Bullseye Pistol

sfl_gunner

sfl_gunner

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Shot my first Bullseye match with a borrowed gun and I sucked. But let me tell you, I love it. I'm ready to do it more. What are some good entry level 1911's? What ammo is preferred for each of the different stages? Where can I find training plans?
 
Some online reading.http://www.bullseyepistol.com/ There is also a link to Bullseye-L forum, on the page.

Read the rule book online- https://competitions.nra.org/competition-resources/rule-books/

I retired from competition years ago. So not up on latest guns available. The no longer available Springfield Range Officer model 45 acp was a good starter gun years ago.

Handloads, 45 acp Ammo- i still shoot home cast 200 gr lswc with a reduced load of Alliant Bullseye powder. Starline brass. WLP.
Factory ammo should be available as reduced velocity target loads, in the 700+ fps range.

Avoid mixed range brass for handloads, It hurts accuracy

Someone will come a long shortly that is currently competing. More up to date.
 
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243 is correct about the Range Officer it was the favorite starter gun while in production and still is if you can find a good used one.
Another good option is a used built gun from someone moving up or retiring, they come up for sale on the Bullseye Forum quite often
 
I'd suggest you start with a .22.

The reasons are many. From affordable guns and ammo, to lack of recoil. Get a Ruger MarkX, install a Volquartsen kit, add an Ultradot, and you generally end up with something that can hold the X-ring at 50 yards for around a grand +/-. Plan to shoot upwards of 1,000 rounds a week. Start off on the bench and get to the point where you can shoot 100/10X (or close to it). Now you trust your gun, ammo, and yourself. That is a huge part of the game. Then you progress to standing and one hand unsupported.

They say the wobble zone is a sideways figure eight. Never mind who "they" is and how they determined it. Point is you spend twice as much time in the X ring as you do the 8/9 ring. So the moral of the story is never try to "time" your shots. The lag between eyes, brain, trigger almost guarantees you will shoot your worst scores. Just keep sight alignment, good trigger control, and accept your wobble zone. Work on shooting with a cadence. Know when to put the gun down and take a few deep breathes.

You have three basic routes on a 1911. First, you buy a custom bullseye gun, either new or used. Second, you buy a gun (or frame and slide) and have a bullseye pistol-smith build you one. Third, you buy a decent quality base gun like the Springfield Range Officer and learn how to upgrade it yourself.

Ideally you have a local range/club where folks shoot these matches. Join, hang out and observe. Most guys will let you shoot their gun. Try and determine if you like the upright 1911 grip or the canted/locked wrist grip of the euro guns. Better to find out what works for you before you buy. For example I liked the High Standard but didn't like the S&W 41.
 
Thanks. Great website.

243winxb said:
Some online reading.http://www.bullseyepistol.com/ There is also a link to Bullseye-L forum, on the page.

Read the rule book online- https://competitions.nra.org/competition-resources/rule-books/

I retired from competition years ago. So not up on latest guns available. The no longer available Springfield Range Officer model 45 acp was a good starter gun years ago.

Handloads, 45 acp Ammo- i still shoot home cast 200 gr lswc with a reduced load of Alliant Bullseye powder. Starline brass. WLP.
Factory ammo should be available as reduced velocity target loads, in the 700+ fps range.

Avoid mixed range brass for handloads, It hurts accuracy

Someone will come a long shortly that is currently competing. More up to date.
Click to expand...
 
Agree with Russ. Gil Hebard wrote that you can get started with an Iver Johnson in a shoebox. Then a target .22.

When you get into Centerfire and Bigbore, if you buy a gun or have one accurized, deal with a target specialist gunsmith, not one of the gunzine centerfold shops. You don't need French Fried Borders on a target pistol, you need accuracy, good sights, good trigger. Frou frou does not improve scores.
 
I haven't actually competed yet, but I've been practicing for a while with a S&W Victory 22, a Ruger Blackhawk, and Canik Mete SFx. I didn't buy any of them for that purpose, but they're accurate enough with the right ammo or hand loads to make it clear I'm the problem, not my choice of pistols.

sfl_gunner said:
Shot my first Bullseye match with a borrowed gun and I sucked. But let me tell you, I love it. I'm ready to do it more. What are some good entry level 1911's? What ammo is preferred for each of the different stages? Where can I find training plans?
Click to expand...

It's not so much addicting as it is tempting. The first time I tried shooting at a bullseye target was at 25 yards for timed fire. I got super lucky and shot a 96 3x. I've been chasing it ever since. I'll shoot just good enough about half the time that I think it's worth doing again. The local range doesn't have 50 yards on the pistol range and the rifle range is seated only. I mostly just shoot rapid fire and slow fire on the reduced 25-yard targets. I have red dot sights on the Canik and Victory, but the Blackhawk I shoot with factory iron sights and hollow base wadcutter hand loads, at least until I run out. Then I'll try it with full power 357 loads and 158 grain semi-wadcutters. I don't think they're allowed in competition, but I think I could shoot the Blackhawk fast enough for timed fire and after some practice maybe rapid. I'm sure the groups would open like a desert flower in a rainstorm.

Edited to add: I'm searching for a 1911 in 45 ACP, and I see Ruger Target models are available again...
 
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Russ57 said:
Plan to shoot upwards of 1,000 rounds a week.
Click to expand...

Wow, that's a pretty rigorous training regimen.

Here's my take on the sport. I've been shooting in a bullseye league for about 10 years now. I'll admit up front that I'm not very good at it, but I keep coming back, trying to get better. Like all sports, some people are naturally good at it and excel. Hard work, and focused practice will bring out your full potential but without that natural talent you can only get so far. There are competitors at all levels so don't think its life or death if you languish as a marksman. I take a more casual approach, enjoy the comradery at the matches, sometimes laugh, sometimes cry with my team mates (not really, even though there are times...) and generally have fun.

Rimfire matches are one phase of every match so you're going to need one. In our league, many people only shoot a .22, or start out with one before they graduate to a centerfire. Ruger Marks are competitive, Smith is again making the iconic 41, .22 conversion kits are made by several companies and are good choices if you shoot a 1911. Nelson makes a good one. I'm shooting a Mark III .22/45 and do best with it at present. I also have a Marvel conversion that's a better pistol but sometimes I get a little janky with the trigger during the timed and rapids and throw everything to the right (I'm left handed). I need to keep practicing with it to overcome that. Its way better at 50 yds. than the Ruger.

My 1911 is a Range Officer. I just learned that they don't make them anymore, but would recommend it or something like it to start out with. I've tested it from a Ransom Rest and it can pretty much hold the 10 ring at 50 yds. which is better than I can shoot. If, and when, you reach the point where it is holding you back then you can upgrade. I see most people are buying used guns for their first 1911; Colt Gold cups seem to be popular. We used to have a smith locally who would accurize and turn almost anything into a top notch bullseye pistol, but sadly he just retired. I had him do a trigger job and mount a Ultradot on my Range Officer when it was new. Hopefully there is someone like him in your area.

Good luck!
 
This is a good workbook -
USMCPistolTeamWorkbook.pdf

Regarding 1911s and bullseye shooting. Most modern pistols are mechanically accurate enough to hold the 10 ring at 25yards (3.3"). What they generally lack is a decent trigger and appropriate sights, which are relatively easy fixes. As an example my factory stock Springfield Defender holds a 1.5" group at 25yards when shooting 200gr SWC from a rest. With some simple polishing the trigger pull is less than 4 pounds. I added a red dot on a $50 EGW mount. The cost is way less than $1000. I use 200gr SWC. With lots of practice a setup like this will keep you competitive. Add a Nelson 22 upper to it and you have rimfire and centerfire covered.
Regarding equipment in general - The old saying 'it's the indian not the arrow' applies readily to shooting sports. Lots of practice is more important than lots of equipment.
 
kidneyboy said:
This is a good workbook -
USMCPistolTeamWorkbook.pdf

Regarding 1911s and bullseye shooting. Most modern pistols are mechanically accurate enough to hold the 10 ring at 25yards (3.3"). What they generally lack is a decent trigger and appropriate sights, which are relatively easy fixes. As an example my factory stock Springfield Defender holds a 1.5" group at 25yards when shooting 200gr SWC from a rest. With some simple polishing the trigger pull is less than 4 pounds. I added a red dot on a $50 EGW mount. The cost is way less than $1000. I use 200gr SWC. With lots of practice a setup like this will keep you competitive. Add a Nelson 22 upper to it and you have rimfire and centerfire covered.
Regarding equipment in general - The old saying 'it's the indian not the arrow' applies readily to shooting sports. Lots of practice is more important than lots of equipment.
Click to expand...


The link for the workbook didn't work.
 
It’s definitely an issue with the nut behind the trigger in most cases. My Victory will shoot about 1.25” groups at 25 yards rested with match ammo (20 rounds). Changing to one hand standing, the match ammo doesn’t make any difference. I shot smaller groups with Aguila Super Extra standard velocity than CCI Pistol Match. That’s not to say the groups were overall small, just smaller relative to each other.
 
NRA Precision = bullseye, is shot in three divisions.
Smallbore - .22 LR
Centerfire - Anything .32 up.
Bigbore - .45 ACP

For a long time Centerfire was typically a .38 Special, either a revolver or a conversion from .38 Super Automatic to .38 Special Midrange Wadcutter.
But now the trend is to just shoot the .45 so you only have to buy and learn one gun for both events.

Optical sights allowed.

There are also the CMP Service Pistol Excellence in Competition matches. For a long time that meant an iron sight 1911, then they started allowing the Beretta, which can be made to shoot very well. Seems like now they will take anybody's "service pistol."
 
Jim Watson said:
That is quite good for a mass produced gun, those $4000 "semi customs" advertise that as though it were something special.
I would expect a true match gun to hold the X ring.
Click to expand...
Those semi-customs are touting 1 1/2" groups at 50 yards (AccuracyX comes to mind here) which is something special out of a 5" barrel.
1 1/2" groups at 25yards from a rest isn't uncommon with contemporary 1911s using proper ammo.

My point to the OP is a high dollar 1911 isn't necessary to compete in Bullseye matches. Careful shopping for a 1911 with a decent fit barrel and a decent trigger is enough to get started.
 
kidneyboy said:
Those semi-customs are touting 1 1/2" groups at 50 yards (AccuracyX comes to mind here) which is something special out of a 5" barrel.
1 1/2" groups at 25yards from a rest isn't uncommon with contemporary 1911s using proper ammo.

My point to the OP is a high dollar 1911 isn't necessary to compete in Bullseye matches. Careful shopping for a 1911 with a decent fit barrel and a decent trigger is enough to get started.
Click to expand...

Crap, now I have to go to the rifle range and get all the weird looks for shooting a pistol there.
 
Well that was humbling. My first shot missed the entire target. I got about 6 somewhere close to where I wanted and I at least found the impacts of the rest of the 15 I tried. This was at 50 yards one-handed and seated since I had to use the rifle range. The Blackhawk at least makes large holes that are easy to see.
 
+1 for finding a range officer and getting a bushing and trigger job

+1000 for continuing with 22 for a while. I switched over too soon and it took me a while to figure out the 45. Many will say.go master with 22 before going 45. That will give you a really solid foundation. If you are in it for the game and fun, maybe just go expert before going 45.

I got expert with 22 and 45, then decided to have fun. I often shoot 22 with a model 17 revolver, CF with a model 14 (both revolvers are full lug), and after tiring myself out thumb cocking, I'll shoot my ball gun. I borrow a 45 revolver (25-2) and shoot revolver all the way through at least one match a year. THAT'S tiring.
 
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