Championships

2016 SSAA National Rifle Metallic Silhouette Rimfire Postal Championships

2017 SSAA Southern Highlands True Grit Cowboy Lever Action Silhouette Shoot

SSAA Tasmania Rifle Metallic Silhouette State Titles

NRA Cowboy Rifle Silhouette National Championships

SSAA National Cowboy Lever Action Silhouette Rifle Championships

SSAA National Cowboy Lever Action Silhouette Rifle Championships

SSAA Queenland Rifle Metallic Silhouette State Championships

SSAA Queensland Cowboy Lever Action State Championships

SSAA Tasmania Cowboy Lever Action Silhouette Rifle State Titles

SSAA SA Cowboy Lever Action Silhouette Rifle State Titles

5th Pacific Regional Shooting Championships Rifle Metallic Silhouette

SSAA NSW Rifle Metallic Silhouette State Titles

SSAA NSW Black Powder Cartridge Rifle and Service Rifle State Titles

SSAA WA Cowboy Lever Action Silhouette Rifle State Titles

SSAA Queensland State Rifle Metallic Silhouette Championships

SSAA SA Rifle Metallic Silhouette State Titles

1. Join an SSAA NSW club or range that offers metallic silhouette shooting.
2. Select your rifle class and ensure your firearm meets the rules (calibre, weight, no sling etc).
3. Attend a silhouette match as a spectator to see the format and meet competitors.
4. Register for the next match, sign in, follow briefing and range commands, and shoot your course.
5. Ask your discipline captain for rules, scoring sheets, and event schedule.