A few questions for the old school bullseye shooters.

[H Richard]

I would clean my 1911 after each match and each practice session, just a field strip and clean, and only tear it completely down maybe every year or two or if there was a problem. Shooting mid-range lead loads it was always dirty when it was shot. I usually took it to the range and ran a couple magazines through it before any match.

My bullseye guns were a Colt Series 70 Gold Cup with a Kart barrel and accuracy job by a local gunsmith, and a Springfield Armory that I built up myself.

 

[Bullseye 2620]

anyone else notice the aroma of bullseye hovering around this thread?

How I love the smell of Winchester 231 in the morning. . .

 

[dr. mordo]

I don't understand why there's no picture of the OP's gun.

 

[4barrel]

Also these guns are not made to shoot a full charge load. 4.1---4.5 grains of a fast powder is what they use with bullseye probably the fastest. Hang on to the old spring. A Shockey will work really slow on recoil. A friend of mine has one and watching from the side it seems to work in slow motion. I have one old Remington Rand that will shoot 3.5 of bullseye and lock back with a light spring.

 

[jimmyj]

In my part of the world bullseye match guns were never stripped and cleaned. A drop lub on the barrel,slide rails, and occasionally a brush and patch though the bore.

 

[Professor Frink]

Thanks for all the good info. I apologize for the lack of pics. Ever since Photobucket did whatever they did, I've not signed-up with a new service.

 

[one eye joe]

IMHO, THERE IS NO NEED TO THOROUGHLY CLEAN A .45 ACP, UNTIL THE GUN TELLS YOU THAT IT NEEDS IT.......

KEEP THE RAILS CLEAN AND OILED, AND RUN A BORE SNAKE DOWN THE BORE AFTER 500 ROUNDS OR SO, A DROP OR TWO OF OIL ON THE BARREL, AND YOU SHOULD BE FINE. AVOID SEPARATING THE BARREL FROM ITS BUSHING........

 

[model3sw]

Shockey is legendary as is Clark. Here in Florida, there was a native Floridian WWII Veteran from Odessa, Florida, named John Giles. Being "HE" was here, and " I " (plus all the guys in the FOPA were using Giles bulleye guns) was here ... I ended up with a few of each type of Giles customs.

Start with a 1948 Colt Super .38 converted to .38 Wadcutter, 2 Colt 1911 custom KIT-built Giles .45ACPs, a Model 70, 45ACP and a Colt 1911 custom KIT-built in .38 Mid-Range (not a .38 Super conversion but an actual Colt Kit in .38 Mid Range), then throw in a few High Standard .22 Military Giles, for good measure.

The oldest and the most "well used" Giles, including the 1948 Super converted to .38 Mid-Range, still puts holes in the paper exactly where you point it.

Oh, please don't tell any of my buddies in the S&WCA that I own a few C-O-L-T-S. Just between us here, ok ?

 

[STCM(SW)]

The only 1911 45 ACP I shot in bullseye target shooting was a Colt Gold Cup.
Never cleaned it up as much as my S&W M19 for center fire and for .22 mine was a M41.
Looks like a great 1911 to shoot & have fun with at the range..

 

[Ed Fowler]

Shockey is legendary as is Clark. Here in Florida, there was a native Floridian WWII Veteran from Odessa, Florida, named John Giles. Being "HE" was here, and " I " (plus all the guys in the FOPA were using Giles bulleye guns) was here ... I ended up with a few of each type of Giles customs.

Start with a 1948 Colt Super .38 converted to .38 Wadcutter, 2 Colt 1911 custom KIT-built Giles .45ACPs, a Model 70, 45ACP and a Colt 1911 custom KIT-built in .38 Mid-Range (not a .38 Super conversion but an actual Colt Kit in .38 Mid Range), then throw in a few High Standard .22 Military Giles, for good measure.

The oldest and the most "well used" Giles, including the 1948 Super converted to .38 Mid-Range, still puts holes in the paper exactly where you point it.

I love to see 50 yard groups from hand guns, thanks for sharing!

Many of us carry little groups like that in our billfolds, I am one. Too bad they don't last forever!

 

[BE Mike]

There is an old paperback book, which was published by Gil Hebard, called "The Pistol Shooter's Treasury" There is a photo of Shockey and an article. I started out in bullseye pistol shooting in 1971. I worked my way from Marksman to Master. I also am a Distinguished Pistol Shot badge holder. I have a couple of Jim Clark, Sr. pistols. I have owned a couple of Tony Kidd pistols. I had a well-used Giles wad gun pass through my hands. It was hard to tell just how many thousands of rounds had been fired through it. Before I traded it off, I tested it on a Ransom Rest at 50 yards. It produced a 2" ten shot group on the first attempt. If I could have afforded a new one, I'd have bought a Giles. I think he was the best of the best. Having said that $425 for a used Shockey is a steal.

 

[gnystrom]

Back in the day a fellow competitor told me "your elbow is pointed so the oil will run off".

 

[4barrel]

The things they do to lighten the slides for a light target load.

 

[model3sw]

PS: I bought my first Ransom Rest because I had a hard time believing 7/8" groups at 50 yards on his Kit Guns. Darn if it doesn't do it ... ALL THE TIME. Only exception is if you're using bulk relaoded target ammo. With my own loads, per Giles specs and H&G Mold 200 grain SWC, 3.6 to 3.9 gr. Bullseye ... EVERY time, without fail I can pull a 1+1/4" group or better. One time at 1+1/4" I used vise-grips to take the wobble out of deck rest (that I mounted the RR to) at the range. Vastly improved accuracy back to 1" or under on the Colt Kit guns.

 

[stu1ritter]

This is the test target from my Curtis built 1911. Ranson rest, 50 yards, full tilt ball ammo. If not for that first round flyer it would be 1" vertical.

Stu

 

[Professor Frink]

Alright, pics are up. Included a pic of the Mousetrap etc. have really enjoyed all the info and insight.

 

[Jebus35745]

Called a friend tonight and there was a Ray Shockey in Cleveland. He was a local bullseye shooter and tightened up he guns to shoot bullseye. He started working on others guns at night or weekends and did a great job for a reasonable price. Ron said his was tightened and the grip stippled and it was a tack driver. Larry

 

[824tsv]

I don't think anyone will dispute there is a Ray Shockey in Ohio and I'm sure he's quite talented in his own right.
Theres no doubt (to me anyway), O.P.'s pistol was built by Richard Shockey of Oklahoma who was one of the greats of the era.

 

[one eye joe]

Shockey is legendary as is Clark. Here in Florida, there was a native Floridian WWII Veteran from Odessa, Florida, named John Giles. Being "HE" was here, and " I " (plus all the guys in the FOPA were using Giles bulleye guns) was here ... I ended up with a few of each type of Giles customs.

Start with a 1948 Colt Super .38 converted to .38 Wadcutter, 2 Colt 1911 custom KIT-built Giles .45ACPs, a Model 70, 45ACP and a Colt 1911 custom KIT-built in .38 Mid-Range (not a .38 Super conversion but an actual Colt Kit in .38 Mid Range), then throw in a few High Standard .22 Military Giles, for good measure.

The oldest and the most "well used" Giles, including the 1948 Super converted to .38 Mid-Range, still puts holes in the paper exactly where you point it.

Oh, please don't tell any of my buddies in the S&WCA that I own a few C-O-L-T-S. Just between us here, ok ?

THAT'S A NICE BRACE OF PISTOLS YOU HAVE PUT TOGETHER. IT LOOKS LIKE ANY ONE OF THEM WILL ALL GET THE JOB DONE, IF YOU DO YOUR PART.....

 

[model3sw]

THAT'S A NICE BRACE OF PISTOLS YOU HAVE PUT TOGETHER. IT LOOKS LIKE ANY ONE OF THEM WILL ALL GET THE JOB DONE, IF YOU DO YOUR PART.....

Thank you. The Clark .38 Colt Kit (2 left photos) is not mine but rather another member's, The Giles .38 Colt Kit ( on the right) is mine, purchased from another member a few years back after searching for one a very long time.