IHMSA Field Pistol fun with S&Ws and lead bullets

[jaymoore]

A few photos from the local match last weekend. FYI for those that don't shoot metallic silhouette the Field Pistol course is shot standing at distances of 25, 50, 75, and 100 yards. Five shots, two minutes. Then repeat at each distance for a total of 40 rounds per entry.

At the firing point with the 29-3. The swinging targets at left are for sighters. You get five total sighting shots per entry. Clear, cool, and a bit breezy. Managed a 24 but not too happy with the closer scores. Better can be had! 240gr swaged lead SWCs with a beewax coating.

625PP .45 Colt. A fun revolver! 200gr cast SWC bullets on top of WW231. Also shot a 24, but have done better.
Technically, the porting makes it ineligible for Field Pistol, but the range master has allowed it and nobody else minds. Some ranges have introduced a "Practical Hunter" class that allows porting and I entered it that way for a bit, but it was decided not to use that class locally.

And the first time out with this 629-6:

Still fine tuning the elevation settings, but managed a 28 with swaged 240gr Speer bullets. So much for newer S&Ws not doing well with bare lead projectiles!

Had another S&W being run beside me, a 629-6 PC. first time out at this range for the two shooting it: I hope they enjoyed themselves as much as my friend and I!

 

[loc n load]

Met Sil

Your photo's bring back memories from the 80's when I shot metallic Sil at the Rio Salado Range in Az. I competed for years with the 44 mag shooting both the 100yd and 200 yd course with iron sights. I learned a great deal abt the capabilities of a big bore revolver at 100-200 yds. Normally shot 240 gr Hornady JHP over a max load of 2400.....shot lead SWC's and a reduced charge of 2400 on the hunter pistol course.
After 5 yrs I transitioned to the 7mm TCU for the long course, but stayed with the 44 on the 100 yd course.
It was a great experience, learned a lot, met and shot with some great folks. Enjoyed your photo's.

 

[H Richard]

Mid 80's I shot both the IHMSA 200 meter course and the NRA Hunter Pistol 100 yard course. Lots of fun. I used a 10" TC in 44 mag with 225 gr. cast bullets over HS6 and later progressed to the 7 TCU also in 10" (Production class). I used a variety of handguns in the NRA Hunter Pistol, inc. that 44 mag (loaded down) and a Mod 19 as well as the .22's. Somewhere around here are a bunch of 5 in a row and 10 in a row pins.

 

[jaymoore]

Since I hunt with a handgun generally standing whilst very slowly creeping through the woods, the IHMSA Field Pistol class (100yd standing against 1/2 sized targets with basically straight walled cartridges) seems a good way to practice year round. Not that I've shot a deer at 100 with a S&W, but 50 and 60 yards, yes!