NRA's 5 year plan to drop revolvers from the NPSC

[CALREB]

Although it is not yet posted on the NRA LE Competition
(NPSC) website. We have been advised by Glen Hoyer, and Marc Lipp, of the NRA that beginning this year they are going to phase out revolver competitions from the National Police shooting Championships.
This year you have to choose Open revolver or Open Semi Auto, you cant shoot both.
Not much additional info but I would guess that would include regionals and the other NRA matches, if your not going to support it at the Nationals , why would you through out the regular PPC season.
We ( competitors) believe this is just a precursor to changing the format to some sort of 3 gun Tactical match rather than PPC in an effort to tap that growing economic venue.
Please, any support (complaint to the NRA) will aid our effort to keep our sport as it is. This sport PPC was just beginning to open to civilians , dont know what may happen now. Thanks Bob

 

[Brandon]

That's a bummer. I read the memo on the NPSC page. It seems strange that competitors would ask for this, since most all that I have seen shoot both semi-autos and revolvers. The inclusion of so many revolver matches was actually one of the big reasons I wanted to get involved. I've only competed a couple years so I'm by no means an "old timer" who wants to avoid change and has the attitude of "because that's how it's always been done" but I really like it the way it is. Have I added a couple guns to my collection specifically for certain matches? Absolutely. But I didn't have to.

 

[CALREB]

All the young guys on my team love shooting the revolver. And dont buy in to it that "competitors" wanted the revolver matches dropped.
People complained because they keep adding "NEW" events in an effort to get new shooters and that kept extending the days and then the whole event.
The NPSC really isnt the place to try and get new shooters started. That has to occur at local matches to get them to the NPSC. So dropping the revolver events to make way for more Stockauto/production short distance (easier) matches at the National Championships isnt going to do anything in the long run. You may draw some local shooters to shoot just those matches,but no one is going to travel there just for those events.
If you cant shoot both at the NPSC, most wont shoot them during the regular season so now those matches numbers dwindle down. Its just a real poor decision on their part. Talk to your PPC shooting friends about it. Bob

 

[Yorkie Man]

I shot in the NPSC when they were held in Jackson, MS and it was a good time. I still shoot in the local Match but there are only about 10 of us left and the range we shoot at is going to close in the next year or so.

Where I am at it is a dying sport. If a new shooter was going to get into this sport he would have to find the numerous revolvers to shoot in the different categories which today would cost him several thousand dollars and most people don't have that kind of cash laying around to spend on toys. Then there is the cost of ammo. When I started in the mid 80's a 1000 Star reloaded 38 wadcutters were $48.00 which allowed us to shoot several times a week. We would scrounge the empties from the various classes held at our Dept range and traded them for new wadcutters to use in the Nationals.

I don't think you can buy a ready made PPC gun anymore and the Bomar/Aristocrat sight ribs are no longer made the last time I checked so your only option would be to find good used gun which are hard to find.

Given all of this I think the revolver class will just be a memory which is sad. One thing I can say was it was real good practice for the street and it served me well over the years saving my hide a couple of times.

 

[KAC]

Dang it! What always gets my goat is the belief that you need to spend thousands of dollars on handguns for PPC. It is absolutely not true. I shot my first match in California in March of 1976 and by July of that same year I elevated myself to the lofty class of (at that time) Grand Master in CA. What did I shoot? A K38 Masterpiece that was also my duty gun at the time. And, I borrowed it from my father-in-law! I used Dade speedloaders and a loading board that I made myself. Ammo? Loaded my own with bullets I cast in my garage. Used a single stage "C" press.

Folks, you don't shoot against people like Hemphill or CalReb, you shoot against people who have the same abilities you do. A stock, out of the box 6", adjustable sight revolver will see you through the 1500 match and Revolver Distinguished. I have seen competitors use a stock Glock 17 shoot, and shoot well, both 1500's and Distinguished. It is all about how much you want to compete, and your desire.

The NRA LE Competitions staff is doing a great disservice to all of the PPC shooters who want to compete with a revolver. But then, they have been working towards destroying PPC since they were put in charge.

Ok, rant off. Shoot safe everyone.

KAC

 

[Brandon]

Yep. I shoot one 1911 for the 1500, Distinguished, and Service.

 

[Yorkie Man]

I shot my first 1500 with a stock model 14 but that was over 25 years ago. If you were going to spend the money to go to New Mexico and shoot all of the matches you would have to spend several thousand dollars for the various revolvers for the different classes, off duty, service revolver, distinguished and the open class. Most new shooters don't have the money or the time off of work to travel to
New Mexico. We were fortunate because the Department gave us the time off and paid for everything all we had to supply was the equipment. back when I was going there were over 800 shooters now I don't think it's over 400. We tried to get the new officers to shoot with us but none were interested.

 

[CALREB]

I deal with alot of young police officers and their guns. BELIEVE me its not the cost of the guns, most are buying and selling guns on a bi-weekly basis. They just need to be educated in the few guns to buy that can serve a dual purpose. One good 5" 1911, will more than suffice for , stock/distinguished/open class, especially for their first 2-3 years,
Any EMP, small glock or smith 6906/3913 is plenty good for off duty.
Revolvers buy 1 six inch model 14 or L-frame , have sights installed and your ready to go. Anyone can borrow a 4 inch revolver for that match from a fellow teamate or competitor, right now I have 3 guns loaned out. The older guys generally help the young guys is how it works.
And AL is right we had a young shooter shooting 1440'S WITH HIS BERETTA, Pretty good for his first year.
The money and time off is someone's decision, depending on their desire and interest in any hobby, fishing, hunting, shooting, butterfly collecting.
My team shot for many years with NO department support, in fact they often stood in the way, then after they allowed the SWAT team to go to their nationals on duty , we hit them up and have been allowed to go on duty for the last 10 years or more.But thats it. We dont even have a 50 yard line to practice at.
I will ad that since the event moved to Albuquerque it has been difficult to keep people interested, mostly because of the way the match is run, and the length of the event (because they keep adding junk matches supposedly for new shooters.)
Again the National championships is NOT the place to try and attract brand new shooters to the sport, that should be done at the local level. Oh well enough here...Bob

 

[PPCSHOOTER]

WELL BOB THE SIGN UP IS POSTED. I KNOW 4 OF US THAT ARE PROBABLY OUT. JP

 

[daddy bear]

Back in the dark ages, PPC is where I learned to shoot. My department, TXDPS, required every commissioned officer to practice and qualify. My captain required monthly training sessions and supported them with ammo. All training was with the 4" service revolver and the six regions sent teams to compete for department wide state matches, still with the service revolver - usually a Highway Patrol Smith and Wesson or an original Colt's Trooper.

At the state matches, the team was selected to go to the Nationals at Jackson. At that point, the guys were allowed to bring out their PPC guns, mostly customized model 10s with heavy 6" barrels and Bomar sights, or a Jungkind Python. We had one trooper that showed strong at the nationals with his 4" 28. The department supported the shooting as on duty and with plenty of ammo. We later were blessed with a director who was less enthused with shooting and only twice annual qualifications were supported.

In the early nineties, state competitions resumed while I was commanding the SE Texas region (hq in Houston). I'm proud to I say that the old man made the five man regional team, but I deferred so that another Trooper, Agent, or Ranger could have my slot on the team. We took home most all the trophies, team and individual. By then we were all shooting Sigs. The 220 is a fine machine and the trigger can lovingly respond to a little polish.

Ramblings of an old guy,
Best wishes,

Jack

 

[bearpa]

That's Bad!

After 46 years on the job and competition in police matches all those years with a revolver I would hate to see that happen. A revolver is a gentlemen's weapon and it takes some talent to shoot one efficiently, but once accomplished is well worth the effort.

I still shoot Flint Combat League with a revolver, a Smith & Wesson! But I do see a lot of younger shooters shooting auto's. I'll still take a revolver over an auto any day. With speed loaders they are just as fast and a heck of a lot more reliable!

Nice thing is my last two years on the job were as Director of the Police Academy so got to carry a revolver again. Loved it!

 

[357-RevolverGuy]

Phasing them out?! This sounds really anti-gun to me.

 

[Jaybo]

Well, I have an Open Class revolver. I do not have an Open Class Semi Auto. Makes my choice clear, if I get to go to the Nationals.