F. A. Q.:
This looks interesting, where can I learn more about bullseye competition?
While I could try and fill you in, your best bet is to go to www.bullseyepistol.com for all the rules, regulations, instructions, equipment recommendations, and other items of interest. Be prepared to invest a long afternoon and evening exploring the Bullseye Pistol Website.
How do I get started?
First off, if you have never shot a firearm, I recommend that you go to MSU Demmer and take their safety class. They are professionals, they know what they are doing, and you will get off on a very good start with guidance from people who have done this a very long time.
If you are familiar with a firearm, then you can continue with MSU Demmer with one of their firearms (check their website for costs), or you can send me an email at ccrcpistolteam at gmail dot com. Meet me at the range for a short and highly entertaining introduction to bullseye pistol shooting. That should get you familiar with the range commands, what to expect your first match, and get your feet wet into bullseye pistol competition.
Sounds good but I am not so sure……
No problem, come on out and just watch the first match. Better yet, bring your equipment because we usually shoot two lines and once you see how much fun we are having on the first line, you will loose your inhibitions and join us on the second line.
But my score, wont other shooters be upset that I am holding down the team score?
Actually, only the four top shooters count for the team score so you do not have to worry about that. This is specifically designed such that new shooters try it out and have the opportunity to have fun whereas the heavy competitors can do their thing as well. As a matter of fact, when some of our team gets the dreaded Colorado Ski Virus in February, you come in as the fourth shooter we will be rolling out the red carpet for you so we do not forfeit a match.
This seams like such a masculine sport, all the macho testosterone going around out there. As a woman, I am not sure I will be comfortable.
You wouldn’t believe me if I told you we have the greatest woman bullseye shooter in the country on our team so I am not going to mention anything about her. We do have a good number of female shooters that significantly contribute to the team every week. Most matches, half of our record shooters of the female persuasion.
That one particular shooter I am not going to talk about does enjoy grinding us dudes into sawdust every week, and she takes a particular interest in assisting new shooters as well (future victims?) She is a cherished, well loved, and highly respected teammate.
What is it going to cost?
Well, there is no way around it, competition shooting can be an expensive sport with equipment costs, ammunition costs, range fees, entry fees, transportation, and hotel costs. A lot of those costs are minimized or eliminated in our winter indoor bullseye pistol league but you need to recognize it can be expensive.
So how much are the range fees?
While the first couple times you participate, a $13.00 range fee for MSU Demmer will be required, a $5.00 CCRC pistol Team match fee is required, and you will need to make arrangements for your equipment and ammo. After your first couple of matches, you will need to join MSU Demmer on a Monthly basis, which currently is $39.00/Month. Please check with MSU Demmer for current rates and firearm availability. The $5.00 CCRC pistol team match fee covers the cost of the targets, the CMRPL league fee, and a little extra to make sure we are operating in the black.
So tell me about the equipment costs please?
The first two items you need are eye and ear protection. Not that expensive but you gotta have them. Ear muffs, disposable ear plugs, and safety glasses are required and easily obtained from a variety of sources.
Once you have shot a couple times, you are going to want to get your own firearm but before we talk about pistols, you need to think about some other items, specifically, a pistol case to carry your pistol, your eye and ear protection, ammo, and the hundreds of other knick nacks we all collect in our pistol boxes. Start out cheap since what ever you get first will not be suitable after a couple of matches. A cheap plastic tool box and the box the pistol came in should work out good to begin with. While it may be tough, I recommend that you have patience, see what your fellow competitors are using, shop the supply websites, and sometimes used pistol boxes become available. Try and get a good feeling for what you need before you purchase, you need to save your cash for ammo.
Ok, how about the pistols?
Well, if you already have a repeating 22 lr pistol, you have the firearm you need to get started.
If you need to obtain a firearm, there are two that I would recommend you take a look at, the Ruger Mk series of pistols and the Browning Buckmarks. With the browning, basically what you buy is what you are going to be competing with. There are not a lot of upgrades available to a buckmark other then a trigger job and a red dot.
The Ruger, on the other hand, has a number of upgrades/improvements such that if you are not careful, you can upgrade it to the tune of $1,600.00 and you will end up with a firearm that you will be lucky to get $700 for it. Speaking of better pistols, the more expensive pistols are not going to improve your score much. I have been beat by good shooters using rugers and buckmarks quite often.
What about the “Better” Pistols?
Next step up the cost ladder is the S&W Model 41 and the Benelli Model 95s. They cost from $1,000.00 to $1,200.00 and retain their value quite well. The S&W is the classic pistol design whereas the magazine is in the grip whereas the Benelli has the magazine in front of the trigger. As you may imagine, while they have similar costs, their handling characteristics are quite different. These pistols may or may not need a trigger job.
Then there is the Benelli Model 90s. These go for about $1,600.00 and are exactly like the cheaper Benelli Model 95s except they have a highly refined user adjustable trigger. You may have seen a Benelli Model 90s in the London Olympics.
Ok, what about the top of the line pistols?
Top of the line pistols are available from FWB, Walther, Pardini, and Hammerli. If you decide to purchase one of these you will be laying out from $2,000.00 to $3,000.00 depending on options, spare parts, number of magazines, and red dot mounts. While they are very expensive, you are (usually) getting top notch quality, superior reliability, and a Olympic pedigree.
Wow, that’s a lot of moola for a rimfire pistol!
I agree, and it’s really tuff to explain to the better half too! But once you have some experience, shooting a high quality pistol is like driving a top notch luxury European sport sedan when compared to a Chevy Astro Van or a Chrysler K car. (I don’t care if it has the rich Corinthian leather, them K cars were dogs!)
(To all you four legged canine bullseye competitors out there surfing this website, please accept my humble apologies)
Wow, that’s expensive, what about used guns?
While I personally have done very well on used rifles for rimfire competition, in my experience, I wish I started with the ruger as discussed above. On the positive side, I am probably the most knowledgeable gunsmith for the Russian Olympic Target Pistol, the Baikal 35m, in the United States of America. I purchased the Baikal 35m used and while that pistol has an impressive Olympic history, it required significant maintenance/repairs to keep it competitive and I would not go down that path again. I purchased my next competition pistol new with a full warranty with a high priority on continued manufacturers support.
With that being said, there are many shooters that have purchased a used pistol and obtained a very high quality pistol for a reasonable price. Recall the Ruger Mark 1, Mark 2, or the Mark 3. Often, you can get a upgraded pistol with $900.00 of aftermarket parts for a total cost of $650.00. I would not hesitate to buy a used ruger because every part is available on that gun and unless there is some serious lousy frame gunsmithing, not much cannot be fixed. I would be careful with the High Standards, they were awesome pistols in their day but the new Texas firearms are questionable. Their reliability is dependent on their magazines and the mags need to be tuned by someone who knows what they are doing. Used Smith and Wesson’s can be had for $700.00 and some think the old ones are better then the new ones at $1,000.00.
The old model (Don Nygoord) Pardini’s generally are getting $1,200.00 used. Not sure if they are the equal for the new $2,400.00 pardini but that is a heck of a price difference and parts are available from Pardini USA.
There is a cult following for the old Hammerli 208s pistols. Generally they fetch over $2,000.00 used, well above their original purchase price. Larry’s guns out of Maine was repairing them last I heard.
So, bottom line, maybe used guns are a good way to go, but sometimes they are not so good.
HEY, You forgot about revolvers!
Thank you for bringing that up! Revolvers are most welcome at our bullsye matches. We will put all our right handed shooters over here, and our southpaws over on the left. That way we can all keep an eye on you! And offer all the unsolicited advice you never asked for!
In all seriousness, if you have a revolver, either single action or double action, let the range officer know and he will be happy to accommodate you.
You mentioned red dot scopes, what about them?
First off, you can shoot using iron sights if you want but your scores will probably be significantly higher with a red dot. And as you age, your sight will not improve and irons will become more difficult. With that being said, most shooters use red dots except for matches where irons are required. When you first look into red dot scopes, you will find two types, the reflex sight which looks like a single lens on top of the pistol and then the tube style which looks like a common riflescope although a little bit shorter. Bullseye shooters generally go for the tube style sight because we can add sunshades and polarized lens shields. The people that compete in IPSIC and IDPA prefer the reflex sights due to the cleaner sight picture they provide. While the tube sight is slightly better for bullseye, you really need to pay attention to the manufacturer. There is a lot of junk out there, and there is a lot of junk that is unsuitable for bullseye shooters that meet the manufacturers specifications such that they will not repair or replace it when you learn that it is no good. There are three red dot manufacturers that I recommend. Ultra Dot, C-More, and Aimpoint. The ultra dot is found on 95 percent of the shooters on the bullseye line because of its reasonable cost, its pedigree, its high performance, its high quality, and the warranty. The conversion shooters that shoot the run and gun competitions may prefer the C-More reflex sights. Some of the more discerning shooters use the old aimpoint 9000 series tube sights due to the purety of the dot. While Ultra Dot scopes have a couple different models, most shooters pick one up new for about $250.00.
Red Dot Size, you have a choice, 2 MOA, 3MOA, 4 MOA, 6 MOA, 8 MOA and I think you can get some bigger ones. Most people select the 2 through 4 moa dots, the 4 moa dot appears just slightly smaller then the black portion of the target whereas the 2 moa dot is significantly smaller and covers up a space about the size of the 10 ring. Proponents of the 4 MOA dot say the 2 MOA dot is too wiggly, proponents for the 2 MOA dot say the 4 MOA dot is not precise and they are both correct. While I can tell you that a 2 MOA is right for me, I have no idea what size dot you will prefer. Some people who have a hard time making up their mind get the variable size dot model from ultra dot. And then others say the variable dot model changes zero when switching dot size. I am not going to get into the 1 inch tube vs the 30 mm tube but you can be assured that there is plenty of controversy there too! What you need to take away from this red dot discussion is do not waste your money on an off brand scope, and to try different sizes out prior to purchasing one.
I see lots of shooters using spotting scopes, should I get a spotter?
There are two answers to this question:
Can you guys get any ammo?
I grant you it has been tough the last year or so. Our team, in conjunction with the other teams in the CMRPL, has an informal ammo alert system. When one of the approved suppliers has case lots of particular ammo available, our ammo alert notification system activates and before you know it, we have a couple trucks headed our way.
So what ammo do you recommend?
Accuracy wise, you will probably find that the limiting factor for the accuracy of the shooter/pistol/accuracy relationship is your dominant eyeball. At 25 yards, most of us can group pistols using a rest and a red dot, within 3/8th of an inch at 25 yards. If you are young and really good, maybe ¼ inch. At 50 yards, these grow to 7/8th of an inch for normal people and not quite a half an inch for Olympic shooters. So, with that in mind, we will eliminate all ammo that we cannot shoot to that degree of precision from our consideration. When you have gone through that exercise, you will find that all of the supersonic bulk ammo does not meet your accuracy requirements. Maybe Federal Ultra Match will meet that accuracy but the powerfull recoil may disrupt your shooting in timed and rapid fire and also damage your gun so that stuff is out. That leaves the subsonic stuff that has a variety of costs but is limited by the precision we have in our dominate eyeball.
Ok, since alibi’s are so costly, our next area of evaluation is the reliability of the ammo. We shoot thousands of rounds and note the temperatures, conditions, and number of rounds since the last cleaning when evaluating potential ammo. In this regard, every gun is different. The only way to figure out what your gun likes is to shoot it and shoot it a lot. To give you an example, the following is a breakdown of various ammunitions in my gun and what I use them for:
Eley Sport: No longer available, good practice ammo during cold weather and reliability is excellent when temperatures are above 70 degrees. I was disappointed with the number of malfunctions when temperatures dropped. Good price at $300.00/case of 5,000 rounds. Not an acceptable competition ammo.
CCI SV standard velocity: Just a touch less accurate then the other ammos I use. Zero alibi’s, always cycles really good regardless of the temperature. As mentioned, the test groups are a touch larger then other ammo so I am looking for a more accurate, just as economical, and non greasy ammo but have not been successful. Currently available at about $400.00/case in bulk. My go to practice and competition ammo.
Wolf Match/SK Standard Plus. Just a touch better accuracy wise then CCI sv but a lot more expensive at $600.00/case when available. Not sure the accuracy is worth it but I got to mention the wolf snot lubrication that migrates to the pistol grip, the steering wheel, and eventually to the front porch doorknob which prevents access to main domicile after a shooting match. Would be interesting to study if the more accurate but greasy Wolf Match groups better with a greasy hand grip against the decidedly lesser accurate CCI SV which uses dry lubrication.
SK pistol match. A more expensive and higher powered pistol match ammo. Significant jump in recoil although delivers 100% reliable function. About $700.00/case. Not sure if the additional recoil and slippery wolf snot lubrication negates any accuracy improvement over CCI SV.
SK Pistol Match Special. A even more powerfull, more expensive, supercharged pistol match ammunition. About $760.00/case. I am confidant this ammo comes up short on the affordability/accuracy/grip slipperyness/recoil measurement scale.
Eley Target: Not enough horsepower to reliably cycle pistol, no further evaluation needed.
RWS Rifle Match: Less slippery lubrication. Zero alibi’s. Provides acceptable accuracy but at $700.00/case, CCI SV is better purchase for practice and until futher information is available, for competition use as well.
For the sake of true honesty, there are a couple of shooters that disagree with my recommendations on 22 lr ammo selection. As a matter of fact, my number one long distance coach and super mentor from Puerto Rico was quick to point out that Sk Pistol Match Special is gods gift to Pardini Shooters. While I do not agree, you need to recognize that there are quite a number of contradictory ammunition recommendations out there and continuous practice and evaluation is required.
What I am trying to say is that you need to practice, practice, and practice some more with your equipment, sights, ammo, light conditions, eye protection, ear protection, spotting scope, such that you got it perfect. Now, if you are going through the motions for one reason or another, you will groan with despair. On the other hand, if you are a true firearms enthusiast, and you know you are without serious questioning, you will see endless shooting practices at the local range and shiver with anticipation!
What other equipment will I need?
A timer is nice, make sure it is silent.
A waterbottle,
A rag to dry hands and forehead.
Two magazines for your firearm is required, bring a third one just in case.
Ammo.
Small rag to put your gun down on the table. I recommend a lightweight pure cotton gentlemen's handkerchief. Cheap at the discount stores, 100 percent cotton is very desirable and I like the thin weave.
Empty Chamber Indicator (Required)-See me I give out freebies. (available at the CMP, $5.00 for a dozen).
Hat
Ear and Eye protection.
There are lots of other stuff recommended for the firing line, the trick is to figure out what you need and more importantly, what you do not need. Last thing you want is a cardiac hernia carrying your shooting box to the firing line.
This looks interesting, where can I learn more about bullseye competition?
While I could try and fill you in, your best bet is to go to www.bullseyepistol.com for all the rules, regulations, instructions, equipment recommendations, and other items of interest. Be prepared to invest a long afternoon and evening exploring the Bullseye Pistol Website.
How do I get started?
First off, if you have never shot a firearm, I recommend that you go to MSU Demmer and take their safety class. They are professionals, they know what they are doing, and you will get off on a very good start with guidance from people who have done this a very long time.
If you are familiar with a firearm, then you can continue with MSU Demmer with one of their firearms (check their website for costs), or you can send me an email at ccrcpistolteam at gmail dot com. Meet me at the range for a short and highly entertaining introduction to bullseye pistol shooting. That should get you familiar with the range commands, what to expect your first match, and get your feet wet into bullseye pistol competition.
Sounds good but I am not so sure……
No problem, come on out and just watch the first match. Better yet, bring your equipment because we usually shoot two lines and once you see how much fun we are having on the first line, you will loose your inhibitions and join us on the second line.
But my score, wont other shooters be upset that I am holding down the team score?
Actually, only the four top shooters count for the team score so you do not have to worry about that. This is specifically designed such that new shooters try it out and have the opportunity to have fun whereas the heavy competitors can do their thing as well. As a matter of fact, when some of our team gets the dreaded Colorado Ski Virus in February, you come in as the fourth shooter we will be rolling out the red carpet for you so we do not forfeit a match.
This seams like such a masculine sport, all the macho testosterone going around out there. As a woman, I am not sure I will be comfortable.
You wouldn’t believe me if I told you we have the greatest woman bullseye shooter in the country on our team so I am not going to mention anything about her. We do have a good number of female shooters that significantly contribute to the team every week. Most matches, half of our record shooters of the female persuasion.
That one particular shooter I am not going to talk about does enjoy grinding us dudes into sawdust every week, and she takes a particular interest in assisting new shooters as well (future victims?) She is a cherished, well loved, and highly respected teammate.
What is it going to cost?
Well, there is no way around it, competition shooting can be an expensive sport with equipment costs, ammunition costs, range fees, entry fees, transportation, and hotel costs. A lot of those costs are minimized or eliminated in our winter indoor bullseye pistol league but you need to recognize it can be expensive.
So how much are the range fees?
While the first couple times you participate, a $13.00 range fee for MSU Demmer will be required, a $5.00 CCRC pistol Team match fee is required, and you will need to make arrangements for your equipment and ammo. After your first couple of matches, you will need to join MSU Demmer on a Monthly basis, which currently is $39.00/Month. Please check with MSU Demmer for current rates and firearm availability. The $5.00 CCRC pistol team match fee covers the cost of the targets, the CMRPL league fee, and a little extra to make sure we are operating in the black.
So tell me about the equipment costs please?
The first two items you need are eye and ear protection. Not that expensive but you gotta have them. Ear muffs, disposable ear plugs, and safety glasses are required and easily obtained from a variety of sources.
Once you have shot a couple times, you are going to want to get your own firearm but before we talk about pistols, you need to think about some other items, specifically, a pistol case to carry your pistol, your eye and ear protection, ammo, and the hundreds of other knick nacks we all collect in our pistol boxes. Start out cheap since what ever you get first will not be suitable after a couple of matches. A cheap plastic tool box and the box the pistol came in should work out good to begin with. While it may be tough, I recommend that you have patience, see what your fellow competitors are using, shop the supply websites, and sometimes used pistol boxes become available. Try and get a good feeling for what you need before you purchase, you need to save your cash for ammo.
Ok, how about the pistols?
Well, if you already have a repeating 22 lr pistol, you have the firearm you need to get started.
If you need to obtain a firearm, there are two that I would recommend you take a look at, the Ruger Mk series of pistols and the Browning Buckmarks. With the browning, basically what you buy is what you are going to be competing with. There are not a lot of upgrades available to a buckmark other then a trigger job and a red dot.
The Ruger, on the other hand, has a number of upgrades/improvements such that if you are not careful, you can upgrade it to the tune of $1,600.00 and you will end up with a firearm that you will be lucky to get $700 for it. Speaking of better pistols, the more expensive pistols are not going to improve your score much. I have been beat by good shooters using rugers and buckmarks quite often.
What about the “Better” Pistols?
Next step up the cost ladder is the S&W Model 41 and the Benelli Model 95s. They cost from $1,000.00 to $1,200.00 and retain their value quite well. The S&W is the classic pistol design whereas the magazine is in the grip whereas the Benelli has the magazine in front of the trigger. As you may imagine, while they have similar costs, their handling characteristics are quite different. These pistols may or may not need a trigger job.
Then there is the Benelli Model 90s. These go for about $1,600.00 and are exactly like the cheaper Benelli Model 95s except they have a highly refined user adjustable trigger. You may have seen a Benelli Model 90s in the London Olympics.
Ok, what about the top of the line pistols?
Top of the line pistols are available from FWB, Walther, Pardini, and Hammerli. If you decide to purchase one of these you will be laying out from $2,000.00 to $3,000.00 depending on options, spare parts, number of magazines, and red dot mounts. While they are very expensive, you are (usually) getting top notch quality, superior reliability, and a Olympic pedigree.
Wow, that’s a lot of moola for a rimfire pistol!
I agree, and it’s really tuff to explain to the better half too! But once you have some experience, shooting a high quality pistol is like driving a top notch luxury European sport sedan when compared to a Chevy Astro Van or a Chrysler K car. (I don’t care if it has the rich Corinthian leather, them K cars were dogs!)
(To all you four legged canine bullseye competitors out there surfing this website, please accept my humble apologies)
Wow, that’s expensive, what about used guns?
While I personally have done very well on used rifles for rimfire competition, in my experience, I wish I started with the ruger as discussed above. On the positive side, I am probably the most knowledgeable gunsmith for the Russian Olympic Target Pistol, the Baikal 35m, in the United States of America. I purchased the Baikal 35m used and while that pistol has an impressive Olympic history, it required significant maintenance/repairs to keep it competitive and I would not go down that path again. I purchased my next competition pistol new with a full warranty with a high priority on continued manufacturers support.
With that being said, there are many shooters that have purchased a used pistol and obtained a very high quality pistol for a reasonable price. Recall the Ruger Mark 1, Mark 2, or the Mark 3. Often, you can get a upgraded pistol with $900.00 of aftermarket parts for a total cost of $650.00. I would not hesitate to buy a used ruger because every part is available on that gun and unless there is some serious lousy frame gunsmithing, not much cannot be fixed. I would be careful with the High Standards, they were awesome pistols in their day but the new Texas firearms are questionable. Their reliability is dependent on their magazines and the mags need to be tuned by someone who knows what they are doing. Used Smith and Wesson’s can be had for $700.00 and some think the old ones are better then the new ones at $1,000.00.
The old model (Don Nygoord) Pardini’s generally are getting $1,200.00 used. Not sure if they are the equal for the new $2,400.00 pardini but that is a heck of a price difference and parts are available from Pardini USA.
There is a cult following for the old Hammerli 208s pistols. Generally they fetch over $2,000.00 used, well above their original purchase price. Larry’s guns out of Maine was repairing them last I heard.
So, bottom line, maybe used guns are a good way to go, but sometimes they are not so good.
HEY, You forgot about revolvers!
Thank you for bringing that up! Revolvers are most welcome at our bullsye matches. We will put all our right handed shooters over here, and our southpaws over on the left. That way we can all keep an eye on you! And offer all the unsolicited advice you never asked for!
In all seriousness, if you have a revolver, either single action or double action, let the range officer know and he will be happy to accommodate you.
You mentioned red dot scopes, what about them?
First off, you can shoot using iron sights if you want but your scores will probably be significantly higher with a red dot. And as you age, your sight will not improve and irons will become more difficult. With that being said, most shooters use red dots except for matches where irons are required. When you first look into red dot scopes, you will find two types, the reflex sight which looks like a single lens on top of the pistol and then the tube style which looks like a common riflescope although a little bit shorter. Bullseye shooters generally go for the tube style sight because we can add sunshades and polarized lens shields. The people that compete in IPSIC and IDPA prefer the reflex sights due to the cleaner sight picture they provide. While the tube sight is slightly better for bullseye, you really need to pay attention to the manufacturer. There is a lot of junk out there, and there is a lot of junk that is unsuitable for bullseye shooters that meet the manufacturers specifications such that they will not repair or replace it when you learn that it is no good. There are three red dot manufacturers that I recommend. Ultra Dot, C-More, and Aimpoint. The ultra dot is found on 95 percent of the shooters on the bullseye line because of its reasonable cost, its pedigree, its high performance, its high quality, and the warranty. The conversion shooters that shoot the run and gun competitions may prefer the C-More reflex sights. Some of the more discerning shooters use the old aimpoint 9000 series tube sights due to the purety of the dot. While Ultra Dot scopes have a couple different models, most shooters pick one up new for about $250.00.
Red Dot Size, you have a choice, 2 MOA, 3MOA, 4 MOA, 6 MOA, 8 MOA and I think you can get some bigger ones. Most people select the 2 through 4 moa dots, the 4 moa dot appears just slightly smaller then the black portion of the target whereas the 2 moa dot is significantly smaller and covers up a space about the size of the 10 ring. Proponents of the 4 MOA dot say the 2 MOA dot is too wiggly, proponents for the 2 MOA dot say the 4 MOA dot is not precise and they are both correct. While I can tell you that a 2 MOA is right for me, I have no idea what size dot you will prefer. Some people who have a hard time making up their mind get the variable size dot model from ultra dot. And then others say the variable dot model changes zero when switching dot size. I am not going to get into the 1 inch tube vs the 30 mm tube but you can be assured that there is plenty of controversy there too! What you need to take away from this red dot discussion is do not waste your money on an off brand scope, and to try different sizes out prior to purchasing one.
I see lots of shooters using spotting scopes, should I get a spotter?
There are two answers to this question:
- A) Yes, you need a spotter to verify your zero the first
couple shots of the match.
- B) No, it will screw up your concentration; you are better
off without one.
To simplify things, both A and B are correct. You definitely need a scope to verify your gun’s zero during slow fire so most of us have a scope mounted to our pistol box aimed at the target. The problem is that we will shoot 4 tens in a row and then we will be thinking of a 100 point slow fire target and before you know it, we are looking in the scope after every shot. That’s when we loose concentration and flip a shot into the 6 ring and we are struggling the whole match after that. Or, we will shoot three 7’s in a row and clustermess our minds such that we cannot shoot straight the rest of the match.
Well, maybe not to that degree every match but shooting is such a mentally demanding sport and it’s easier for the spotting scope to get your mind off the game then for the shooting scope to help you out during a match. So, yes, you need a spotting scope but try not to use it.
If you are only doing winter indoor bullseye shooting, a $30.00 Burris 20x50 will suffice, actually the image clarity will discourage you from looking through it too much. For those of us that enjoy quality optics, Konus has a cute little angled 10x30x50 for about $130.00 that is an awesome buy. You see a number of Kowa scopes being used by the top notch shooters, and if you have to ask what the price is, you can not afford one and really shouldn’t be looking at them. Better yet, don’t ever, ever, ever, ever, look through a kowa spotting scope if you’re a working man or a pensioner.
Can you guys get any ammo?
I grant you it has been tough the last year or so. Our team, in conjunction with the other teams in the CMRPL, has an informal ammo alert system. When one of the approved suppliers has case lots of particular ammo available, our ammo alert notification system activates and before you know it, we have a couple trucks headed our way.
So what ammo do you recommend?
Accuracy wise, you will probably find that the limiting factor for the accuracy of the shooter/pistol/accuracy relationship is your dominant eyeball. At 25 yards, most of us can group pistols using a rest and a red dot, within 3/8th of an inch at 25 yards. If you are young and really good, maybe ¼ inch. At 50 yards, these grow to 7/8th of an inch for normal people and not quite a half an inch for Olympic shooters. So, with that in mind, we will eliminate all ammo that we cannot shoot to that degree of precision from our consideration. When you have gone through that exercise, you will find that all of the supersonic bulk ammo does not meet your accuracy requirements. Maybe Federal Ultra Match will meet that accuracy but the powerfull recoil may disrupt your shooting in timed and rapid fire and also damage your gun so that stuff is out. That leaves the subsonic stuff that has a variety of costs but is limited by the precision we have in our dominate eyeball.
Ok, since alibi’s are so costly, our next area of evaluation is the reliability of the ammo. We shoot thousands of rounds and note the temperatures, conditions, and number of rounds since the last cleaning when evaluating potential ammo. In this regard, every gun is different. The only way to figure out what your gun likes is to shoot it and shoot it a lot. To give you an example, the following is a breakdown of various ammunitions in my gun and what I use them for:
Eley Sport: No longer available, good practice ammo during cold weather and reliability is excellent when temperatures are above 70 degrees. I was disappointed with the number of malfunctions when temperatures dropped. Good price at $300.00/case of 5,000 rounds. Not an acceptable competition ammo.
CCI SV standard velocity: Just a touch less accurate then the other ammos I use. Zero alibi’s, always cycles really good regardless of the temperature. As mentioned, the test groups are a touch larger then other ammo so I am looking for a more accurate, just as economical, and non greasy ammo but have not been successful. Currently available at about $400.00/case in bulk. My go to practice and competition ammo.
Wolf Match/SK Standard Plus. Just a touch better accuracy wise then CCI sv but a lot more expensive at $600.00/case when available. Not sure the accuracy is worth it but I got to mention the wolf snot lubrication that migrates to the pistol grip, the steering wheel, and eventually to the front porch doorknob which prevents access to main domicile after a shooting match. Would be interesting to study if the more accurate but greasy Wolf Match groups better with a greasy hand grip against the decidedly lesser accurate CCI SV which uses dry lubrication.
SK pistol match. A more expensive and higher powered pistol match ammo. Significant jump in recoil although delivers 100% reliable function. About $700.00/case. Not sure if the additional recoil and slippery wolf snot lubrication negates any accuracy improvement over CCI SV.
SK Pistol Match Special. A even more powerfull, more expensive, supercharged pistol match ammunition. About $760.00/case. I am confidant this ammo comes up short on the affordability/accuracy/grip slipperyness/recoil measurement scale.
Eley Target: Not enough horsepower to reliably cycle pistol, no further evaluation needed.
RWS Rifle Match: Less slippery lubrication. Zero alibi’s. Provides acceptable accuracy but at $700.00/case, CCI SV is better purchase for practice and until futher information is available, for competition use as well.
For the sake of true honesty, there are a couple of shooters that disagree with my recommendations on 22 lr ammo selection. As a matter of fact, my number one long distance coach and super mentor from Puerto Rico was quick to point out that Sk Pistol Match Special is gods gift to Pardini Shooters. While I do not agree, you need to recognize that there are quite a number of contradictory ammunition recommendations out there and continuous practice and evaluation is required.
What I am trying to say is that you need to practice, practice, and practice some more with your equipment, sights, ammo, light conditions, eye protection, ear protection, spotting scope, such that you got it perfect. Now, if you are going through the motions for one reason or another, you will groan with despair. On the other hand, if you are a true firearms enthusiast, and you know you are without serious questioning, you will see endless shooting practices at the local range and shiver with anticipation!
What other equipment will I need?
A timer is nice, make sure it is silent.
A waterbottle,
A rag to dry hands and forehead.
Two magazines for your firearm is required, bring a third one just in case.
Ammo.
Small rag to put your gun down on the table. I recommend a lightweight pure cotton gentlemen's handkerchief. Cheap at the discount stores, 100 percent cotton is very desirable and I like the thin weave.
Empty Chamber Indicator (Required)-See me I give out freebies. (available at the CMP, $5.00 for a dozen).
Hat
Ear and Eye protection.
There are lots of other stuff recommended for the firing line, the trick is to figure out what you need and more importantly, what you do not need. Last thing you want is a cardiac hernia carrying your shooting box to the firing line.