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Smith & Wesson Competitive Shooting All aspects of competitive shooting using Smith and Wesson Firearms. Including: IPSC, IDPA, Silhouette, Bullseye.


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Old 04-08-2017, 05:33 PM
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Default Steel Challenge pistol

Looking at 2 different .22 auto pistols for a beginner steel challenge shooting. The S&W Victory and the Ruger MKIV competition. The victory is a little clunky looking in the receiver but looks much better with the Volquartson carbon fiber barrel. the Ruger has more aftermarket parts. Triggers, barrels etc. Any feedback would be appreciated.
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Old 04-08-2017, 05:44 PM
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Looking at 2 different .22 auto pistols for a beginner steel challenge shooting. The S&W Victory and the Ruger MKIV competition. The victory is a little clunky looking in the receiver but looks much better with the Volquartson carbon fiber barrel. the Ruger has more aftermarket parts. Triggers, barrels etc. Any feedback would be appreciated.
I use a Browning Buckmark. Have not heard a lot of good about the Victory. The Ruger does not fit my hand as well as the Buckmark. No mods to the Buckmark were done except to put a fiber optic front sight on it. Works fine and lasts a long time.
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Old 04-08-2017, 06:23 PM
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+1 on the Buckmark.
Better trigger than Ruger and doesn't need $$$ worth of aftermarket add-ons to compete.
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Old 04-08-2017, 07:07 PM
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thanks for some input I'm heading out to look at a few at Cabelas if they have anything to handle
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Old 04-13-2017, 01:54 PM
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I use a Buckmark Bullseye and it is great. It comes right up and transition is easy.
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Old 04-13-2017, 09:58 PM
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I don't shoot rimfire steel challenge, but I see a lot of Rugers at the range, of course the absolute best is a S&W Model 41 (if the price doesn't bother you) the good thing about a 41 is that you'll probably never need to "upgrade"
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Old 04-13-2017, 10:48 PM
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I don't shoot rimfire steel challenge, but I see a lot of Rugers at the range, of course the absolute best is a S&W Model 41 (if the price doesn't bother you) the good thing about a 41 is that you'll probably never need to "upgrade"
41's are nice, but there several European guns that are better. The Steel Challenge is for fun. Get a gun that is easy to shoot and accurate and not so pricey. I don't shoot my Walther OSP or Browning Medalist in The Steel Challenge. I use my Buckmark and have fun.
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Old 04-14-2017, 02:26 AM
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I was shooting my S&W 617 but recently decided to try the Automatic and picked up a Ruger Mark IV. I like the feel of the grip. I added a Volquartsen trigger kit, an Allchin Mount and a C-More Railway with a 12 minute dot.

I've tuned all my mags so that they work flawlessly. I shoot CCI Mini Mags.
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Old 04-14-2017, 08:32 AM
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I was shooting my S&W 617 but recently decided to try the Automatic and picked up a Ruger Mark IV. I like the feel of the grip. I added a Volquartsen trigger kit, an Allchin Mount and a C-More Railway with a 12 minute dot.

I've tuned all my mags so that they work flawlessly. I shoot CCI Mini Mags.
This is what I was writing about. Find something that feels good in your hand, that is half the battle in good shooting. However, the fact you have had to rebuild the pistol with new parts to get it competitive is on the downside.
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Old 04-14-2017, 09:12 AM
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I go from my 17-5 revolver to my Browning Buckmark in steel challenge. Results are about the same. The revolver makes me work at accuracy though!

Randy
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Old 04-14-2017, 09:29 AM
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I go from my 17-5 revolver to my Browning Buckmark in steel challenge. Results are about the same. The revolver makes me work at accuracy though!

Randy
We did revolvers and bolt rifles for one steel challenge shoot here. I used a 17-2 and an 18-7. The 18-7 was my New York reload if it was needed. Lots of fun, but we went back to the auto loaders.

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Old 04-14-2017, 06:19 PM
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Well, pretty familiar with the 22 pistols, as I am heavily involved in Scholastic Action Shooting program. Similar to steel challenge stages great program. Any way having 30 plus kids shooting 22 auto pistols you get a pretty good feel for what is working and what is not.

1/3 of the kids shoot Buckmarks. The rest shoot some version of a Ruger. MKII's MKIII's, 22/45 MKIII's, 22/45 MKIII's lites, couple MKIV's, and a couple S&W Victories.

There is good and bad to each. I have seen everyone of these pistols go down for various reasons but by and far operators will limp wrist a .22 yes you can do it. Out of the box most Buckmarks are pretty good, and the kids new to pistols seem to handle them with the most ease. They needed more regular cleaning, and it seem sights are always coming loose, and springs don't seem as hardy. The triggers out of the box are good not great. Can't go wrong with them for a starter. The Rugers well those can be a love hate. The MK II's have good triggers and typically run well for a long time. The MK III's and 22/45 MK III's at a minimum need the replacement hammer bushing to get ride of the horrid magzine safety and what it does to the trigger. The $10 part puts the trigger in line with the Buckmark, a volquartsen sear, makes them great. Other key upgrades that may be needed per specific pistol for reliability is removal of the LCI, and replacing the extractor with the TandemKross Eagle Claw extractor. Each Ruger is a little different. Once they are running they are pretty bullet proof but as you may of detected some may take a little work to get there. I myself have a 22/45 MKIII lite fully redone that I run for steel challenge mine is awesome but I have as much in parts in it as the gun cost. I do cringe when a kid has a lite because I know it could potentially be a challenge. The MKIV's the couple that we have, have been flawless out of the box and the trigger although a bit heavy break cleanly. The Smith and Wesson Victories the two that kids are running have been flawless I don't like the looks but they are easy to handle and they run most every ammo type without issue.

By far high velocity 40grain solids are the best choice. Steel guns need to run they don't need Eley 10X accuracy. Almost all of our kids run Federal Auto Match. It goes bang, cycles the pistols and although not real match ammo, shoots tight enough for steel.

Out of the box, I have to go the Victory. Next would be the BuckMark. If you want to "create" a super 22 open pistol get the Ruger and embrace the journey. Just know what you may be getting into. Many Rugers will run clean out of the box, all can be made to run great.

Hope that helps or at least give some perspective.
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Old 04-15-2017, 09:00 PM
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I have a Victory and intend to turn it into an open SC gun for next year.
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Old 04-21-2017, 02:43 PM
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I am using an old smith 422 for steel challenge and it is very reliable and an easy gun to shoot well. Bought for under $250 off the used racks a few years ago. You can still find them pretty easy. I am a bit of a traditionalist and prefer older used guns for most of my working gun needs.
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Old 04-27-2017, 06:23 AM
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Default Steel challenge pistol

I ended up buying a Ruger MKIV competition. Found a dealer in St. Cloud that had 2 of them and my buddy said take them both because he wants one. He's already had the Volquartsen trigger put in his and is impressed with it. I am doing the same. Thanks for input
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Old 04-30-2017, 12:16 AM
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This is what I was writing about. Find something that feels good in your hand, that is half the battle in good shooting. However, the fact you have had to rebuild the pistol with new parts to get it competitive is on the downside.
Actually the pistol was quite good as it was. I added stuff for my preferences but other than the trigger it could have been shot stock. Everything else could be considered a waist of money buy most competitive shooters. I just like the looks of it as it is.
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Old 05-19-2017, 01:43 PM
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Upgrades are not really needed of a basic pistol until you get to a high
Level of competition. Last steel challenge I used a 2" model 34 and kept up pretty well with the race gunners. The fact I will never be as fast as them has more to do with me than the equipment. Also I see far more custom guns with all sorts of "upgrades" choke functionally than stock pistols. I go to enjoy the shooting and comradeship and if my time is a half second slower because of my basic cheap equipment I don't care. I am pretty much the ultimate anti gadget type shooter running everything stock.
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Old 07-25-2017, 12:05 AM
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Guidedfishing hit the nail on the head, good advice.
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Old 07-25-2017, 12:31 AM
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Default THE PLATES ARE LARGE & CLOSE.

No need for anything fancy to start anyway, maybe never. Thinking of aftermarket before you even have the gun or have shot steel challenge??? My usual's are bone stock S&W 681 & a 617. An old pinned model 10 4" heavy barrel is a good one. There are no shortage of 1911's of various make, as well as Ruger MK's. MANY will work just fine. Go watch then try it. You may be able to buy a decent gun from one of the shooters. Good luck.

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