I've been shooting rifles and pistols all my life and many years ago even shot on a rifle team. Now I find I am getting interested in learning to shoot Bullseye. My only appropriate gun at the moment is a S&W model 14-2 which I read should be pretty accurate for me to learn on. But my question is "What is the best way to learn? Is there a book I could get to teach technique?" I've read a lot on the WEB so I am stating with slow fire at 25 yards and getting close to keeping them all in the black. I just need advice on the best way to go forward.
Learning to shoot Bullseye
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SgtLumpy
Member
By shooting bullseye. Seriously.
If you want to be a good basketball player, you don't read a book. You play basketball with other basketball players.
Same with any of the shooting sports. Shoot your event. Shoot outside your event. Every time you align the sights, live or dry fire, you're practicing the hand/eye/muscle/brain coordination needed to put the sights on target. Shooting the matches will familiarize your brain with the logistics of how the matches work.
Shoot! A lot! Reload. Shoot again!
Sgt Lumpy
Get pointers any way you can
Watch others. There are also some good vids on youtube. If you can get somebody to film you while shooting you can watch yourself and correct flaws. I don't see anything wrong with reading up, it may prevent you from developing bad habits. Practice breathing properly. A lot of dry practice will pay off.
Watch others. There are also some good vids on youtube. If you can get somebody to film you while shooting you can watch yourself and correct flaws. I don't see anything wrong with reading up, it may prevent you from developing bad habits. Practice breathing properly. A lot of dry practice will pay off.
Bullseye competition
I found that any endeavor is more enjoyable if one knows the rules and procedures in advance. Thus, I might recommend purchasing from the NRA the rule book for conventional pistol competition. It might also assist you in selecting equipment in advance. I enjoyed pistol competition from 1962 till 1993, from the USMC to the S&W Pistol Club Team, and it enriched my life tremendously. By the way - you'll possibly want semi-automatic pistols as you get more involved in the sport. Good luck...hold 'em and squeeze !
I found that any endeavor is more enjoyable if one knows the rules and procedures in advance. Thus, I might recommend purchasing from the NRA the rule book for conventional pistol competition. It might also assist you in selecting equipment in advance. I enjoyed pistol competition from 1962 till 1993, from the USMC to the S&W Pistol Club Team, and it enriched my life tremendously. By the way - you'll possibly want semi-automatic pistols as you get more involved in the sport. Good luck...hold 'em and squeeze !
keithherrington
Member
I shot Bullseye in college (1974-78) and picked it up again in 2006, I like to balance doing with research on bettering my technique. Send me your email address and I'll send you a bunch of very helpful literature I've picked up over the year. I even have Don Nygords writings which are renowned as some of the best. BTW, it must have worked to a degree. I'm rated Master outdoor, High Master Indoor, and I went Distinguished in both Ball gun and Revolver in 2006. Still competing and still loving it. Also, I compete in Bullseye regularly with three-gun revolver: Model 17 full lug 6", Model 14 full lug 6" and a Model 625 (Model of 1989) 5". With these I shoot in the high Expert range. Give up a few points but it's a lot more entertaining than shooting a boring old 1911.
Keith
[email protected]
Keith
[email protected]
I am certainly no expert bullseye competitor (have only shot informally in a friendly league-type of setting) but I always thought Gil Hebard's A Pistol Shooter's Treasury had some good information and advice. Other than that, I agree that being familiar with the rules (get a rule book) and talking with competitors who consistently outshoot you is a good way to acquire knowledge and have some fun while you are improving your scores.
Your Model 14 should do fine if you are comfortable handling it in rapid-fire. The league I shot in only shot slow-fire so the revolver shooters didn't have anything to complain about.
Your Model 14 should do fine if you are comfortable handling it in rapid-fire. The league I shot in only shot slow-fire so the revolver shooters didn't have anything to complain about.
gkitch
Member
You will minimally need a 22 caliber pistol and a 45 ACP. Bullseye consist of three matches with each representative of a broad category of American Hangunners: 22 (civilians), centerfire (police), and 45 (military). Today, most use the same 45 for both the centerfire and 45 matches. All your your guns need to be able to group withing the 10 ring at 50 yards.
The course of fire will be a variation of three basic situations and these must be mastered and practiced:
1. 10 rds in 10 minutes at 50 yds
2. 10 rds timed fire at 25 yards: 5 rds in 20 secs X2
3. 10 rds rapid fire at 25 yards: 5 rds in 10 secs X2
Bullseye is indeed difficult to master. It requires dry fire and much live fire practice. A really good 22 is the best place to start.
Bullseye is also rewarding. Many critisize it as not being practical, but I have learned that to master bullseye is to master the trigger and the pistol... and such mastery translates well to other endeavors.
The course of fire will be a variation of three basic situations and these must be mastered and practiced:
1. 10 rds in 10 minutes at 50 yds
2. 10 rds timed fire at 25 yards: 5 rds in 20 secs X2
3. 10 rds rapid fire at 25 yards: 5 rds in 10 secs X2
Bullseye is indeed difficult to master. It requires dry fire and much live fire practice. A really good 22 is the best place to start.
Bullseye is also rewarding. Many critisize it as not being practical, but I have learned that to master bullseye is to master the trigger and the pistol... and such mastery translates well to other endeavors.
tlay
US Veteran
As others have said you have the model 14, now you need a 22lr gun and a 45. When I shot bullseye I tried to keep all of my guns about the same. You can get a model 17 for your 22 and a model 25 for your 45. I shot in a league that was indoors and we shot at 50 feet. Get a book on the fundamentals of pistol shooting and dry fire practice as much as possible. Make sure you follow all safety rules in dry firing. Use snap caps for your 22.
After you practice awhile and it looks like you are going to continue with bullseye then you can have your guns triggers worked on by someone who knows what he is doing. Not by bubba in his garage. Good luck.
After you practice awhile and it looks like you are going to continue with bullseye then you can have your guns triggers worked on by someone who knows what he is doing. Not by bubba in his garage. Good luck.
I started shooting Bullseye when I could still see iron sights! Worked my way up to Expert Class. The one suggestion I would make, in addition to all the good information you have already received, is to find a comfortable stance. This may sound odd, but the way Bullseye is shot, a slight change in stance can affect the way you see and align your sights with the target. I've seen stances everywhere from parallel to perpendicular to the firing line. No one is better or worse in general, but might be for you individually.
Good luck, and have fun. You'll find Bullseye will help immensely with your other shooting because the fundamentals are so important.
Good luck, and have fun. You'll find Bullseye will help immensely with your other shooting because the fundamentals are so important.
TSQUARED
Member
Bullseye is shot with 22 RF, Centerfire and 45 Stages. Currently, most shooters shoot 22 semi auto pistols with red dot sights. When I started shooting in the late 1950's a majority of 22's were semi auto with open sights and the CF and 45 stages were shot with revolvers. Today a large number of competitors use the 45 semi auto in both CF and 45 stages. When I returned to the game in 1990 with my open sighted guns I was amazed at what was available. I finally opted to shoot a Pardini 32 in the CF stage and a Pardini 45 in the 45 stage both equipped with red dot sights.
Which model? Wouldn't have a picture you could share with us, would you? (sorry for thread drift)
boatbum101
Member
The Encyclopedia of Bullseye Pistol , link to US AMU Training Guide Encyclopedia of Bullseye Pistol
link to USMC Pistol Team Workbook
Training | Brian Zins
Above will answer quite a few of your questions . If you will follow the above workbooks faithfully you will shoot Master scores . My first advice to you would be get as high quality 22lr target pistol as you can afford . Some options would be Ruger , S&W 41 , HS Military , . Buy a case of good quality Std velocity target ammo & train . Search out matches , attend , talk to the shooters / club officals . Don't be suprised when someone hands you ammo , gun & says you're shooting on lane 4 . Shoot , have fun , learn a new obsession / hobby . I'd probably do this before you buy any equipment / guns etc . You'll be able to try out all kinds of equipment , guns before you buy . When you do remember your pistol must have an excellent trigger , be accurate & dependable with chosen ammo , have great sights & most important fit YOUR hand . The mechanics to accurate shooting aren't that complex . It's flawless execution of the basics that succeed . Don't go off on tangents ie the perfect load , 32 , 38 , 9mm for centerfire . If you're going to shoot Bullseye you MUST shoot both the 22lr & 45acp . Master these before you get distracted .
link to USMC Pistol Team Workbook
Training | Brian Zins
Above will answer quite a few of your questions . If you will follow the above workbooks faithfully you will shoot Master scores . My first advice to you would be get as high quality 22lr target pistol as you can afford . Some options would be Ruger , S&W 41 , HS Military , . Buy a case of good quality Std velocity target ammo & train . Search out matches , attend , talk to the shooters / club officals . Don't be suprised when someone hands you ammo , gun & says you're shooting on lane 4 . Shoot , have fun , learn a new obsession / hobby . I'd probably do this before you buy any equipment / guns etc . You'll be able to try out all kinds of equipment , guns before you buy . When you do remember your pistol must have an excellent trigger , be accurate & dependable with chosen ammo , have great sights & most important fit YOUR hand . The mechanics to accurate shooting aren't that complex . It's flawless execution of the basics that succeed . Don't go off on tangents ie the perfect load , 32 , 38 , 9mm for centerfire . If you're going to shoot Bullseye you MUST shoot both the 22lr & 45acp . Master these before you get distracted .
Yiogo
US Veteran
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I am 65 and started shooting bullseye last year. I just love it. I started with a Ruger Mark 111, went to a Walther SP 22 M4 and a few days ago bought a used S&W Model 41. What a great bullseye pistol!
ray, I downloaded "Bullseye" out to my ipod touch for practice. It has the commands for practice.
Also here is the Encyclopedia of Bullseye Pistol.
The Encyclopedia of Bullseye Pistol
I compete against myself.
Have fun.
Yiogo
ray, I downloaded "Bullseye" out to my ipod touch for practice. It has the commands for practice.
Also here is the Encyclopedia of Bullseye Pistol.
The Encyclopedia of Bullseye Pistol
I compete against myself.
Have fun.
Yiogo
I started with reading the Army Pistol Marksmanship Guide. I found it gave a good foundation to begin my bullseye shooting and with it and some experience and practice I made it to high sharpshooter within two years. An electronic copy is available at Encyclopedia of Bullseye Pistol
varmint243
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I would go to some bullseye club shoots in your area and make some new friends.
IMO Bullseye shooters tend to be a right friendly bunch that like to share and will probably let you test shoot some of their guns to see what you like after they get to know you a little.
IMO Bullseye shooters tend to be a right friendly bunch that like to share and will probably let you test shoot some of their guns to see what you like after they get to know you a little.
David R
Member
I have shot bullseye since my first pistol in 1987. I moved up to better guns slowly. After a while, the gun is less important than the shooter. I got lead poison so I had to take a couple years off. When I went back to it, I was surprised I was the only one on the line shooting iron sights. Its called a team sport and the folks I shot with were always the best. Truthfully, its just you and the target. Most relaxing for me.
Shoot once more a week than just the match. Practice when you have the time to get into it. I think most of it is state of mind. Relax, think only of shooting for the x.
I stated out thinking I wanted all the shots in the black. Now I want them all in the 10 ring or X.
I have had my azz handed to me by a fella with a K38. His slow fire were amazing. Rapid fire were not as good as mine with a semi auto 45. Over all score beat me every time.
Enjoy it. I cast bullets and reload. I had to stop casting because the lead. Now I buy Speer Hollow base wadcutters for the 38. I cannot cast a bullet that shoots as well.
Good luck and enjoy your self.
David
Shoot once more a week than just the match. Practice when you have the time to get into it. I think most of it is state of mind. Relax, think only of shooting for the x.
I stated out thinking I wanted all the shots in the black. Now I want them all in the 10 ring or X.
I have had my azz handed to me by a fella with a K38. His slow fire were amazing. Rapid fire were not as good as mine with a semi auto 45. Over all score beat me every time.
Enjoy it. I cast bullets and reload. I had to stop casting because the lead. Now I buy Speer Hollow base wadcutters for the 38. I cannot cast a bullet that shoots as well.
Good luck and enjoy your self.
David
Bullseye is the foundation of all handgun shooting sports. It will teach you so much that will transfer to any other handgun shooting competition. Get the NRA Rule Book, and visit a club where you will be competing. It is quite possible they shoot a more informal competition, and only shoot 300 point match's. Some clubs do not shoot 900 or 2700 match's. If possible join a league where you will be competing against others of the same skill level. Bullseye can be demanding but very rewarding.
I PERSONALLY SHOOT BULLSEYE TO KEEP MY TRIGGER CONTROL CLEAN FOR PPC. I DON'T REALLY PRACTICE IT. HENCE ONLY AN EXPERT CLASSIFICATION. BUT I DID EARN BOTH DISTINGUISHED BADGES (# 1307 FOR PISTOL, #34 FOR REVOLVER) AND HAVE MADE THE PRESIDENTS HUNDRED SEVERAL TIMES. IF YOU CAN SHOOT BULLSEYE WITH ANY LEVEL OF SUCCESS YOU WILL FIND MOST OTHER SHOOTING SPORTS VERY EASY. THE EXCEPTION IS 10 METER AIR PISTOL. WHICH IS THE HARDEST THING I HAVE EVER SHOT. JIM P
trulyapostolic
Member
Like others have said, get involved with a local club to start. I'd you can find a way to attend a Brian Zins/ Andy Moody clinic you'll be taught all the fundamentals from the feet upward, it's amazing how much technique is involved.
wialco
Member
One more suggestion is the US Army Marksmanship Pistol Training Guide. I tried to post a link but haven't figured it out. Do a search on the above and it will come up as a .pdf file you can download and print for free.
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