Bullseye Competition Handguns
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243winxb
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Start by reading the National Rifle Association Precision pistol rulebook. Available online.
The 3 stages require a 22lr, center fire & a 45 caliber.
You can get by with 2 guns. 22lr & 45acp. Just use the 45 for center fire, also.
The 3 stages require a 22lr, center fire & a 45 caliber.
You can get by with 2 guns. 22lr & 45acp. Just use the 45 for center fire, also.
Varminterror
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On a budget, a Ruger Mark IV (or 22/45 Mark IV) and a 1911. With a little more to invest, replace the Mark IV with an S&W 41. With a lot to spend, hammerli.
Charlie Martinez
Member
The bullseye bunch I started with are unfortunately all fading away these days but they taught me a lot about shooting and guns. Target 1911's (45 ACP) included Colt Gold Cups or National Match and a few Les Baers. 38 Special target revolvers were common for the centerfire round and I recall only one (who was a very good shooter) had a S&W 32 caliber wadcutter pistol for the centerfire portion. For the 22lr portion of the shoots some darn good ones shot 1911's with 22lr conversions. Others shot S&W Model 41's, Rugers & High Standard target pistols.
One thing I noticed was that they considered ammo more important than gun for consistent shooting performance. Centerfire was reloaded and none shot cheap 22lr ammo. When a batch of (usually Eley brand) 22lr was identified as very good they all chipped in and bought as much bulk ammo as they could afford.
Regarding which guns were best all I can say is that while good ammo was important for most the equipment was never an issue unless the pistols jammed or misfired. You had to be really, really good before you could start blaming the guns for low scores.
One thing I noticed was that they considered ammo more important than gun for consistent shooting performance. Centerfire was reloaded and none shot cheap 22lr ammo. When a batch of (usually Eley brand) 22lr was identified as very good they all chipped in and bought as much bulk ammo as they could afford.
Regarding which guns were best all I can say is that while good ammo was important for most the equipment was never an issue unless the pistols jammed or misfired. You had to be really, really good before you could start blaming the guns for low scores.
I shoot all three classes of Bullseye. In .22 I have a S&W Model 41 as well as a High Standard Victor and a Pardini.
For Center Fire, I use a S&W Model 52, and a Sig Hammerli P240 and a Benelli MP35 both in .32 S&W Long WC and a Gold Cup in .38 Super.
For .45 I use a Colt Gold Cup National Match and a Rock Island Custom wad cutter.
Bob
For Center Fire, I use a S&W Model 52, and a Sig Hammerli P240 and a Benelli MP35 both in .32 S&W Long WC and a Gold Cup in .38 Super.
For .45 I use a Colt Gold Cup National Match and a Rock Island Custom wad cutter.
Bob
LiveLife
Member
Thanks for your reply.
Really? A RIA for bullseye shooting. (ETA, RRA)
Just checked RRA website and found the following. Dang, it may be my next 1911 - https://www.rockriverarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_ID=138
"GUARANTEED TO SHOOT 1.5 INCH GROUPS AT 50 YARDS WITH 185 GRAIN FEDERAL GOLD MEDAL MATCH SEMI-WADCUTTER OR ATLANTA ARMS JHP"
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Mike OTDP
Member
Most serious Bullseye competitors shoot the 1911 for both the Centerfire and .45 portions of a 2700. Fewer guns to master, fewer cartridges to load.
Having said that, there's a significant minority shooting .32s of some sort. The big problem being that the European guns in .32 S&W Long have barrel twists that are about 1:18...which won't reliably stabilize a full wadcutter beyond 30 yards. They are great for the timed and rapid fire matches, but suffer in slow fire. Pardini is making a gun in .32 ACP...you have to handload for it, but it works great.
Having said that, there's a significant minority shooting .32s of some sort. The big problem being that the European guns in .32 S&W Long have barrel twists that are about 1:18...which won't reliably stabilize a full wadcutter beyond 30 yards. They are great for the timed and rapid fire matches, but suffer in slow fire. Pardini is making a gun in .32 ACP...you have to handload for it, but it works great.
JeffG
Member
+1 on the S&W Model 52 wadcutter gun. A soft shooting, accurate bullseye gun.
rabid wombat
Member
The S&W 52 is a grail gun!
My Bullseye shooting friends are gone; moved away, passed away or stopped shooting. They used a 45 wadcutter gun for the centerfire portion of the match. They also had a dedicated hardball gun. I got interested in accurizing 1911's by shooting with them. Here is a camera case shooting box that might be easy for you to make. A local 1911 smith made a left handed one for me. I still use it. Put my Glocks in it and all.
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1KPerDay
Member
You guys are talking about 2 different companies. RIA=Rock Island Armory.
LiveLife
Member
You are correct.
I initially searched RIA website for "Wad Cutter" but did not find it and found it on RRA website. Perhaps OP could clarify whether it was RIA or RRA.
https://www.rockriverarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_ID=138
johnmcl
Member
An early discovery in my Bullseye shooting adventure was that my Les Baer Premier ingested 200 grain semi-wad cutters just fine. That and a stock Ruger Mark II target and I was off. I later secured a Volquartsen upper for the Ruger, and later yet a Ultradot Matchdot. I had a jump in accuracy with each acquisition in the 22 division.
I shoot pretty much on my own these days.
I shoot pretty much on my own these days.
ADKWOODSMAN
Member
Most .45acp reloads are around 3.7 bullseye. easy recoil.
earplug
Member
I have shot revolvers in center fire matches. While they are accurate, mastering the double action trigger is a full time job.
38 SPL wadcutters are fun to shoot and easy to reload. My Model 14 is a joy to shoot. My best scores were made with a four inch K frame fixed sight bull barrel that was drilled and tapped for a Match Dot.
38 SPL wadcutters are fun to shoot and easy to reload. My Model 14 is a joy to shoot. My best scores were made with a four inch K frame fixed sight bull barrel that was drilled and tapped for a Match Dot.
rabid wombat
Member
My understanding, most shoot two…22 and the 45 in the centerfire and 45 portions….real competitors, please chime in
243winxb
Member
Yes 2 guns. I did shoot a S&W M28 revolver in center fire in the 70s a few times, when i competed. Problem is reloading the gun fast enough, when everyone else is quickly loading a magazine.
When the range office says , "is the line loaded" call out "NOT LOADED".
What shooters are using these day, no idea. I would guess autos with red dots. Open class allows dot or iron sights.
I haven't competed but practiced/trained along side with those who did, casted my bullets and did my share of volume shooting. Matches were on Sunday and so was church was why. +1 on using two guns. I've owned 3 different model 41's, 3 high standards, a Kart .22 conversion, a 1911 38 amu converted to 38 special, two SW52s and a Ruger mk2. Keepers are a Masaki 1911 and a Marvel .22 conversion. Imho, one cannot go wrong shooting a .22 with a 1911 grip. Nelson or Marvel is good.
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Are optics necessary to be competitive or can it be done with iron sights?
I tried a few practice rounds yesterday and was way off from the last time I tried. The guy in the lane next to me had a match last weekend and said he was off too. I think it’s contagious.
I imagine rapid fire with a revolver is quite challenging. I’ll have to have someone time me next trip and see if I can even do it with my 22. Our pistol range stops at 25 yards. I need to try some of the 50 yard slow fire stuff. I’ve been doing 50’ targets but when I run out I’ll switch to 25 yard targets. I also did a couple rounds at 11 yards with a 10 meter air pistol target. That thing is tiny even from just 10 yards.
I tried a few practice rounds yesterday and was way off from the last time I tried. The guy in the lane next to me had a match last weekend and said he was off too. I think it’s contagious.
I imagine rapid fire with a revolver is quite challenging. I’ll have to have someone time me next trip and see if I can even do it with my 22. Our pistol range stops at 25 yards. I need to try some of the 50 yard slow fire stuff. I’ve been doing 50’ targets but when I run out I’ll switch to 25 yard targets. I also did a couple rounds at 11 yards with a 10 meter air pistol target. That thing is tiny even from just 10 yards.
243winxb
Member
Irons will get you in a clasification according to your ability. Their are 5 clasifications, if you look at tne online rule book.
Irons is all i used. Back in the day, scopes/optics on a hand gun was very new, not common.
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