THE FIRST IMSSU WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
The colourful article reproduced here was written in 1994 by Lawson E Vallery. Lawson is a Norwegian shooter of US origin. He is one of the pioneers who introduced silhouette shooting in Europe. In 1994 he was President of the AETSM, the European Silhouette Shooting Association.
On the handgun firing line in
Grasse
The first IMSSU World Championships of metallic silhouette were held in Grasse (France) from July 9th to July 16th 1994. There were more than 1800 entries and 13 out of the 14 IMSSU member nations were represented. Sadly only the USA was absent. The IMSSU member nations are: Finland, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Holland, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, South Africa, France and the USA.
I can only say that it was heart breaking and ironic that the country that produces and supplies the rest of the world with silhouette guns, the same country that invented handgun silhouette, was a no-show (Nuff said).
The next World Championships will be held in South Africa in the summer of 1996.
During the IMSSU World Championships, in both the big bore and small-bore handgun events, the categories were Production, Revolver, Standing Production, and Unlimited as well as both Field Pistol categories. In addition both categories of big bore and small-bore rifle were also offered.
A view from the firing line onto the Big Bore Handgun range
On the pistol range, which also was the small-bore rifle range, the conditions were about the same as in Oak Ridge (the IHMSA range in Tennessee, USA), 98 degrees F plus and 98% humidity day and night. For you see, Grasse is only 10 miles or so inland from the film festival resort of Cannes. However there are basically only two directions around Grasse itself, up and down. The pistol range was located about half way up a mountain. A serious mountain, in fact a very serious mountain of approximately 2500 feet elevation. The big bore rifle range was not so far away (as the crow flies) only 3000 more feet straight up. But in order to get to the rifle range it took a very scenic and often nail biting half-hour drive along the rim of these very serious mountains.
The big bore rifle shooters all agreed that they had three weather conditions under which to compete - hazy and windy, hazy and very windy and finally, hazy and gale force. Oh, by the way let me add in one small, but important factor. On the pistol range it was hazy and hot. As I said 98 degrees F and the shorts were the dress code. But do not wear them on the rifle range where the average temperature was between 40 and 50 degrees F.
This was a fun match - 1800 plus entries and only one protest. The arrangement itself was also spot on and flawless. 4 sets of big bore figures, 4 sets of small bore figures, 2 sets of field pistol figures, 2 sets of small bore rifle all on the pistol range and 2 sets of big bore rifle figures up in the clouds. There were more than 250 targets setters used during the match and targets were re-painted after every relay. The line officers were knowledgeable, firm, fair and very polite. In summary I can only say that from top to bottom every aspect of the first IMSSU Championships were conducted in a absolutely professional manner and the French Shooting Federation and their delegates were the most gracious of hosts.
The official language of the IMSSU is English as far as meetings and range commands, etc. However, it is difficult to describe how fun and exciting it is to hear the word fire and suddenly for two minutes the air of the firing line is not only filled with the sound of gun fire, but also with the language of 13 nations as shooters and spotters exchange instructions and comments.
On the firing line the competition was fierce, but behind the line, what a thrill to spend a week discussing metallic silhouette with fellow shooters from so many nations, so many different cultures and so many different laws concerning guns.
I guess if any one thing stands out in my mind, it is the fact that no matter what the country or the language the competitor spoke, when we sat around talking silhouette, every gun said POW! and every ram said PLING!
The Big Bore Revolver World Champion was from France with a 357 Manurhin. Four forties were fired in this category, and all by shooters from France and all with 357s of some kind. Also there were 4 thirty nines. Out of the top 20 revolver scores there were only four 44 calibre guns, two 357 Super Mags and the rest 357 Mags.
The Big Bore Production World Champion was also from France. In this category 21 forties were fired and 8 of these with Contenders one of which in calibre 7TCU won the World Championship.
In Big Bore Standing France again took top honours and the winning gun was a Unique. A break-open pistol something like a TC but manufactured in France. Five of the top ten shooters used Contenders.
In the Big Bore Unlimited category, Finland produced the World Champion. The most exciting shoot-offs of the match were in this category where there were 42 competitors with 40 hits. The shoot-offs in Big Bore Unlimited were run as a 20 shot half size match. Five Field Pistol figures set at 50 to 200 meters. Five chickens, pigs, turkeys and rams. The champion went clean as well as one French shooter. Twenty shots on ½ size and twenty down. Then smaller targets were set and the Finnish shooter finally won with 4 out of 5.
The small-bore revolver champion was also from Finland. His gun was a MR73 (Manurhin). Now how about this. Out of the top 50 shooters in Small-Bore Revolver, 46 used either a Casull 252 or a MR73. 24 with a MR73 and 22 with a Casull 252.
Small-Bore Production. Sorry to sound like a broken record, but both France and Finland do produce some fine silhouette shooters. The World Champion in this category was again from Finland with one of the three forties fired. His gun was an "AMT". The other two forties fired in Small-Bore Production were also from Finland followed by seven 39s.
Small-Bore Standing, and France wins again. The winning gun Hämmerli 120 is a single shot 22 pistol with toggle bolt but more of the lever action type. The lever is on the left-hand side of the action.
Small-Bore Unlimited and the World Champion comes from Finland. Twelve forties were fired in this category. The winning gun was Anschutz Exemplar and it was the most popular Unlimited 22 on the line.
The Field pistol open sight World Champion comes from South Africa. His gun a T/C in calibre 44 Mag.
The Field pistol Scoped World Champion is again from France using a Unique IS in 22 Hornet.
Brett
Randall - Australia - busy on the Small Bore Rifle
Alan Murray - also Australia - with his Big Bore Silhouette rifle standing on top of the mountain at the Big Bore Range.
I am sorry that I do not have a list of the types of rifles used by the different World Champions, but generally they are weapons that were produced in their own countries.
Last Modified:01 August, 2005 02:47 PM