Looking for a 22LR target pistol
- Thread starter georgeski
- Start date
Good Luck
So...you are knowledgeable enough to have managed to procure an exemption letter...in Canada...in today's shooting-unfriendly political climate...but you don't know anything about the models of guns suitable for your specialized new favourite sport?
Hmmm...interesting...puzzling...one might almost say incredible...
Hmmm...interesting...puzzling...one might almost say incredible...
The op didn’t say he doesn’t know what models don’t work for ISSF, he is simply asking for input on what members suggestions might be. I’m actually overjoyed that someone can buy a handgun legally!! I suggested a Walther GSP which he’s considering.
I hope it's true as well; my innate cynicism, combined with a quick perusal of the OP's post history, made me skeptical. Let's follow along, shall we?
Back in my early days of handgun shooting, in the 1970's, my club shot a bunch of quasi-ISSF style matches, but the main focus was Bullseye-style shooting. I, and most other members, used typical Bullseye-insired guns...S&W model 41's (my personal favourite by a wide margin), High Standard Victors, Colt Woodsmans, even Ruger Mk I's. They worked just fine.
The rules got bent to allow full-size semi-autos for the centerfire phase of ISSF. My dream gun...which I never owned but shot many times thanks to the generosity of an older member...was the S&W 52 (.38Special wadcutters) and many guys even used their 1911's.
One guy even went the distance and bought a Walther GSP. Very cool, shot great, but a little too "Star Trek" for many of us.
The 41 is an awesome firearm and I hesitated just before the changes, a beauty on the EE with two barrels! Hindsight. I do still have a Walther Olympic rapid fire pistol but in 22 short. Hard to aquire quality ammo but I’m lucky and still have a few bricks of match ammo from back in the day. I relayed the facts about not transfers unless you possess the proper paperwork and he has assured me he is in possession of the proper documents!! Time will tell but I hope he has it and is willing to share how he obtained it.
Thanks for your message, I get where you’re coming from. Yes, I’m working through the legal process properly, including the exemption letter where applicable. The reason I’m asking is simply that the Canadian market is extremely limited right now, and I’m trying to find the best-value option within a reasonable budget for ISSF training.
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Thank you sir, I haven’t contacted Nordic Marksman directly. I have been in touch with North Sylva. They do have a small batch of new Walther GSPs available, but the pricing is extremely high, which is why I’m exploring used target pistols as a more realistic option within a limited budgets.
I can outline the general approach, but the exact process depends a lot on the club and region.
In practice, you’d want to find a club or league in your area that actively trains and competes in bullseye-style pistol shooting. Join the club, train with them regularly, and participate in matches. Each club handles this a bit differently, so it’s best to speak directly with the person responsible for bullseye shooting at that club. I used to shoot IPSC, but over time I realized that bullseye is really where I belong. I’m much more drawn to precision, fundamentals, and consistency than speed, and that’s ultimately why I made the switch. And it's also important to be clear that exemption letter, where applicable, is strictly limited to .22 LR pistols for that discipline. It’s not a pathway to acquire centerfire handguns. Air pistol is also a very solid option, and I’d actually recommend starting there. It helps tremendously with trigger control and shot discipline, which transfers very well to ISSF 25 m Standard Pistol.
In the ISSF league where I shoot, some members use the Ruger pistol (a model with adjustable sights). The S&W Model 41 semi-auto is a step up from the Ruger, especially the trigger. The old High Standards are also very good shooters (on a par with the S&W 41) but finicky about mags. The last time an American won Olympic pistol gold it was with a Hi Std. The S&W Model 17 revolver also works and is usually very accurate. Those US-made options all have a high bore axis. Adding an aftermarket grip with a palm shelf helps noticeably. Many shooters find improvement after moving to a European target pistol having a lower bore axis and an adjustable palm shelf. Before Canadian law changed, older Euro pistols were regularly available on the auction sites, for modest prices. My favourite of these was the French Unique DES 69, which handles North American ammo (CCI SV) readily, unlike some Euro pistols. Some other possibilities are discussed at this site: https://www.pilkguns.com/ssp-shtml/ The current Olympic favourite is the Pardini SP. These are hard to find used and now quite expensive new. Reportedly, new Pardinis are intermittently available from the Canadian distributor, Western Marksman in Kelowna BC. The Walther GSP is the main rival to the Pardini in new pistols. I'm unsure of their availability but the Canadian Walther distributor, Airguns Plus in Saskatchewan, would know. The Walther is heavier than the Pardini with a less angled grip. Most who try both strongly prefer one or the other. Both have the mag ahead of the trigger. My personal experience is with the S&W Model 41, DES 69, and Pardini, all bought used (from least to most accurate, in that order). Users tend to baby these pistols so they're often in very good condition. I don't know whether the Buck Mark would be adequate. (You don't see the faux 1911 pistols used.) Some gun stores do have the occasional Ruger or S&W available for sale, unadvertized. Anecdotally I expect you'd pay around $800 for a used S&W Model 41 or 17 in good shape. Importation of a used pistol from the USA is also theoretically possible, thru one of the outfits that specializes in the process, eg Borderview.
You can be a "serious" club shooter without spending $5,000 on a new pistol. Let's not promote the myth that ISSF shooting is just for those with deep pockets or generational talents. It is more useful to give practical advice for entry level shooters.
