considering trying to qualify for the Olympics. equiptment question.

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Erik Jensen

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Detroit. um... Dogg.
so, maybe it's just the Olympic mood coming over me, but I'm considering doing some *serious* training, and trying to get on either the American or Danish olympic team for 2008. yes, this could all be a pipe dream, and I won't have a chance, but still, indulge me. now, the problem right now is, I don't own a .22. at the moment, I don't think I can swing a true Olympic-caliber (no pun intended) target pistol, but I need something to start with. I'm pretty darn good with a .45 and a 9mm, but I need a .22 that will feel similar to a full-on Olympic pistol. anyone have any reccomendations? I was considering the EAA Baikal Izh35, but I was also thinking, would a Ruger MK.II with Target grips be a decent choice? is there something else that y'all would recommend? I'm looking for a 5 shot semi-auto in 22LR, just to train with, and I want the grip to be at least similar to the full-race guns. I know that they're running 22short in the olympics, but 22LR is more available, and, in my way of thinking, if I'm good with the slightly heavier recoil of 22lr, 22short should be no problem.

suggestions?
 
25 meter Rapid Fire Pistol, preferably. though Free Pistol is an option. I think free pistol is a single-shot pistol. Rapid Fire is definately five rounds.
 
The Baikal is a good choice - I don't where you're located, but it would help if you join a local club that has regular matches. In the states it's usually a bullseye league. Two other pistols you might want to look at are the Pardini SP and the Hammerli 208s (no longer in production, but they are available used). The Hammerli is similar to the Baikal, the Pardini has a different balance point. Both these guns have excellent, adjustable triggers.
 
The IZH products seem to be quite functional and yet reasonably priced.
 
I'd recommend against the Ruger: by the time you buy it, have it extensively reworked, and find good stocks, you can pay for a good pistol.

Ultimately, I'd guess you're going to end up with a Hammerli, a Pardini, or a Benelli, all of which are quite frightfully expensive, but better suited to olympic competition than American pistols. I know a Baikal owner, and have a Baikal air pistol. The Baikals are horrendously ugly, but mostly reliable.

If I were trying to make the olympic grade, I'd start with a top of the line olympic pistol and plan to shoot a minimum of 200 rounds a day, seven days a week, week in and week out, and compete in every match I could find.
 
Rapid fire is almost invariably fired with 22 Shorts. To the best of my (admittedly limited) knowledge, the last time anyone won a major rapid fire event with 22 LR's was "Joe" Benner in the '50 Pan Am Games.

Here's a pic of my old rapid fire pistol, a Hammerlï 230.

H230.jpg


Today, for a competitive pistol, I'd look at something like the Walther OSP2000, or perhaps, if you're on a tight budget, the Baikal IZH 34M. Most Baikals can be greatly improved from the "as delivered" condition by a talented 'smith.

Bob
 
Fake it for a year with a 7-in S&W Model 41 using the muzzle brake. You may even be able to find some old aftermarket ortho grips for one, too. It might teach you enough to tell whether RF or free pistol is your game--or BOTH!!:) :)

Just remember that your recoil recovery will be MUCH faster with the .22 short guns.
 
First, the rules for Rapid Fire just changed. It's all .22LR now, no more .22 short.

Second, I'd get a Walther, Pardini or Hammerli gun if you are going to give it a shot.

I shot a Walther GSP in college and loved it.


My advice is this, start thinking 2012. 2008 might be a rather unrealistic goal if you have never shot bullseye before, much less international bullseye. Most really good collegiate Free PIstol shooters are Juniors and Seniors, and have typically grown up shooting bullseye. These folks shoot scores of 500-520 regularly. Olympic scores are usually in the 550+ range for Free Pistol.

If you really want to do this, I'd suggest starting with air pistol. Get yourself a Morini 162E and a air tank to refill it with. You can practice all you want in the privacy of your own basement and for very little money. This will give you a good intro to ISSF shooting and the skills you develop in air pistol will cross over into free pistol.
 
My thoughts exactly.

Get a great quality air pistol and start practicing every day. Religously!

When I was trying to compete with ISU free air-rifle (now about 25 years ago). I practiced every day for a few hours, then add in the exercise training mind work and other training you are talking 2 to 3 hours a day, every day. You need a 10m course of fire, a good target system and then time to concentrate. It is truly a mental game more then mechanical in my opinion. I shot a Beeman 400 decked out target rifle which I still have.

When I moved up to small bore free rifle I was shooting an Anschutz Super match as I remember it and found I was truly outgunned by the raw gamesman. I lacked the time and money to really compete.

So to summarize. Aim for 2012, get an air pistol now and start practicing.

Oh yeah a good coach early on is better then a great coach later on when you have a bunch of bad habits developed (my approach). (thanks for being so patient Tom, even today I still remember you).
 
The IZH35M is considered a very good starter-level pistol. A thread on RimfireCentral speaks of EAA's supply problems however.
.....
Guns like the Ruger, H-S and S&W 41 are not considered real good choices for this type of shooting--they lack adjustability that is common among dedicated target pistols. The Trailside might be another option, if the IZH is not available. Beyond that, you are looking at used Euro club-level guns for $750+.
......
Competitors now use pre-charged target air pistols filled from a scuba tank, but these are rather exensive, usually $1200+. There is one manually-cocked pistol, the IZH46M--that is rated very good, and only costs around $300. You might think $300 is a lot, but -just like with the 22LR above--there really isn't any comparable air pistol you can get for anywhere near the same price.
~
 
Erik Jensen:


First of all, your chances to make a team depend entirely on you, but before you start understand that the quest will come to dominate your life. This isn’t something that’s easy, and the training and equipment isn’t inexpensive. Additionally, the courses of fire are entirely different then any kind of target shooting commonly done in the United States.

Start by getting some good books on the subject, including the rulebooks for the particular kinds of courses you might be interested in. You would probably like Rapid Fire over Free Pistol and/or Air Pistol, but Rapid Fire requires a range set-up with five turning targets. Free Pistol and Air Pistol only use one target and it can be stationary.

An air or gas powered pistol is invaluable because you can practice almost anywhere, even indoors in your home, and the cost of ammunition (.177 Cal. Pellets) is relatively inexpensive.

Last but not least. Do not even think about buying a gun until you know a lot more then you do now. I can safely say from experience, “if you make a mistake it will be an expensive one.â€
 
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