Any Reference to Identify Competition Pistol Requirements

[GunMac]

I am starting to review some of the rules for pistol competition.

Requirements are very specific and I don't want to buy a gun which is cannot be used.

Is there any reference which identifies by competition type which out of the box guns are acceptable?

I would like to try a wide range of competitions so a one gun fits all list would be great.

[Jim Watson]

I don't know any such place offhand, but:

A well set up 1911 .45 ACP could be shot in NRA Conventional Pistol (bullseye) Centerfire and Bigbore matches. Most serious competitors there use optical sights but that would hamper you in other games. You would still need a good .22 for the Smallbore portion but that could be handled with a Marvel conversion unit.

It would be entirely competitive in USPSA/IPSC Limited-10 and IDPA CDP. It would go fine in PPC autoloader events.

I don't know if there is a place in metallic silhouette shooting for it and I don't think ISU allows such large calibers. It would be too modern for even Wild Bunch SASS matches and would not get you into a GSSF match.

[oldtrooper]

NRA Action pistol is competetive handgun sport. There are two categories Metallic Sights and Production in which a metallic sight handgun will be competetive. The metallic sight category allows for more modification. Go to the NRA website and you can view the rules for each.

The other category is Open where dot scopes, compesators, etc rule.
Revolvers are very competetive as all stages are six shot and they fall into the same Open, Metallic, and Production catergories.

In addition .22 Rimfire is recognized in the same categories.

Check it out.

[bdutton]

NRA conventional pistol (bullseye) you will need:

1 .22 pistol
1 CF and or .45 pistol.

You can stick to the .22 portion of competition only and most indoor league matches are only .22 anyway.

I like the idea of getting a .45 accurized and slapping a marvel conversion unit on the top for .22 competition. The Marvel is agruably the best pistol on the market and it only costs $400 (You sill need to get a .45 lower).

You cna try getting a starter .22 pistol. A Ruger Mark II will go for $400-500. A middle class pistol is the Smith and wesson model 41. I higher class pistol is the hammerli 208s ($2000+).

A .45 accurized will cost about $1500-$2200. Les Baer, Rock River and Clark make great guns but will make you wait 6 months to get it. Some good bullseye smiths can build a gun cheaper and faster. Caspian makes match grade slides and frames from which a decent gunsmith can build a nail driver.

You can't go wrong if you have the cash by getting an accurized .45 and marvel conversion. Your trigger pull will be a wee bit heavy for .22 matches but you learn the same trigger and hold for all your matches.

I would also suggest starting off with the iron sights. It helps keep your focus on trigger control and recovery. Starting out this is a very important aspect of shooting and once you reach a certain level, switching to a dot sight (DO NOT GET A HOLOGRAPHIC SIGHT) will be a significant improvement.

EDIT: If you want a CF pistol you have a few options:
Hammerli and Walther makes a .32. Smith and Wesson used to make the model 52 in 38 special but that gun is notoriously unforgiving. Extreemly accurate but requires perfection of hold. Your best bet is to get yourself a good .45 and use that in both CF and .45 stages. Better yet, get two .45's.

[AJB2]

You can get a copy of NRA rulebook for pistol competition from NRA store on their website for $2.50.If you're going to compete you'll need one anyway.It will specifically tell you what is & what isn't allowed for each catagory.I don't know which discipline you shoot so I can't make any suggetions until you tell us more.Hope this helps.
Andy

[richardschennberg]

Beretta 92F 9mm fits everything except revolver and manufacturer/model specific matches such as Glock Sport Shooting Foundation. You might have to chose ammo carefully and have a gunsmith specializing in accurizing Berettas do a bit of work if you want it to be accurate enough at 50 yards to earn NRA Hardball Distinguished Points. You also have to keep it at at least barely a 4 lb trigger even when shot single-action (only for NRA Hardball - most matches have no minimum trigger pull weight). I have known a few shooters that were really close to the minimum clean everything out of the gun, including oil, with automotive brake cleaner (non-corrosive version, often also suitable for electrical contacts) and compressed air, before having an offical gunsmith (Camp Perry) or referee (regional or state match) weigh the trigger pull. They then proceed to oil up the gun after the trigger pull has been checked (at least that's legal; turing a screw on an adjustable trigger or changing parts is not).
An out-of-the-box Beretta is fine for USPSA/IPSC Production (and all other semi-automatic categories - Production is the most restricted), IDPA Stock Service Pistol or Enhanced Service Pistol, PPC auto, Steel Matches, and NRA Action Pistol.
Richard
Schennberg.com (http://www.schennberg.com)

[Igloodude]

I am starting to review some of the rules for pistol competition.

Requirements are very specific and I don't want to buy a gun which is cannot be used.

Is there any reference which identifies by competition type which out of the box guns are acceptable?

I would like to try a wide range of competitions so a one gun fits all list would be great.

I don't think there's one source that shows equipment requirements for all competitions.

As others have said, a factory-spec 1911 .45ACP (trigger to 4lbs, internal accurizing, good Bomar sights, but otherwise no-frills) will enable you to compete in NRA centerfire Bullseye, NRA Action Pistol, IDPA, IPSC, and as far as I know Pinshooting as well. Put a Marvel .22 upper on it and you broaden it to NRA rimfire Bullseye (most bullseye leagues and 1/3 to 1/2 of the big matches) and have inexpensive practice time with it.

[bdutton]

Beretta 92F 9mm fits everything except revolver and manufacturer/model specific matches such as Glock Sport Shooting Foundation.


The Berretta is a nice gun.

But... if you intend to shoot Bullseye (convential pistol) matches, the baretta is only good for the center fire portion and they are very finiky with ammo.

Best bet for bullseye is a 1911 .45 which will cover both centerfire and the .45 stages. Throw on a Marvel .22 conversion and you can use the same gun in the entire match.