Can Someone Please Explain Some PPC Rules?

[Marvin Gardens]

I am wanting to start shooting PPC after a long break from Bullseye completion.

I read the NRA rule book and am confused as to what is now legal for distinguished and stock auto guns.

I have an open revolver, 4" and 6" full lugged 14's, and a 2 1/2" 19. I am having a open 9mm built but the distinguished, stock, and off duty auto classes have me wondering. It seems what used to be legal isn't.

What is everyone using?

Thanks.

Bob

 

[MKT]

I think it works better to say that what wasn't legal now is.

Your array of revolvers covers everything - the open match, distinguished and duty matches, plus the off-duty with your snubby.

The recent rule changes regarding autos is what is confusing. Most of the open guns are 6" guns, usually with a full rib. They changed the rules for Distinguished, allowing up to a 6" barrel now, but while the triset Aristocrat sight is legal it cannot have a full rib (must be separate front and rear assemblies to be legal for distinguished). If you are having the built now, I would see if you could have your builder not install a full rib Aristocrat and go with the triset rear and appropriate height front sight, that way you can use one gun for both the open and Distinguished matches.

I use a 6" longslide 1911 with full rib for the open match, a 5" 1911with triset rear for Distinguished, a stock 5" 1911 for Stock and my latest treat is my 3" 1911 for the off-duty match. The rules now allow adjustable sights across the board but I am somewhat obstinate and still have fixed sights on my Stock and Off-duty guns.

 

[Marvin Gardens]

Is the barrel length limit on the duty auto still 5 1/2"?

The problem that I see for the Distinguished auto is finding a catalogued 6" gun. I don't believe the PPC 9's are being made anymore.

There is the STI Target Master but I don't know what kind of 50 yard accuracy to expect. Looking at the NRA PPC section there appears to Be a Springfield 6" 9mm catalogued but I'd never heard of it before.

I have never shot completion with two hands before. My experience has been in Bullseye and Free Pistol competition. I wonder how much advantage the extra inch of sight radius provides, I realize opinions will vary. I shot a longslide in Bullseye for several years and later switched to a 5" wad gun and found I shot better groups, especially at the 50 yard line.

Thanks Mike for your input. I would appreciate hearing from other PPC shooters and their decisions and observations regarding equipment.

Thanks.

Bob

 

[sw dan]

ppc

hi bob,
you are lucky to be in ca, there is a lot of ppc shot there. still better if they still have the postal matches. ca does have a combat assoc, go online, and i'am sure someone will be in your area. good luck
sw dan....delaware

 

[CALREB]

Marvin, for you to understand the NRA rules as they come out every year or so you would need to first get a hammer and whack yourself in the head a couple hundred times , till all your common sense is gone...
Then understand that catalogued NOW doesnt mean, mass produced, /off the shelf/all the same/ in stock or out of stock until the next run . Like the Performance center PPC guns (which they allow for Distinguished) but not stock because their pretty picture was never in a "catalogue"
However a CUSTOM SHOP 1911, where you order ,the barrel,bushing/bull, caliber,safeties, checkering, guide rod,trigger,so and so on and then wait 2 years to get, is a catalogue gun because it has a picture in a catalogue. Go figure.....The rules/guns are listed on the NRA's competition website.
As far as an advantage of 6" over 5" accuracy wise none (if your gun is built right) a little more muzzle heavy and an extra inch of sight radius.
However if your eyes are good thats not an issue.
I believe the big reason the average scores for distinguish may have gone up a bit since the 6" was allowed, is the fact your shooting the same gun for the Dist Match that you just dialed in, on the open match 5, a couple hours earlier so not much of a sight change.Or at least your confidence is up and you dont look at your target.
There are probably alot of guys who have 5" guns that they would sell, now since they only use their 6", so you might find one easier.
Some of our young guys bought STI's they seem to shoot good enough for them , at least they were available, and at 1500. or so, you could always get one tightened up if it needed it, at least there usually in stock somewhere.
Dont get me wrong Any of the S/W PPC guns would be great shooters, but the last 6" I saw on a auction site went for over 4 grand. I have older Springfield guns and they shoot fine, but now its a 18-24 month wait.....Good luck, Bob

 

[Brandon]

Since this thread already had the attention of some PPC gurus I figured I would just add on my own rule question. I had a question regarding Rule 3.9; Off Duty Semi-Automatic Pistol. Specifically # 5 under the "Allowed" section which states, "Extended magazines, if no more than one finger width of the magazine is exposed when the magazine is inserted." And also # 9 under the "Prohibited" section which states, "Use of full size compatible magazines."

I am planning on using my Kimber Ultra Carry for this match. It is shown in my attached photo #1 with standard officer's model type Wilson Combat magazine inserted.

However, when I insert a standard government model Wilson magazine as shown in photo #2 it does extend below the grip but not more than one finger as shown in photo #3.

So it appears this would be okay per the "Allowed" section but since the government model magazine is a "full size" magazine, it would also appear that it would be prohibited. Both magazines are shown together in photo #4.

I directed this question to the LEAD but have not received an opinion back yet. Has anyone else already dealt with this issue because I did not want to purchase several more officer's model mags if I could use the many gov't model mags I already have. Thanks for your time!

 

[CALREB]

Brandon, Please return to my post above yours and get your hammer out.....HA !!!!!
Yes your right it clearly states that mag extensions or mags that are not more than 1 finger width ARE ALLOWED.( whose finger you using)
Then half a dozen lines later states use of FULL SIZE COMPATABLE MAGS NOT ALLOWED/PROHIBiTED.
Welcome to PPC since 2006.... Whatever answer you get,if approved save the E-mail, because you will get different opinions ffrom different refs at the NPSC. Good Luck Bob

 

[MKT]

Brandon,

Bob is spot on....stick with the compact mags as most refs will bounce you for using (or trying to use) a standard mag. When I got my Ultra Compact Springfield I also got 8 of the compact mags so I could shoot through the entire match without having to reload. Those compact mags were pricey too....even though they were not much more than standard mags, they were real spendy when you consider I had 32+ standard mags but couldn't use them for the match.

Shoot, my compact mags almost got bounced once because they had the thick Springfield mag base. The ref thought the bases were an extension.

 

[Brandon]

Agreed Bob! Yeah I'm still waiting on a return but I figure I'll end up just getting more officer's model mags to prevent any friction but I'll let you know when/if I get a response.