BULLSEYE SHOOTING MATCHES

[rct269]

What was the course of fire before slow, timed, and rapid fire?

At what distance(s) were these matches conducted?

At what point in time did this change occur?

Many thanks!

Ralph Tremaine

 

[old&slow]

It has been Slow, Timed, & Rapid for as long as I can remember. I started shooting NRA Bullseye in the early 70's.

50 ft. indoor and 50 & 25 yd outdoors. I've always shot indoors ,, but had a couple friends that shot the outdoor matches.

 

[PPCSHOOTER]

Bullseye-L Forum
TargetTalk :: Index
HERE IS ALL THE ANSWERS YOU CAN ASK AND MORE. JP

 

[rct269]

old&slow huh-----sounds like me!

I shot bullseye (also indoors) in the late 50's. The course of fire then was as it is now---slow/timed/rapid. It was not always such (I think). The following is what I've been told. On the one hand, I'm trying to confirm it. On the other hand, I'm trying to find out when it happened.

In the beginning (of organized competitive handgun shooting), the course of fire was slow fire----only. (??) That, at least, makes sense; if as I'm led to believe, the generally favored handgun was the single shot pistol. (??) The sanctioning body was other than the NRA-----United States Revolver Association, maybe. (??) At a point in time (late "teens"/early 20's), (??) the NRA became THE sanctioning body---the course of fire was changed (from whatever it was) to slow/timed/rapid fire----as it remains. That too would seem to make sense, because single shot pistols fell from favor to be replaced by the revolver----and subsequently the autoloader. So, is that essentially what happened---and if so, when? And if not, then--------------------???

And JP (PPCSHOOTER), I didn't ignore your kind advice, but my choice of search terms didn't produce the results I had hoped for-----my bad probably.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[trulyapostolic]

The national match course (NMC) is run in the 3 stages off fire (slow, timed and rapid). If you're shooting a 900 (1 gun), 1800 (2 guns), or a 2700 (3 guns) match then the course of fire goes as follows for each gun:

1- Slow fire match, 2 strings of 10 shots in 10 minutes each.
2- NMC
3- Timed fire match, 4 strings of 5 shots in 20 seconds each, with a target change.
4- Rapid fire match, 4 strings of 5 shots in 10 seconds each, with a target change.

90 shots total, 900 possible points. Hope that answers your question.

 

[TAROMAN]

The matches I shot in the Army many years ago were 900 x 3.
Shoot the course with the hardball gun, then the wadcutter gun and once again with the .22.
Then there was the 900 "leg match".
Timed and rapid were always my best stages. Tended to over think on slow fire.

 

[old&slow]

old&slow huh-----sounds like me!

I shot bullseye (also indoors) in the late 50's. The course of fire then was as it is now---slow/timed/rapid. It was not always such (I think). The following is what I've been told. On the one hand, I'm trying to confirm it. On the other hand, I'm trying to find out when it happened.

In the beginning (of organized competitive handgun shooting), the course of fire was slow fire----only. (??) That, at least, makes sense; if as I'm led to believe, the generally favored handgun was the single shot pistol. (??) The sanctioning body was other than the NRA-----United States Revolver Association, maybe. (??) At a point in time (late "teens"/early 20's), (??) the NRA became THE sanctioning body---the course of fire was changed (from whatever it was) to slow/timed/rapid fire----as it remains. That too would seem to make sense, because single shot pistols fell from favor to be replaced by the revolver----and subsequently the autoloader. So, is that essentially what happened---and if so, when? And if not, then--------------------???

Ralph Tremaine

Ralph, I kind of figured the same thing, and it would be interesting to find out when it happened.
I've seen pictures of old single shot pistols that were identified as target guns and figured that at one time must have something other than slow/timed/ rapid. But it was before my time.
Sorry , I kind of assumed the question was from a newer shooter. Sounds like you have a few more years of wisdom, knowledge, & practice than I do..

 

[old&slow]

Ralph,
Did some web searching. per what I can find the current slow/timed/rapid 3 gun 2700 point NRA format started as a standard course of fire in 1941.
However they talk about the 'National Matches' starting in 1903.
Camp Perry started being the place they were held in 1907.
But, I couldn't find the shooting format.
Various other sites indicated some of the competitors started switching from revolvers to auto's in the 1930's.

CMP - National Matches History

 

[old&slow]

Found it !!!
http://www.odcmp.com/Competitions/NTIPistolHistory.pdf

History about Camp Perry, pistol matches , formats ,, etc. interesting read...

 

[DWFAN]

Slow, timed, rapid. Three different disciplines. Used to drive me nuts. I finally settled on rapid fire for all three courses. One discipline, Practiced almost daily= consistency. Used to drive everybody else nuts but I shot a 285+ average all the time. Before that 260's. There is no rule on how fast you can shoot.
DW

 

[H Richard]

I've been shooting informal club bullseye match's for about 30+ years. One of the most demanding sports, especially when you start to age. Without a red dot sight I would have had to quit long ago. I also "Used" to have a 285+ average, and would occasionally shoot into the low to medium 290's. This is with just 22 RF. I still shoot and will continue to , but the averages keep dropping.

 

[rct269]

Okay, some progress has been made! The course of fire (before slow/timed/rapid) was slow only. Matches were for 10, 20, 30, and 50 shots. The time limit was 12 minutes for 10 shots. The United States Revolver Association was the sanctioning body. Separate matches were held-------------revolvers and single shots.

The change from slow to slow/timed/rapid didn't happen overnight, but started in the early to mid 20's when the NRA introduced their "Gallery Course" (slow/timed/rapid). The dogs came to like that best, and the rest, as they say is history.

I don't know the range(s)/distance(s) yet, but that's coming.

Stay tuned!

Ralph Tremaine