Shot An ICORE Match With My 617

[AzShooter1]

I gave up shooting ICORE a few years ago after having to sell all my guns. As it happened I was able to get into .22s and picked up a couple of 617s for Steel Challenge.

The match director of our local ICORE club invited me to shoot with them. New rules allow for .22s to shoot without scoring against the centerfire brethren. I was accepted by my squad and really enjoyed myself. Main difference was that I didn't have to nock down the large steel targets, just hitting them with the .22 was good enough. They painted the targets so that they could verify my hits. I only had trouble when it came time to shoot a plate rack that was set too heavy for my bullets.

Next time I'm bringing some CCI Stingers for the heavy targets. I nocked everything else down using Reminton Bucket Of Bullets which surprised me and the group I was with. It was a lot of fun. Only one competitor hassled me for bringing my 617. I let him have his oration and then told him " Don't Be An Axx" and I walked away.

 

[MrBorland]

Congrats. Sounds like fun. It's terrific you've got enough shooters to put on an ICORE match.

New rules allow for .22s to shoot without scoring against the centerfire brethren. I was accepted by my squad and really enjoyed myself. Main difference was that I didn't have to nock down the large steel targets, just hitting them with the .22 was good enough. They painted the targets so that they could verify my hits. I only had trouble when it came time to shoot a plate rack that was set too heavy for my bullets.

Were you also required to re-load? Even if I had rimfire speeloaders and holders, reloading my 617 wouldn't be anywhere near as fast as my CF revolvers.

Next time I'm bringing some CCI Stingers for the heavy targets.

The plates on the plate rack had to fall, whereas you only had to hit other steel?

Only one competitor hassled me for bringing my 617.

That's too bad. IME experience, revolver shooters are a tight and friendly group and generally delighted when other wheelgunners show up, regardless of what they're running.

 

[AzShooter1]

Plates didn't have to fall, just had to be hit.
My reloads were pretty good. I use DS-10 speed loaders and wasn't too much slower then my old Safariland Comp IIIs. Only one bad reload when I got a piece of brass stuck under the star.
On the first stage you had to place two shots on each of 5 targets. Peeve a few guys when I didn't have to reload like everyone else but it was all in fun. One of the guys built his own gun, it's a 10 shot 32 HR Magnum and he didn't have to reload either. Kirby Goodman. Great gunsmith and he won the match as well.

 

[MrBorland]

Plates didn't have to fall, just had to be hit.

Then why bother with Stingers?

Peeve a few guys when I didn't have to reload like everyone

Honestly, revolver shooters are often their own worst enemies. They spend waay too much time whining about how disadvantages they are - even at a revolver match! Many revolver shooters are capable of doing much better at matches than they actually do, and it's always been a disappointment to see folks put in so much time, energy and money, then give themselves permission to underperform.

 

[jak67429]

This reminded me of when my granddaughter was younger the local uspsa match director would let the kids shoot 22lr at local matches. My GD figured out if she double taped the poppers right at the top she could nock them over. he didn't send in their scores but the kids had allot of fun and a couple of them shoot at a high level now.

 

[Riomouse911]

Very cool the match director let you run whatcha brung, glad you had fun getting out there and tinging some steel. (My impression of .22’s hitting too-heavy plates.)

It seems that there is always “that guy” at every match, contest, game, race, etc. Too bad the doofus took some of the luster off what sounds like a great day. I’m sure he went home grousing to his dog… who probably begged to go outside right away because he is tired of hearing it.

I was hankering for a 10-shot 6” 617 like yours but they became scarce and pricy so I went in other directions. I even won a claimed NIB specimen on GB during the Covid panic. But when it arrived at my FFL he called me and said that was so far from “NIB” it was pathetic. I refused it and my FFL and I made the seller (a FFL dealer no less!) take it back! Someday I’ll get that 617 itch back and scratch it.

Hopefully the next one will be just as much fun.

Stay safe.

 

[AzShooter1]

They're around but it takes lots of searching. There was one on RimfireCentral.com a little while ago. It may still be there.

Thanks for the words of encouragement.

Steven

 

[Tallball]

Congratulations. It sounds fun.

 

[Pat Riot]

Congrats @AzShooter1
Sounds like fun!