Target vs silhouette

[Sir William]

Why, actually is a "target" pistol different than a "sihouette" pistol?  Why would the two types not be interchangable?

[chongman]

IMO it's a play on words in regards to marketing.  If I'm wrong...

Another way I think of it is the type of "target" I'm shooting at.

Target= ring values with a bulls eye
Silhouette= man shape, from head to just below shoulders

[BDS]

+1, and the silhouette refers to the chicken, ram, turkey and pig of the metallic silhouette shooters. Started in Mexico with very large scale metallic targets at long distances and with PB Pistols like the Thompson Contender single shot with varmint type loads. Progressed into .22 LR and air guns years later.

[jdub]

I thought there was a FPE aspect tied to it as well.  A 360 fps 10m pistol will make beautiful round little holes in paper targets but maybe have some struggles knocking anything metal down.

That's just what I had in my head.  I have no idea if there is even a grain of truth to it.

[BDS]

The 2300S has the "power adjuster" and should be capable of 500 fps in .177

AG shooters tend to shoot 500 to 600 fps in pistol silhouette and about 800 fps (avg) in rifle silhouette.

The liitle targets will go down easily with 400 fps, maybe less. The replica swingers need a bit more oomph to swing noticeably.

[RC1947]

Good question.  I've often wondered what the difference was. RC