Target Pistol Recommendation

[ATLDave]

In all cases, though, the shooter would be well-advised to read the rule book ahead of time

Well, there's nothing wrong with that, but I have found a lot of new gamers trying to read rules before they even show up for a match get all kinds of crazy misunderstandings.

Think about how difficult it would be to read the rules of American football before you had ever even seen a game. Without a clear picture in your head of what the game looks like, it would be nigh impossible to really get anything from the rule book. I know I would find it challenging, and I read rules for a living! (I'm a lawyer.)

I would encourage anyone interested in any gun game to go and at least watch ASAP. You're not wrong that reading the rules or having good fundamentals is helpful... but all of that gets easier once you see a match or game or whatever.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

How much do you want to spend? Volquartsen will do a conversion on your existing Mark III/IV at all different price levels. I have seen several and they are amazing. I didn't get a chance to shoot any if them unfortunately.

https://volquartsen.com/departments/mkiii_custom_pistols

 

[deadin]

I'm surprised that the Benelli MP95e or MP90s haven't been mentioned. They are right up there with the Pardini's and other Euroguns, with a considerable less (although still pricey) cost.

Here's a MP95e with an upgrade to the MP90s ergo grip and a Ultra Dot. (I think today this package, new, can be had for around $14-1500.

 

[Valkman]

I started BE with a Ruger bull barrel but no trigger work and I think my first targets scored in the 30's. I worked my way up to about 70, then a guy let me shoot his M41. The first target I shot 10 points higher than I had ever shot, and I was hooked. I bought a 41 at a gun show that was made in the 70's, put a red dot on it and my scores kept improving. My 41 was never finicky - I shot all kinds of ammo out of it including Blazer Brass and some really dirty Russian stuff. I'd never get rid of it, and highly recommend it.

 

[Pete D.]

Practice. Yep. Matches are the best practice.

Pete

 

[Hoser]

Practice. Yep. Matches are the best practice.

Nope. Not at all.

Figure out what works for you and what doesn't when you train.

Rolling into a match and "hoping" to do well, doesn't work.

Train hard and then roll into a match knowing you are going to crush it, works.

 

[Jim Watson]

"Train" is the key word. Not "practice" when you don't know what to practice.

 

[deadin]

My 41 was never finicky - I shot all kinds of ammo out of it including Blazer Brass and some really dirty Russian stuff.

If you have a M41 that will digest anything you feed it you have a rare gun.......
I wouldn't shoot too much High Velocity in it unless you change out the recoil spring. They are designed for Standard Velocity target ammo. Of course, with a stronger spring it won't be as reliable with SV ammo. (It's kind of a trade-off...Reliability or Longevity.)

I think the only "shoot anything" .22 Target Pistol I ever owned was a Baikal IZH35M.

 

[Pete D.]

Train hard and then roll into a match knowing you are going to crush it, works.

Hmm. I have a feeling that we are thinking about different types of match shooting. I am thinking about Bullseye match shooting.
I agree, though, that someone just learning to shoot well who shows up at a match expecting to win may be disappointed.
That, though, is not my idea and i will stand by the mantra that “matches are the best practice”. Practicing by oneself....when does it stop? When is one good enough to shoot a match? Too many shooters, in my experience, put off match shooting because they are not good enough. And they never do go.
You go. You shoot. You learn....you learn from the quy next to you on the line and the guy on the other side and from talking to the other shooters during the lunch break in the middle of an all day match.
You learn about Nerves...about match jitters....and how to shoot through them; something that you wont learn practicing by yourself. You learn about guns and ammo. You learn about skills. You learn about yourself.
Pete

 

[SwampWolf]

I use three different .22 autos for Bullseye competition, the aforementioned Ruger and Smith and a Browning Medalist. Off the bench, the Ruger is very slightly more accurate but not nearly enough so as to make any difference whatsoever when shooting offhand, nor do I believe that the Ruger is typically more accurate than the others. Subjective shooting elements like trigger pulls and grip configurations are likely to make more difference in how well any one individual shoots than which quality target pistol is used.

When choosing a pistol for target shooting, whether you use optics or not might be the biggest determinate as to which is best. I only use irons so picking a pistol is less complicated for me.

 

[Hertzer]

Been shooting bullseye match for going on 50 years now. And I believe that the Ruger Mk 2 is an excellent starting gun for bulls eye match. It doesn't cost over a grand to get and match parts are easy to find allowing the shooter to up grade the pistol as the skills increase. If you have the Ruger already a basic completion parts kit will only cost somewhere close to $200.00 from volquartzen, to makes a very good intro pistol. A good grip is also a must, I prefer the Mill-Griffen line of adjustable match grips for all my match guns but plenty of others out there for a lot less than the $270.00+ they cost. I also shot on a postal winter league team for near 10 years, our best shooter was a card carrying master class shooter and he used a modified Mk. 2.

 

[Original Warhorse]

If bullseye competition is what you shoot, I would suggest Pardini.