Bullseye shooters: rate factors in order of importance

1) Reliability
2) Pointability
3) Steadiness in your hand. Balance and ergomonics.
4) Smoothness of trigger action.
5) Sharp sights that stay in focus.
6) Smooth recoil
7) Easy stripping.

.22, .32, .38, 9mm or .45?
 
Single shot like the TC Contender or a revolver that you use in SA mode.

I love my semis but by far I found it easier to shoot more tightly with a revolver in SA so far.

Or if you're super serious about bullseye shooting you'll be getting one of those odd looking single shot .22 Olympic style things with the wrap around wood grips.
 
Are you shooting alot?

I chose a .22 berreta because it was uses inexpensive ammo and I chose american made so it is less likely to fail and availability of parts. Post #3 has good points.
 
I'm being serious here and not meaning to be an ass but Diopter missed the most important factor: the shooter. With proper training and practice, you get better; without you tend to spin your wheels. I've seen world class shooters do extremely well with a run of the mill gun, and below average shooters crater consistently with a top of the line gun.

Otherwise, Diopter hit the mark well.

Are you planning on joining a league? What your league of choice is shooting may influence whether you go .22 or cf, revolver or auto.
 
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I shoot a Ruger Mk1 (a 22) and seldom get beat.

The most important factors are the desire to shoot well and good coaching. Without coaching you get to practice shooting badly.

Shooting a handgun is one of the most difficult shooting disciplines.
 
diopter said:
1) Reliability
2) Pointability
3) Steadiness in your hand. Balance and ergomonics.
4) Smoothness of trigger action.
5) Sharp sights that stay in focus.
6) Smooth recoil
7) Easy stripping.

.22, .32, .38, 9mm or .45?
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And it has to look good. :D
 
nickorette said:
I'm weighing my options for a future handgun. I will probably use it for bullseye shooting, I'm curious to see what factors are the most important for target accuracy
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Start with yourself:

- do you have a blood pressure that makes your heart beat so forcefully that your aim is noticeably impaired?
- hold out your hand and keep is as immobile as possible: do you have tremors that would be considered hindering?
- do you have a strong enough upper body that your aim can remain unaffected for a reasonable period of time?

All things you need to be aware of. The best pistol in the world won't do sh*t (pardon my French) if the above aren't taken care of first...
 
If you're going to shoot structured bullseye, not plinking, you can forget a revolver. Firing five shots in ten seconds is required in the rapid fire section of ISSF or NRA, and shooting it double-action with a revolver is just too hard for 99% of people. There's a reason why 100% of competitive shooters haven't used a revolver since the 1960's.

Any decent .22 will be plenty accurate enough in terms of mechanical accuracy (in other words, if you locked it in a rest). The challenge is finding a target pistol that suits you when shot by you with one hand. I would say avoid a gun that is too light (some weight, especially at the muzzle, tends to dampen both recoil and shooter-induced movement, making the gun steadier). While the European target pistols (Walther GSP, Feinwerkbau AW-93, Hammerli 280, Matchguns MG-2) are excellent and made specifically for the job, you may find them too expensive. A Ruger or S&W Model 41 can be a good starting gun at a lower price, especially if you buy it used. And it takes a long time for most people to master the basics of bullseye shooting, so that $2000 European gun may not be so important for the first couple of years anyway. Bullseye is hard. You need to like a challenge!

Good luck!
 
EdGCNM said:
If you're going to shoot structured bullseye, not plinking, you can forget a revolver. Firing five shots in ten seconds is required in the rapid fire section of ISSF or NRA, and shooting it double-action with a revolver is just too hard for 99% of people. There's a reason why 100% of competitive shooters haven't used a revolver since the 1960's.

Any decent .22 will be plenty accurate enough in terms of mechanical accuracy (in other words, if you locked it in a rest). The challenge is finding a target pistol that suits you when shot by you with one hand. I would say avoid a gun that is too light (some weight, especially at the muzzle, tends to dampen both recoil and shooter-induced movement, making the gun steadier). While the European target pistols (Walther GSP, Feinwerkbau AW-93, Hammerli 280, Matchguns MG-2) are excellent and made specifically for the job, you may find them too expensive. A Ruger or S&W Model 41 can be a good starting gun at a lower price, especially if you buy it used. And it takes a long time for most people to master the basics of bullseye shooting, so that $2000 European gun may not be so important for the first couple of years anyway. Bullseye is hard. You need to like a challenge!

Good luck!
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True and very good points for structured bullseye; but he hasn't clarified if it was ISSF or NRA, doing informal club shooting, or just meant plinking. I'd still not rule out a good wheelgun for the latter two, if that's what he likes.

Excellent advice you gave, btw.

I can tell you from personal experience that the main benefit the Euro gun gave me over a Ruger was realizing I was fooling myself, playing games, and just incorrectly complaining "something's wrong - it must be the gun". Nothing was wrong with the Ruger: it was the shooter all along! Pretty expensive lesson, but very enlightening... something always remembered now regardless what discipline I'm shooting.
 
Shoot, this thread was a double tap, I didn't even kow it existied!!!

I just shoot bullseye recreationally, but I also shoot some steel and things if I want to have some fun at the end of the day.

Here are some examples:
-----------Weight----------Trigger Pull-----------Sight Radius
Pistol 1----2.5lbs------------5.5lbs------------------7.75"
Pistol 2----2lbs--------------4.5lbs------------------6.25"
Pistol 3----2lbs--------------4lbs--------------------7.5"

which one would you pick?
 
If that was the only criteria/choices, I'd personally pick pistol 3.

Longer sight radius always helps, but #3 compromises as you aren't fighting a heavier trigger pull and the lighter weight won't tire you out as quickly, with a slightly shorter radius. In reality, probably not much difference between all three, for sure 1 and 3.

Picking a pistol based on just that though is like asking what car would you choose based on paint color, 2 or 4 door and brand of tire.
 
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