Service Pistol Competition Questions

[Jason Kirwin]

Dear Friends:

I am interested in shooting competitively with a pistol and I need some advice. I am researching the differenct types of completitions and am undecided on which way to go. It seems like the "service pistol" competitions would fit me the best as I like to shoot iron sites and I don't want to get into a money game.

It appears that the CMP sanctions service pistol shoots. Has anyone done this? what is it like? Cost? where? anything else for a novice?

How about other "service pistol" type competitions?

Or anything else I should know?

Thanks
Jason

 

[cdrt]

The Service Pistol match or EIC match that the CMP runs, is done in conjunction with either a NRA Conventional (Bullseye) Regional or State match and at the National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio. It is how you get "Distinguished". The match usually costs anywhere from $15 to $20 and is just part of the cost of the whole Regional or State 2700 match.

Bullsye or NRA Conventional Pistol matches is probably the way for you to go. I still shoot iron sights on my Bullseye guns. Check out the NRA website under competitions for the Rule Book, etc. For CMP matches, go to www.odcmp.com and check out their competition schedule and the rules on what a "service pistol" is. The main difference from the NRA and CMP, is that the trigger pull on a .45 1911 has to be at least 4 pounds for the CMP. The NRA limit is three and a half. You'll have to meet the 4 pound limit if you wan to shoot both.

Starting out, I would suggest you get a good "hardball" .45 that meets the CMP specs and a Ruger 22/45 for the .22 match that the NRA runs. You can use your .45 for the Centerfire portion of the 2700.

If you're in Texas and close to DFW or Wichita Falls, send me a PM, and I can direct you to some local matches.

We're running a "Bullseye" thread sticky in the Competitions section. Check it out.

 

[cavman]

If you are in the Mid-Atlantic area, here is a list of 2700 matches. Some of the matches as cdrt said also have an Excellence In Competition (EIC) service match at the end of the 2700. There are usually 25 on the line during the 2700, and about half also compete in the EIC at the end

http://www.bullseyematches.com/

 

[RobMoore]

My first question is what style of shooting do you want to compete in?

Standing behind a bench shooting at bullseye targets going for precision?

The same as above but with some "barricade" positions and various distances?

Running through a "course" firing at multiple targets, competing for points and time?

 

[Jason Kirwin]

Desired Shooting Style

Rob:

I am not a fast shooter. I am an accurate shooter. While in the service I did shoot some competition with a pisol. I would prefer bullseye type shooting and the CMP pistol and the NRA bullseye both seem to fit the bill.

The one concern I have about bullseye is that it seems that almost anything is legal. A good analogy may be racing if there were no engine limits. Not sure bullseye would be my game, though still unsure.

I am attracted to the whole idea of "service" competition. I like classic stuff and its cool to competete within a military style framework.

I am currently looking at a new 1911. Not sure on the make/model yet.

I live in Minnesota

Any advise is greatly appreciated.

 

[cdrt]

Before buying a 1911, check out the CMP rule book and the chart which shows what modifications are legal on a 1911 for EIC matches. If you have any questions about a particular model send me a PM and I'll check it out for you.

Most guys buy a Springfield Armory 1911A1 or similar pistol and add Bo-Mar sights, a better trigger, barrel, bushing, and front strap stipling to make a "hardball" gun.

Ammuntion, by the way, also is different for EIC Service Pistol matches versus regular Bullseye. EIC requires you to shoot 230 grain FMJ bullets loaded pretty much to hardball specs. Regular Bullseye allows any target loads that will function in your pistol.

We have one guy who uses his hardball gun for all aspects of Bullseye/EIC matches and he just made Master outdoors, so it is possible to shoot just as well as the guys with red dots, etc.

Not everything is legal in Bullseye; there are limits to trigger pull, sight radius, etc. that are detailed in the CMP and NRA rule books...no laser sights for example.

 

[SoCalShooter]

If you are going to get a 1911 my gunsmith who builds bullseye guns suggests using the springfield mil spec models. Its already got a lowered and flared ejection port and you will need to have bo mar style sights added then you will probably want a new trigger and you will want it tightened up and add a new barrel thats if you get serious otherwise just get a 1911 and start shooting if you really just want to get your feet wet in it. You may not like it as much as you think its a lot of damn work and a lot of damn money. But its worth it.

 

[lonegunman]

Before you buy a gun of any kind for bullseye go shoot a match. Service Pistol or "Leg Matches" are fired at most state shampionships and regionals and the nationals. You have to win three to get Distinguished. It took me a while to do that but I did it.

You can shoot irons in every stage of conventional pistol. It is not as competitive as dot scopes but you shoot mostly for your own pleasure anyway.

After you check odcmp.com, go to nra.org/competitions and see where they have matches in your area.

Then go have some fun. Just don't buy guns before you try a few matches. Otherwise you will simply have to sell guns to buy the right guns later.

At most ball matches someone will be happy to loan you a gun so you can try it out. I always bring extra ammo for new shooters.

 

[cdrt]

You have to win three to get Distinguished.

Actually it's hard to get Distinguished in three matches unless you do them all at Camp Perry one year at a time and place in the top ten percent. A Camp Perry leg is always worth ten points for the top ten percent of non-distinguished shooters.

You need to get thirty (30) total points and in at least one of the matches you place in, you need to get an eight (8) or ten (10) point leg. Points for placing in the match are determined by how many non-distinguished shooters are participating. To get a 10 point leg for first place, there needs to be at least 36 shooters.

I've only been to one Regional here in Texas where we even got close to having 36 non-distinguished; we had 34 and I was lucky enough to get first place which was worth 8 leg points, since they could only give out three legs for the match. If we could have found two more shooters, they would have given out 4 legs, the first place then would have been worth ten points.

Most of the other regionals I've shot in, we've barely had enough to give out two legs; at least then the top award is still worth six.

Back before the CMP changed the rules in early 2006, any first place was worth ten points, no matter how few shooters participated; as long as there were at least six shooting. Now, it's gotten a little harder, as it should be, to make Distinguished.

 

[skinewmexico]

A good analogy may be racing if there were no engine limits.

You're limited by your checkbook.