Pistoleros!!!

Brutus

Brutus

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West of most places....and in Alberta
So, seeing that there is not a Bullseye or Olympic ISSF forum here, I'll ask here.
I was wondering if there are Free Pistol or .22 LR pistol precision/pistol shooters who would like to trumpet thier slow-fire single handed shooting endevours @25-50 yards/meters?
The reason I ask, is that I may take up Free Pistol shooting in the next year or so.
I would appreciate any advice concerning a novice first choice 22 rimfire.
preferably a single shot, perhaps a revolver or semi auto.
But sooner or later, I think a single shot dedicated target piece is in my future.
What do you guys think of the Drulovs, Pardinis, Colt Camp Perrys, Colt Diamondbacks, S&W Model 17s, for 50 meter shooting???
 
If you are truly thinking of taking up free pistol, then get a free pistol. The Russian models are good value for money and competitive, while the Hammerli and the like are very nicely made and competitive.
I would not recommend trying to get a pistol for other events and pretend to use it for free pistol
However, without knowing your capability, perhaps you can make a .22 that is designed for 25 m shooting work at 50, to a certain point.
There is a world of difference between 25 and 50 m shooting.
 
I've used a Pardini SPE at 50 yards for NRA 2700s. It did very well, given the size of the ten-rings. Most European .22 Standard Pistols, in fact, do just fine at 50 yards. High Standards and Smith 41s, as well. For Free Pistol, I'd abstain in the face of potential embarrassment.

A .22 Diamondback would be less than ideal, as well; the six slightly-different chamber alignments and gaps go against every principle of Free Pistol construction. There's also the issue of trigger weight. To get a Diamondback's trigger pull low enough for FP, one has to bend the hammer spring so much that the hammer will fail to ignite primers. Then there's the ergonomic question...

If you want a free pistol, buy a real one. Used examples are not that expensive, if one scours hard enough. One hint, though; if you intend to begin competing in Free Pistol but haven't even seen a match yet, try to borrow and shoot one, or shoot a sixty-round air pistol match, before buying a pistol. It's fun enough, hitting the target, but it's a long course of fire. It's definitely an acquired taste. I liked it, the few times I was able to borrow a Hammerli and try it, but my housecat-level attention span eventually made me drift away from both it and 10m Air Pistol.
 
Kindly Old Coach said:
I've used a Pardini SPE at 50 yards for NRA 2700s. It did very well, given the size of the ten-rings. Most European .22 Standard Pistols, in fact, do just fine at 50 yards. High Standards and Smith 41s, as well. For Free Pistol, I'd abstain in the face of potential embarrassment.

A .22 Diamondback would be less than ideal, as well; the six slightly-different chamber alignments and gaps go against every principle of Free Pistol construction. There's also the issue of trigger weight. To get a Diamondback's trigger pull low enough for FP, one has to bend the hammer spring so much that the hammer will fail to ignite primers. Then there's the ergonomic question...

If you want a free pistol, buy a real one. Used examples are not that expensive, if one scours hard enough. One hint, though; if you intend to begin competing in Free Pistol but haven't even seen a match yet, try to borrow and shoot one, or shoot a sixty-round air pistol match, before buying a pistol. It's fun enough, hitting the target, but it's a long course of fire. It's definitely an acquired taste. I liked it, the few times I was able to borrow a Hammerli and try it, but my housecat-level attention span eventually made me drift away from both it and 10m Air Pistol.
Click to expand...

Thank you for that. I was in Moose Jaw recently, and spoke with a few coaches for 10 meter AP shooters.
They suggested the same idea. The end of March, I'm going to spectate/try out a free pistol near the Battlefords, after watching the real match first.
Cheers...........
 
A dedicated free pistol is wise idea. I would avoid buying a Drulov for several reasons.

If you own a good target pistol (pardini, Hammerli, etc..) it may severe your well an entry into shooting FP.

The NRA 50 yard target is much larger than the ISSF 50m target.

Look for a Toz-35 - as they come up cheap now and then.

Brian
 
I recently purchased a Hammerli Model 150.
First thing I did was order after market Morini grips.
IMG_9222.jpg


I thought the ISSF 50 meter target black centre, is 7 3/4 inches in diameter?
 
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The ISSF pistol target for all precision stages and events is the same, the difference being that for "Free" - which is known as "50metre pistol" to the rest of the world is shot at that distance, while it is moved up to 25 metres for Standard Pistol, Sport and Ladies Match, and used for the precision stage of centrefire. A truly large bull (about half metre black) is used for Olympic Rapidfire, the rapidfire stage of centrefire, and for the CISM "Military Match". The Hammerli 150 is a 30 year old design and I hope that you received some spares with it, as Hammerli is no longer in business, having been bought out by Walther and manufacture shut down. As you are in Alberta, you should look at <www.crpc.ca> for match information.
Cheers --- Dr Jim
 
SCDL said:
How serious a handicap is cross-dominance in FP?
Click to expand...

Well some of the top ISSF AP shooters in Saskatchewan "make do" with the cross dominance thing.
I myself can only do this two handed. But for this discipline,during a long match using one hand, I decided to commit to a LH after market grip.
I feels better for me in the long run.......using my left eye to aim and the left hand as the firing hand. Less exhausting for myself.
This can only be answered by each individual IMHO. My answer might be wrong for you.

PS: The extra Morini LH grip cost me a little over $150. The factory RH grip was too small & lacking in any customized adjustments.
IE-Width of one's four fingers.
 
Cross-dominance is fairly common. I have shot for 36 years with the problem. Mental discipline is vital in getting the right side of the brain to stay out of the activity. I generally took a stance at right angle to the target, right arm out directly to the target, chin almost on right shoulder, using left eye and blinder on right. After many years the arthritic developments and deterioration of the left eye forced me to switch to right eye and change to 45 degrees to target. After a year at it I'm starting to regain form, but I won't take up Free pistol again -- toooooooooo much self abuse. However the 45 shooting is almost there, at least occasionally.

Cheers --- Dr Jim
 
Hm, sounds like a big issue for yourself T&G. Good to hear you can some handgun shooting in!
My cross dominance problem (right handed with a left dominant eye for shooting) I've had a myopia for too many years as a youngster before this was diagnosed by a optician.
Now I just live with it. Some rifles I own (three) are truly LH. The iron sighted Wichita target rifle feels just perfect after years of making do. Really for hunting, I can shoot from the LH shoulder with a RH bolt action rifle, no problem. For free pistol I prefer true LH. Only because of a more natural body line-up.
 
Your preferences Brutus, but I only shot/shoot left hand in PPC! My father had an odd problem, left eye dominant, right handed (like I am, and my offspring - genetic ya think?) but absolutely could not close his left eyelid and keep the right open. The instructors in the RCAF (this was 1940) made him shoot left handed in order to qualify.
Maybe we'll see you at the November CRPC 4gun match.
Dr J
 
T&G said:
Your preferences Brutus, but I only shot/shoot left hand in PPC! My father had an odd problem, left eye dominant, right handed (like I am, and my offspring - genetic ya think?) but absolutely could not close his left eyelid and keep the right open. The instructors in the RCAF (this was 1940) made him shoot left handed in order to qualify.
Maybe we'll see you at the November CRPC 4gun match.
Dr J
Click to expand...

Heh. My father can't do that either, but at least he's not cross-dominant.
 
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