How to bring revolver shooters back to IPSC?

[kontrabass888]

I am a beginner shooter in Belgium, I love to shot revolvers, however there is almost nobody shoots revolvers at IPSC anymor

1)There are still many people own and shoot revolvers in EU but not at IPSC any more.

2)The 8 shots 9mm revolver is the only best choice for IPSC in EU, all other great revolvers and calibres are not suitable for IPSC any more.

3)IPSC should modify their rules of revolver division to let more revolvers and calibres become suitable again.

What do you guns think about my opinions above?

 

[ReloadforFun]

Whatever would get peple out shooting I would consider good.

Revolvers never really caught on in practical pistol competition. I think a lot had to do with not generally being able to keep up with the autos with regard to speed. It takes a lot more work to gain the proficiency with a revolver, but in shooting and reloading 0 and there will be a lot of reloading.

That there are 8-shot revolvers show that the gunmakers were ready to support the sport. It also amounts to its own equipment race.

Perhaps one means to encourage more revolver shooters is with revolver ony matches and requiring no more than six rounds without a reload as trying to better level the playing field.

While I have heard nothing about it in a while, there was/is ICORE in th US (at least) that was oriented to revolver shooters.

 

[Sgt. Buzzard]

I think rule changes or revolver only matches would be great. But I'm a geezer who grew up shooting revolvers, DAO. Also so old there would have to be a super senior class.

Reality is sponsorship goes to where the sales are. Go to the LGS, that tiny display section with revolvers only has gray haired geezers looking in. And while they tend to have the disposable income, they also have most of what they need. Want is different but they don't want revolvers with ugly holes in the sides. They also are pretty sick of being the QC person for multi million dollar corporations. So sales lag.

Simply put, the IPSC is reflecting problems from many levels not of their own choosing.

 

[ARgon]

I whole heartedly support your ideas. Are there any IDPA shoot there?

 

[Hawg Rider]

Welcome to the Forum! Unfortunately, IPSC is just about totally phased out here in the USA and has been replaced by the USPSA (and IDPA). Although there are revolver enthusiasts in both the USPSA and IDPA, they are by far the minority of shooters. The cost, quality, larger round capacity, and quicker reloads of pistols attract many more competitors, especially the younger people. We revolver shooters still have some great handgun choices, but every year there are fewer and fewer folks that compete with revolvers and most are older. I don't know what the answer is to your question, but it would be nice if some of the organizers held more revolver matches.

 

[Protocall_Design]

I have shot all kinds of matches with a revolver since 1979. One of the big things here is allowing dot sights in the revo classes. This goes a long way to keeping those who can no longer see iron sights well enough, engaged in the sport. Some of the younger guys that wouldn't otherwise shoot a revolver will shoot one with a dot.

The auto guys have Carry Optics (a red or green dot on a production gun) class that they can shoot without being stuck in Open class with multi thousand dollar 28 - 30 round other autos.

The revo guys (and gals) need a carry optics revo class or at least be allowed to shoot a dot in the CO with autos instead of being dumped in Open with the high capacity crowd. The sad fact is that many of the IPSC and USPSA bunch don't like revolver shooters, and mess with them at every turn to discourage them to leave. I have first hand knowledge of this.

Revolvers are well accepted in every other kind of shooting match I have attended. Anyway, being able to shoot a dot helps a lot of long time older shooters stay in the game. Fiber optic front and rear sights help a lot if you can only have iron sights. We have a good ICORE club locally, and there is a class for any kind of revolver you want to shoot. The safety rules are strictly enforced (that should always be the case), but other than that, it's a relaxed, fun time with like minded friends. Some of us go to lunch at a local BBQ place after the match.

 

[Moo Moo]

Very little revolvers used here in Australia for IPSC even though there is a division. I think Production Optics is the most popular division at the moment. However still lots of revolvers used in WA1500 and PPC/Service handgun matches where revolvers and autos limited to 6 rounds.

Good luck with your quest.

 

[madmikeb]

I always shoot revolvers in matches, and 99% of the time I'm the only one, I've done this for years. All my guns I compete with are cut for moonclips which makes them more competitive. I don't shoot much anymore, just matches, I don't practice at all, and I can usually end up in the middle of the pack. Good enough for me.

For me, it's more about socializing and having fun.

 

[Buford57]

Maybe we could start a movement. It worked with SASS/CAS shooting single action revolvers and lever action rifles. Limited to DA revolvers introduced before 1960, with a "Modern" category to allow L Frames. Reloads from belt loops, pockets or dump pouches (speed loaders and speed strips in Modern). Dress code requires either a period (1900-1980) police uniform - no ball caps, load bearing vests or Kydex - or street clothes (suit and fedora, bell bottoms and Nehru jacket, etc.) We could include BUG stages for the topbreaks and snubbies. We could call it the Nixon Era Shooting Society, or NESS - in honor of Elliot.

I don't shoot competition any more, but at my last qualification I was the only revolver shooter among 40. The late-30s cop range officer was amazed that anyone could qualify, let alone shoot a possible with a 642.

 

[old tanker]

Maybe they need a "limited six" class for revolver like they have "limited 10" for the guys shooting single stack autoloaders? Perhaps stage designs that don't give the advantage to more capacity?

Maybe it's like the decline in Cowboy Action as the geezers who grew up watching Westerns age out or croak. Revolvers, manual transmissions and dial telephones connected to a twisted pair of wires are not in normal experience of anyone born this century.

 

[Ameshawki]

All of the action pistol games favor speed. Eventually they all become an equipment race to that end. A revolver will never compete in that league. I've shot IDPA with revolvers but even twenty years ago I was usually the only one.

When a handful of people got interested in it, guess what? An equipment race. Moon clips, 7 or 8 shot pistols, enormous grips, the whole nine yards.

 

[Protocall_Design]

I've always thought they could at least allow the revo guys with a red dot sight to compete in carry optics (CO) along with the autos with a dot. Instead, the revo dot shooters are forced to be in Open class with the 28 round race guns.

 

[Matti Hytola]

A IDPA trainer visited our club in Finland and he did shoot with revolver. He was way faster than any of us beginners with pistols.
How about steel challenge? You have to shoot only 5 shots fast, I like that.

 

[1961MJS]

Maybe it's like the decline in Cowboy Action as the geezers who grew up watching Westerns age out or croak. Revolvers, manual transmissions and dial telephones connected to a twisted pair of wires are not in normal experience of anyone born this century.

Hi
While old tanker is right,, there ARE other reasons for the decline in SASS and other action shooting sports. I tend to look at shooting sports as training for real life that you hope to not need. Yes it's fun too.

SASS matches are usually shot with mouse fart loads at distances where the concept of actually touching the target with the barrel seems all too real. Perspnally, shooting at a 2 or 3 foot square target from 10 feet seems a waste of primers. NCOWS matches actually require the use of sights.

Personally shooting modern action pistol with something besides a 9mm seems cost prohibitive in that you'll never get your brass back. Dropping 9mm is not a big loss, dropping 30 .357 mag brass is at least noticeable. I'm not sponsored.

Later y'all

 

[Protocall_Design]

When shooting with moon clips, you get all your brass back.

 

[-BTM-]

Just saying, the single stack guys had the same complaints. It's all about stage design that forces reloads in place.

 

[8shot]

Investigate starting your own ICORE club? You mentioned other revolver shooters in your area.

ICORE - International Confederation of Revolver Enthusiasts

icore.org

 

[imashooter2]

I'm built more like a garbage truck than a Ferrari, so a 35 shot compensated whizenboomer would be wasted on me. What I liked best back in the 6 shot revolvers days was breaking down stages and figuring out how to shoot it. Then they started 8 shot minor and the bloom kind of fell off the rose. Revolvers are losing popularity everywhere. Not just IPSC/USPSA. Even 20 years ago I was shooting a lot of matches where I was the only round gun. Not sure that can be changed.