A Vintage Handgun Tournament

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Doug Bowser

New member
If these type matches are good enough for rifle, I guess we should shoot them with handguns as well. We allow any handgun model used by a military organization, 50 years ago or older. Any safe ammo. Firing done one handed at 25 yards on US ARMY "L" Targets. Standard NRA Outdoor Pistol course:

20 shots slowfire
10 shots slowfire, 10 shots timed fire and 10 shots rapid fire.
20 shots timed fire
20 shots rapid fire

Here are the scores fired on 8/27/11

NAME PISTOL SF CPC TF RF AGG X

BOWSER, DOUG S&W MODEL 10 .38 194 287 187 179 847 29x

PALUMBO, JIM S&W MODEL 15 .38 185 284 180 185 834 25x

COXE, JOHN S&W MODEL 10 .38 153 250 167 133 703 12x

THORNBURY, KEN 1911 GOV'T MODEL .45 ACP 183 218 146 154 701 10x

MALONE, JOHN S&W MODEL 15 .38 168 213 141 129 651 7x

COXE, CHRIS COLT OFFICIAL POLICE .38 120 175 130 103 528 0x

WOODS, JIM COLT OFFICIAL POLICE .38 129 192 122 61 504 6x

CHAISSON, BRECK 1911 GOV'T MODEL .45 ACP 109 157 119 112 497 3x

MARTINY, BILL C0LT 1917 45 ACP 156 148 95 98 497 2x

MORGAN, JOHNNY 1911 GOV'T MODEL .45 ACP 117 111 69 67 364 4x

RAYBORN, GARRETT TT-33 7.62X25MM 114 124 27 54 319 1x

The whole gang had a great time. The targets are easier than the targets used in the NRA Matches but we were not using Match grade handguns. If you would like to see the match program, email me at douglasmbowser@yahoo.com
 
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:) Sounds like fun Doug. There were some pretty good scores posted. I used to shoot bullseye and really enjoyed it. I don't think we have any matches around here any more. Don
 
Neat to see revolvers more than holding their own. I'd love to shoot a match like this. Thanks for posting. Is this a sanctioned event or something put on by your local range?
 
I dreamed this one up myself. I figured , if the Vintage Military Rifle Owners have a Match, Why not the Vintage Military Handgun owners as well.

Doug
 
I like it.

I asked the CMP about having a vintage military pistol match, but they are kinded of busy not.

Maybe sometime in the future.
 
I've been wanting something like this for quite a while now. Gonna have to present the idea to my club's Sr. staff. I like it quite a lot too- even if it's open to any semi class or revolver class over 50 y/o.
 
Very cool, I shot 750 earlier this year in a standard outdoor Bullseye match with my 50 year-old Model 14-1. When I had just started Bullseye, I shot a match with a 4" Model 64 (not particularly old, but fixed sights) and only managed a 605. I'm sure I would do much better now.

Our club is starting a "fun match" of 40 rounds (25 yards only) at the conclusion of the regular outdoor Bullseye match and I plan to use the following "old" guns at various times -

1921 Colt Hammerless .380 ACP
1922 Colt Army Special .38 special
1964 S&W Model 10 snubbie

When you say the targets are "easier", to what are you referring? Are they not the standard size targets?
 
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targets

When you say the targets are "easier", to what are you referring? Are they not the standard size targets?
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Different targets have different size scoring rings. That may make a particular target "easier" to shoot. The Army L target (B22) has a five inch bull. I have not shot that target but I believe that the entire bull is the 10 ring/x ring.
On a standard conventional pistol ("bullseye" - B16 - 25 yd. slow fire) target, the Bull is 5 5/16" in diameter but contains scoring rings down to seven.
In practical terms, this means if I shoot and clip the edge of the B22 target, I get a 10. If I clip the edge of the B16, I get a 7. If I shoot an 8 on the B16 target, the same shot placement in the bull of the B22 will get me an X.
I believe that info is correct.
Pete

PS - Food for thought. Another type of pistol match that is great fun and might be well shot with vintage pistols.....the last of a series of indoor matches shot by my Winter league (Greater NY Pistol League) is based on International venues. I have shot this with my Model 10.
The competition is 30 shots - 15 slowfire (15 minutes) on a B33 target and then, in dueling mode, 15 shots on a B39 rapid fire target.
For 25 yard matches use B35 and B38.







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The Army L target (B22) has a five inch bull. I have not shot that target but I believe that the entire bull is the 10 ring/x ring.
Click to expand...

I believe you're correct, looking at the Army "L" target. A 5-inch 10-ring would make it easier to shoot 10s, for sure.
 
I wonder how I would do with Margeaux,,,

She's a Model 1892 French 8mm Lebel revolver,,,
IIRC she was the first military sidearm designed for smokeless powder.

07-margeaux.JPG


I can get modern ammo with new brass for her from Fiocchi,,,
In the past I had to rely on handloads using a modified 32-20 cartridge.

Over the years I've put maybe 200 rounds through her,,,
She always seemed to be as accurate as I could aim.

Wish I could play with your group,,,
I would buy a Nagant just for the matches.

Aarond
 
Are the rules any model that was used by a military organization, or does the pistol used have to have been ex-military? I see some Gov model .45s, so I'm confused
 
Timing

Meant to answer this earlier:
How much time do you give for slow fire, timed fire and rapid fire?
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Timing for the stages is as follows:
Slow Fire/Precision - 10 rounds in 10 minutes.

Timed Fire - 10 shots total. Two strings of five shots. Each string fired in 20 seconds.

Rapid Fire - 10 shots total. Two strings of five shots. Each string fired in ten seconds.

Pete
 
Many years ago a few friends and I did something like that at an indoor range. I'd never think of doing it again however, as I wouldn't want to risk a $2500 collectible 1911 shooting it in matches. If I had some old arsenal-refurbished mixmaster, then sure.
 
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