thumb|right|300px|Target sizes of the chicken, pig, turkey, and ram targets, scaled to their angular sizes as they would appear if placed at the correct distances from the shooter during the fullbore rifle event with target heights of approximately 4-5 [[minute of arc|MOA (1.2-1.5 mrad). In the fullbore handgun event the angular target heights are approximately three to four times larger, or 12-20 MOA (3.5-5.6 mrad).]]
Metallic silhouette shooting is a group of target shooting disciplines that involves shooting at steel targets representing game animals at varying distances, seeking to knock the metal target over. Metallic silhouette is shot with large bore rifles fired freehand without support out to 500 meters, and with large bore handguns from the prone position with only body support out to 200 meters. Competitions are also held with airguns and black-powder firearms. A related genre is shot with bow and arrow, the metal targets being replaced with cardboard or foam. The targets used are rams, turkeys, pigs, and chickens, which are cut to different scales and set at certain distances from the shooter depending on the specific discipline.
History
Metallic silhouette is descended from an old Mexican sport, dating back to the early 20th century, wherein live game animals were staked out at varying distances as targets. By 1948, metal cutouts of the animals were used instead of live animals, birthing "siluetas metalicas." The first metallic silhouette match was held in Mexico City. Because of the sport's Mexican roots, in the United States the silhouettes are often referred to by terms from several varieties of American Spanish, namely gallina (chicken), jabali (pig), guajalote (turkey), and borrego (ram).
The first silhouette range constructed in the United States was in 1967 at Nogales, Arizona. Growth was steady until 1973, when the NRA became involved in the sport. By the mid-1980s it was the fastest-growing gun sport in the United States. It is a sport that appeals to hunters, plinkers, and serious target shooters without the financial barriers of some other competitive shooting sports. Jim Carmichel called it the "common ground on which to unite."
Governing bodies
The International Metallic Silhouette Shooting Union (IMSSU) is the international federation controlling metallic silhouette competitions for both rifle and pistol. As of 2020, the IMSSU has 26 member regions.
North America
There are two major US-based bodies: The United States Metallic Silhouette Association (USMSA) covers all types of silhouette shooting in the United States, and the International Handgun Metallic Silhouette Association (IHMSA) covers only silhouette pistol shooting. There are some minor differences between the international IMSSU rules and those used in domestic competitions, but it is generally possible to compete in all with the same equipment.
Europe
The European Metallic Silhouette Shooting Association (AETSM) (French name Association Européenne de Tir sur Silhouettes Métalliques) is the European regional body of the IMSSU. AETSM was founded in 1989 and was a founding member of IMSSU in 1992, after which it was incorporated into the newer organization. As of 2020, 17 European countries are represented by AETSM.
Handgunners may be required to shoot from an unsupported standing position (two hands may be used), or from a "freestyle" position. Freestyle includes some unusual positions, such as the Creedmore position, which is shot lying on the back, legs bent and feet flat on the ground, with the pistol resting on the shooter's right leg. In a freestyle position the pistol may only contact the shooter's body, no rests may be used (not even, in the case of the Creedmore position, the top of a boot).
There are informal matches for special classes, like cowboy rifles and pistols and vintage military surplus rifles.
All rifle shooting is done standing, with the firearm unsupported. The exception to this is black-powder rifles; the ranges are the same as large-bore rifles, but only chickens must be shot unsupported; all other targets may be shot from any position, including crossed sticks, a bench may not be used. Pistol shooting, unless in a designated standing event, can be shot from any unsupported position. Like the any-position pistol shooters, standing pistol shooters adopt odd positions in their quest for the most stable possible shooting position. Standing pistol is the most difficult discipline; no one has yet shot a perfect 40x40. Standing big-bore any-sight pistol matches are often tied with perfect scores, and decided by a tiebreaker.
International handgun categories
The four international fullbore handgun divisions sanctioned by IMSSU are: Unlimited, Production, Standing, and Revolver.
;IMSSU Unlimited: Iron sighted pistols and revolvers with a maximum barrel length and sight radius of , and a maximum weight of . The sight radius is measured from the rear of the sight blade to the highest portion of the from sight. The overall length of the firearm can no more than . The bullet diameter must be minimum 6 mm (.240"). The shooting position is freestyle, and most opt to shoot lying. The iron sights are usually open, but diopter and hooded sights are also permitted. Muzzle brakes are not permitted. Revolvers are uncommon due to a having a higher degree of difficulty, i.e. longer lock time. Examples of popular handguns for IMSSU Unlimited are the XP-100 and Thompson/Center Contender.
;IMSSU Production: Stock iron sighted pistols and revolvers. The handgun model must be readily available, and modifications are not permitted as a rule of thumb. The maximum barrel length is , the maximum sight radius is , and the maximum weight is . The overall length of the firearm can be no more than for pistols and for revolvers. Only open iron sights are permitted, and diopter sights are thus not permitted. The rulebook also further specifies any permitted modifications as well as accepted grip shapes. The shooting position is freestyle, and most opt to shoot lying. An example of a popular handguns for IMSSU Unlimited is the Thompson/Center Contender, as well as production bolt action pistols such as Loppo and Jalonen.
;IMSSU Standing: Same technical rules as IMSSU Production. The only difference to IMSSU Production is that the class is shot from the standing position.
;IMSSU Revolver: Only revolvers. Otherwise the class follows the same technical rules as IMSSU Production. The shooting position is freestyle, and most opt to shoot lying. Examples of popular revolvers include Ruger Single Six and Ruger Super Blackhawk, as well as models from Freedom Arms and Smith & Wesson.
IMSSU also has smallbore variations of the fullbore classes which follow the same rules, except that the only cartridges permitted are .22 Short, .22 Long, or .22 Long Rifle, that the target distances are halved, and that diopter sights are permitted in standing smallbore.
U.S. national handgun categories
As of 2020 most competitions in the U.S. are shot under NRA or IHMSA competition rules instead of using the international IMSSU rules, except for World Championships which are held according to IMSSU rules. The NRA rules lies closer to IMSSU, since NRA is the U.S. representative of IMSSU through the United States Metallic Silhouette Association (USMSA). The National Rifle Association of America (NRA) has a total of 7 categories, which can be divided into 3 Conventional categories and 4 Unlimited categories. IHMSA has a total of 8 categories, which can be divided into 3 Production categories and 5 Unlimited categories. The NRA Conventional and IHMSA Production categories are very similar, and the same can be said for the NRA Unlimited and IHMSA Unlimited categories. There are some minor differences and overlaps between the different three different competition rulesets, with the most important outlined below.
;IMSSU Hunting Rifle: Also called High power hunting silhouette rifle. A hunting style rifle having a maximum weight of , including sights and if applicable, an empty magazine or clip. The intent is to describe a common hunting rifle. Caliber 6 mm or larger, provided that no belted cartridges or magnums are allowed. Sights can be any telescopic or metallic sight. Scopes may not be more than above the rifle. Exception: for rifles that eject the empty cartridge case straight up and that normally use an offset scope, the scope may be offset. Any sighting device programmed to activate the firing mechanism is prohibited. Stocks can be hunting style; thumbhole-type stocks are not permitted. Trigger pull can not be less than . Rifles must be equipped with a functional safety, and all safety features must be functional. A hunting style contoured barrel that tapers from chamber to muzzle must be used, while bull barrels are not permitted. Factory tuners that do not act as a muzzle brake or compensator is permitted. Maximum barrel length is , including tuner. Magazines may not be loaded with more than five rounds. At the 2007 NRA Smallbore Rifle Silhouette National Championship 71% of all of the standard rifles were Anschutz rifles, 67% of the hunter rifles were Anschutz rifles.
;IMSSU Silhouette Rifle Small Bore: Also called smallbore silhouette rifle. Identical to the description of the high power silhouette rifle, except that the rifles are chambered for only factory loaded .22 caliber (5.6 mm) short, long or long rifle rimfire cartridges. Hyper velocity rounds are not allowed.