Is pistol target limited to .22LR?

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Izzard

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I'm very new to firearms, and want to do a bit of both action as well as target. I enjoy recurve target, so I figure I'd enjoy pistol target as well. My recurve grouping is pretty good (to me), and I'm hoping that'll translate into pistol target shooting as well. As I've mentioned in my introduction I've got a CZ Shadow 2 on the way, but are most competitive events for pistol target shooting exclusive to the .22LR?

Also, since I'm here, any suggestions for such a pistol? My online research has yielded the S&W Model 41, and the apparently hard to clean Ruger MII/III. I'm still waiting for my PAL to be sent to me, so I'm not in a hurry, but there's gonna be an itchy trigger finger if my PAL arrives and I don't have a gun in the pipeline :D.

I've been checking out usedfirearms.ca, and other than the EE forums here, any other suggestions?

Thanks everyone!
 
Per your question - no, pistol target is not limited to .22LR.
I would suggest that you not buy any pistol until you have shot one, or at least handled it.
If you are going to shoot pistol, you will need to be involved with a club. Get out, visit, talk to folks. You will probably find that lots of shooters will let you try their pistols.
 
What is recurve target?

Izzard said:
I'm very new to firearms, and want to do a bit of both action as well as target. I enjoy recurve target, so I figure I'd enjoy pistol target as well. My recurve grouping is pretty good (to me), and I'm hoping that'll translate into pistol target shooting as well. As I've mentioned in my introduction I've got a CZ Shadow 2 on the way, but are most competitive events for pistol target shooting exclusive to the .22LR?

Also, since I'm here, any suggestions for such a pistol? My online research has yielded the S&W Model 41, and the apparently hard to clean Ruger MII/III. I'm still waiting for my PAL to be sent to me, so I'm not in a hurry, but there's gonna be an itchy trigger finger if my PAL arrives and I don't have a gun in the pipeline :D.

I've been checking out usedfirearms.ca, and other than the EE forums here, any other suggestions?

Thanks everyone!
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I've shot firearms at a local range several times, which is how I came to the decision to buy the Shadow 2.

The 41 seems to be the one I am heavily leaning towards.

I shoot my recurve bow few times a month, and wanted to differentiate it from field or hunting (though I'm sure the animals will be long gone by the time I take my aim when they see my big blue riser and yellow limbs in hand).

Thanks for all the replies so far!

Anyone have suggestions for buying used in Canada?
 
Izzard, where are you located? If you're nearby I have a 41 you can try as well as several others. I'm in southern SK.
 
I am in the GVA :(. I'm planning on signing up with DVC as they are are the closest. Thanks for your offer though.
 
Smith 41 is most certainly a fantastic target pistol. You can buy a used one or a brand new one. A couple of site sponsors have them in stock. Among them, Bullseye London and Wanstalls if I am not mistaken.
You can probably buy now or put a down payment and they will hold it for you till you receive your RPAL.
Gilbert
 
I wouldn't go for a Model 41 - they are expensive for what they are (a very old design and overpriced) and if you like bullseye shooting you will soon want a different one. BTW virtually nobody shoots a model 41 anymore apart from retro evening and they are very picky about ammo. (OK - I have seen 2 on the line in the last 3 years). Ruger make a nice lightweight 22 semi auto, look for a Browning Challenger 2nd hand and snag a Hammerli X-Esse 2nd hand if you can find one. It takes work but bullseye is very rewarding if you stick at it. My $0.02 but opinions are like armpits....
 
zippp0 said:
...but opinions are like armpits....
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You'll always have at least two? lol

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I've already got a Shadow 2 on pre-order, so the target gun is probably going to have to be used. I'm giving myself a $1000.00 budget, and the Model 41 seemed to fit that category. I gotta be honest, I didn't think the X-Esse was within my budget, but some online research has proved otherwise--who sells Hammerli in Canada?

My research on the 41 indicated that they shoot about anything with powder, but I guess no matter who says it it's all anecdotal evidence.

I really like the look of the 41, but now I can add the X-Esse to the potential list.

Thanks all!

Edit: The 41 is just to me such an attractive looking gun, and everywhere I'm looking people are saying it's going to be more accurate than me. Well, like I said I'm up for any sub-$1000 suggestions =).
 
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I would absolutely recommend a 41 as an introductory gun for bullseye. Granted, they are far from being cutting edge but neither are the skills of 99% of shooters. If you want a Walther GSP, Pardini SP, etc and have the money more power to you but it won't help your scores early on.

Advantages: Relatively inexpensive used; Good condition figure $750 ish. Better trigger than the Ruger or Browning. Better parts availability than the Hammerli. Will hold value if/when you decide to sell/upgrade.

Disadvantages: Ammo sensitivity sort of. What do I mean? Should only be used with standard velocity ammo, but so should every other target pistol if for no other reason than accuracy. CCI Standard seems to be the most popular choice, and it's widely available for about $10 per 100.

Living where you do I'm sure you'll run into someone with a 41 who will let you try it out. As the poster above stated, just my opinion, but the S&W is superior to the Ruger & Browning. Hammerli is a nice gun but support is non-existant.
 
Izzard said:
I'm very new to firearms, and want to do a bit of both action as well as target. I enjoy recurve target, so I figure I'd enjoy pistol target as well. My recurve grouping is pretty good (to me), and I'm hoping that'll translate into pistol target shooting as well. As I've mentioned in my introduction I've got a CZ Shadow 2 on the way, but are most competitive events for pistol target shooting exclusive to the .22LR?

Also, since I'm here, any suggestions for such a pistol? My online research has yielded the S&W Model 41, and the apparently hard to clean Ruger MII/III. I'm still waiting for my PAL to be sent to me, so I'm not in a hurry, but there's gonna be an itchy trigger finger if my PAL arrives and I don't have a gun in the pipeline :D.

I've been checking out usedfirearms.ca, and other than the EE forums here, any other suggestions?

Thanks everyone!
Click to expand...

for "casual" target shooting, most fixed barrel/fixed sight .22 handgun will be fine. I've got Ruger 22/45's, S&W 41's, High Standards, Browning Medalists, Browning Buckmarks, Vostok Margolin, and a Walther GSP. All are capable of 1/2" groups at 10m. The limiting factor will always be me and my old eyes. I can still get small groups with big blocky iron sights, but it's just easier and less tiring on my eyes with a nice red dot. If I really try, I think the Walther GSP probably would give me the smallest groups. If I was going to compete in formal bullseye matches, that's the one I would use.

I used to do some Olympic recurve with my daughter at RRGC in Richmond. The target focus and discipline will transfer very nicely to pistol target shooting. I really enjoyed target shooting, it's a great stress reliever after a tough week ;) I've started more action shooting like IPSC, that's a lot of fun too :)

If you want to meet up at DVC one night, I can bring a few different types of target .22's for you to try out.
 
VanMan said:
for "casual" target shooting, most fixed barrel/fixed sight .22 handgun will be fine. I've got Ruger 22/45's, S&W 41's, High Standards, Browning Medalists, Browning Buckmarks, Vostok Margolin, and a Walther GSP. All are capable of 1/2" groups at 10m. The limiting factor will always be me and my old eyes. I can still get small groups with big blocky iron sights, but it's just easier and less tiring on my eyes with a nice red dot. If I really try, I think the Walther GSP probably would give me the smallest groups. If I was going to compete in formal bullseye matches, that's the one I would use.

I used to do some Olympic recurve with my daughter at RRGC in Richmond. The target focus and discipline will transfer very nicely to pistol target shooting. I really enjoyed target shooting, it's a great stress reliever after a tough week ;) I've started more action shooting like IPSC, that's a lot of fun too :)

If you want to meet up at DVC one night, I can bring a few different types of target .22's for you to try out.
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Wow that'd be fantastic, and I'd love to take you up on your offer. When I started recurve shooting I was disappointed that because I'm left eye dominant I had to hold the bow with my right and draw with my left. The last few times I've gone to the firearms range, however, I noticed that all that practice holding the heavy Olympic recurve bow made my right arm substantially more stable when holding the gun.

It's unfortunate there isn't a closer pistol range (I'm in Richmond).
 
I wouldn't go for a Model 41 - they are expensive for what they are (a very old design and overpriced) and if you like bullseye shooting you will soon want a different one. BTW virtually nobody shoots a model 41 anymore apart from retro evening and they are very picky about ammo. (OK - I have seen 2 on the line in the last 3 years). Ruger make a nice lightweight 22 semi auto, look for a Browning Challenger 2nd hand and snag a Hammerli X-Esse 2nd hand if you can find one. It takes work but bullseye is very rewarding if you stick at it. My $0.02 but opinions are like armpits....
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agreed. Model 41 was one of the first guns I've shot. they're ok but not worth the price and are boring to shoot IMO. if you want a target style .22 look at Buckmarks but I still haven't shot a more fun .22 than a GSG.
 
Izzard said:
Wow that'd be fantastic, and I'd love to take you up on your offer. When I started recurve shooting I was disappointed that because I'm left eye dominant I had to hold the bow with my right and draw with my left. The last few times I've gone to the firearms range, however, I noticed that all that practice holding the heavy Olympic recurve bow made my right arm substantially more stable when holding the gun.

It's unfortunate there isn't a closer pistol range (I'm in Richmond).
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Sure, if you are not a member of DVC yet, we could meet there on a Monday evening and I can get you in as a guest. Send me a PM and we can set something up. Fair warning though, you are about to enter into an addictive hobby. Making tiny groups is very satisfying, and then if you like to tinker, you end up with variants of the same model ;)

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Don't even get me started on IPSC, or maybe revolvers for PPC lol ;)
 
You weren't kidding about variants of the same model! Those are some sweet looking toys (I know, a gun isn't a toy--but honestly, to a guy, what isn't a toy. Just be responsible with it!).

As a favour, when we meet, please leave the expensive pieces at home ;). Haha I don't know if I can handle holding something I have to own.

I bought a single pistol Americase 501, but now I'm regretting it. Maybe I should have bought the 502 lol.

Damn it, I love tinkering. Maybe this is the wrong hobby for me, financially speaking haha.
 
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