Hey guys going to try my hand at PPC next season and looking for a reasonable entry level pistol or revolver. Just wondering what a guy can get, preferably a revolver, on a lower price budget. I have a family and not looking at get to crazy yet. Just want to try and get my feet wet in the sport.
PPC first handgun advice
- Thread starter TwigPig
- Start date
coldestcanuck
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- lower mainland bc
Most of the guns you'll see in the PPC matches will be Smith and Wesson 38's and most of those will be model 10, 14, 15 or 64--all k frames. then there will be some 586's and 686's--L frame 357's. There are a few others as well. Most will be modified with a trigger job, after market grips, and a 3 or 4 position sight rib. I have a model 10 and 2 model 14's for the 1500 round and a 586 that I use in the distinguished revolver match as well as a couple of S.A.'s for the duty match and the 1500 S.A.
Apart from the gun, you will want to budget for a holster and belt and some speedloaders.
One of my model 14's is going to be sold soon 'cause I just don't use it. it works fine but would benefit from a professional trigger job at some point. It will be priced as a good entry level gun. You can PM me if you are interested or just want some more info on the sport. Cheers!
Apart from the gun, you will want to budget for a holster and belt and some speedloaders.
One of my model 14's is going to be sold soon 'cause I just don't use it. it works fine but would benefit from a professional trigger job at some point. It will be priced as a good entry level gun. You can PM me if you are interested or just want some more info on the sport. Cheers!
hatman1793
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Any good used revolver will do really. GP100, 586,686, any K frame. Most PPC competitions have a service type course of fire that is dominated by auto's. 45acp, 9mm & 40. If a decent revolver is out of your price range, go to your auto.
I use a totally stock S&W 686, 6" bbl. Works just fine. Don't even have to adjust my sights when shooting the 50 yard targets. I own 10 times as many semi auto's than revolvers but I have to say that every time I see the winner of the match it's done with a wheel gun.
Good luck, happy shooting.
Good luck, happy shooting.
coldestcanuck
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- lower mainland bc
That would be the "duty pistol" competition or are you referring the "semi auto 1500 round" the latter is the same course of fire as the basic revolver 1500 round (150 rounds @ potentially 10 pts each) Lots of fun!! The duty pistol part of the competition is also 150 rounds with a cpca approved type of pistol and a level II (same as level III in the US)
In the 1500 round there are a total of 48 rounds fired at 50 yards from the sitting, prone, and left and right barricade position. the other 102 rounds are fired from 7, 15,and 25 vards from various shooting positions. OP, don't know where you are located but if you are in my area, I'd be happy to set you up as a guest at our monthly practice competition.
Hey guys. Thanks for all of the responses so far. Coldest I am out in northern Ontario and was in contact with the local club the other day and will be going to one of their practise shoots in a couple of weeks.
Could a guy use an MP 9mm and have any type of luck at all with upgraded sites?
Could a guy use an MP 9mm and have any type of luck at all with upgraded sites?
Thats not quite correct for the duty pistol match. Shooting positions are 3-5-7-15-25.
Revolvers still post better scores than the semis in the 1500 match, but its getting closer all the time now. The good semis like the S&W PPC9 and the STI Targetmaster and a few others are pretty much right up there with a well tuned revolver.
Dude in G.P.
CGN Regular
- Location
- Having Fun on The Firing Line
Of course, as you've said you are just starting out. Have fun, get a feel for the course of fire, talk to other 'nutters while you're there, see what works and what doesn't, then purchase your PPC gun. Lots of great choices on this thread. The main thing is that you go an shoot. I used to use a tuned norinco 1911 gov't and a tuned 586 with 6" barrel when i was shooting PPC.
I'd recommend an all-steel 9mm, and reload yer own ammo for it - specifically, go down to the lightest recoil that cycles the action and that the pistol shoots accurately. It's all about the recoil - any pistol you buy is going to jump around a bit, and the faster you can get back on-target, the better you'll do. And an all-steel pistol (hopefully with a whackin' great magwell, like the STI's) jumps-around a whole lot less than a polymer pistol.
If you are going to shoot revolver, you might consider one of the old top-breaks and moon clips. Gerry Miculek can reload a side-crane revolver cylinder literally faster than the eye can see, but he's got a whole lot more practise than the rest of us.
If you are going to shoot revolver, you might consider one of the old top-breaks and moon clips. Gerry Miculek can reload a side-crane revolver cylinder literally faster than the eye can see, but he's got a whole lot more practise than the rest of us.
hatman1793
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Hello fellow PPC shooters! Our biggest collective problem in PPC is not deciding about equipment but bringing in new shooters, ESPECIALLY women shooters. Our little league here in Niagara has zero women shooters and is fast turning into an old boys club. This has to change. On most occasions if you give us a heads up we could get a rig setup & ammo for female shooters to participate.
Top end autos like the Sig X5 & X6, the STI TargetMaster are on par with top end revolvers. Autos do outshoot revolvers too!
As for a nice starter auto, you cannot beat the fine S&W M&P and the price is right.
Top end autos like the Sig X5 & X6, the STI TargetMaster are on par with top end revolvers. Autos do outshoot revolvers too!
As for a nice starter auto, you cannot beat the fine S&W M&P and the price is right.
As a starter PPC gun it's pretty hard to beat a stock S&W Model 14. Unless they have been really beat up they are inherently accurate, come with adjustable sights (not as good as a rib but work fine when you are just starting out) and typically have excellent triggers. On top of that, accessories like speedloaders and holsters are common and easy to find. I regularly see decent Model 14's on the EE in the $450-$600 range. The nice thing is that if you like PPC and want to move up to something fancier you will get just about all of your original money back as they hold their value quite well.
coldestcanuck
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- lower mainland bc
Sorry Red, I think you misread my post. I said the 1500 round is out to 50. PPC 9 is a great gun, I've lusted after a long slide version for a while, but they all seem to be 2k plus. They do come close to wheel gun accuracy. I think for the OP, a good used k frame set up for PPC is probably the best compromise for a beginner as far as expense goes.
As far as using an M&P 9, probably not real satisfying in the 1500 round, (fun of course) but not too gratifying at 50 yards. Great gun for Duty Pistol but I don't think sight modifications are allowed, (def. no adjustable sights) and of course you need a level II (III by U.S. stds) holster.
