JPownall
US Veteran
I have seen several references to a PPC gun and have no idea what it is. For example: Smith & Wesson model 14-5 38 special full lug barrel (K frame PPC gun). Can someone enlighten me?
What is a PPC Gun?
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A forum search for PPC will overwhelm you with fantastic information and pictures. I’ve heard different details for what the three letters actually stand for, but I believe it is “practical pistol competition”, competition from the 70’s and 80’s for sworn law enforcement.
ContinentalOp
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4barrel
Member
I had one and I was able to compete with it in PPC matches even though I was not a sworn LEO. It was built on a S&W Model 28 Highway Patrolman, an N frame .357 Magnum that was used primarily for shooting .38 Special wadcutter loads. Being somewhat over-engineered, I suspect it would shoot the wadcutter loads for the next 500 years or so. It had the rib, bull barrel and the hammer fall was lightened to the point that when reloading for it required a careful choice of primers that were soft enough to go off every time. Unfortunately I had to sell it when I lost my job in 2009.
PPC (Practical Pistol Competition) was used by many police departments for monthly/annual training. There were local, state, and national competitions. in the 60 - 80's most departments carried revolvers so the PPC gun was a tricked out revolver with a heavy barrel, fine trigger job, adjustable sight and set for 7, 15 and 25 yards. It was routinely a 48 round match with relatively generous time frames. Possible score was 480.
I was an associate member of the IL Police Assoc and competed through the 80's. It is a cross between practical shooting and precision shooting. Very enjoyable.
I was an associate member of the IL Police Assoc and competed through the 80's. It is a cross between practical shooting and precision shooting. Very enjoyable.
I built this one (and several others) in the late 70's....when dinosaur's, and PPC guns roamed the earth. Model 10 frame, Bo-Mar rib, Aristocrat counterweight, 1 inch diameter Apex barrel. Weight: 55 ounces.
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bluetopper
Member
The barrel twist rate on these old PPC guns was anywhere from a 1:10 to a 1:14, quite a bit faster than the factory barrels.The action on the vast majority of them was finely tuned, slick and smooth. If a guy is strictly looking for a target revolver these can be had well worth the money.
Police Pistol Combat
I've always heard and read PPC referred to as "Police Pistol Combat" competition. A little looking finds that that is the most common description in North America.
NRA Explore | Police Pistol Combat
I've always heard and read PPC referred to as "Police Pistol Combat" competition. A little looking finds that that is the most common description in North America.
NRA Explore | Police Pistol Combat
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JPownall
US Veteran
Thanks to all for your input. I did to a Internet lookup and, as Sevens suggested, I was overwhelmed. Practical/Precision/Competition or Police Pistol Combat seem to fit the usage of the acronym that I've run into.
You're most welcome for the input on my part! Since the NRA has always been (to my knowledge) the sanctioning body for PPC in the United States, I think it's a pretty good bet that they know what PPC stands for. See link above in my previous post to this thread.
All the best!
Special PPC gun AKA space gun back then.
PPC was very popular here in the Albany NY area and there were a heck of a lot more civilians shooting then LEOs. It was nothing to have 60 or more shooters at our rather large club. If you shot all 3 guns it was a long day.
My club held regular shoots for a bunch of years. Other clubs did also and if fact for a few summers we had a traveling league utilizing 5 different clubs in the area.
It started out with revolvers then a class for semi autos and we even had a "off duty" class. That was for revolvers 2 3/4 or shorter fired at a max of 25 yards.
I did not have a space gun I used a Model 28 6'' with a action job Pac grips and red outlined sights. . My off duty class gun was a S&W 15 2''. Action job, Pac grips, chambers chamfered and sights! For the Semi class I used a series 70 Gold Cup with the magazine well hogged out, all work on those 3 guns was by me!
During that time I was a NRA RO and instructor and we held PPC classes .
PPC was very popular here in the Albany NY area and there were a heck of a lot more civilians shooting then LEOs. It was nothing to have 60 or more shooters at our rather large club. If you shot all 3 guns it was a long day.
My club held regular shoots for a bunch of years. Other clubs did also and if fact for a few summers we had a traveling league utilizing 5 different clubs in the area.
It started out with revolvers then a class for semi autos and we even had a "off duty" class. That was for revolvers 2 3/4 or shorter fired at a max of 25 yards.
I did not have a space gun I used a Model 28 6'' with a action job Pac grips and red outlined sights. . My off duty class gun was a S&W 15 2''. Action job, Pac grips, chambers chamfered and sights! For the Semi class I used a series 70 Gold Cup with the magazine well hogged out, all work on those 3 guns was by me!
During that time I was a NRA RO and instructor and we held PPC classes .
usmc2427765
US Veteran
I built this one (and several others) in the late 70's....when dinosaur's, and PPC guns roamed the earth. Model 10 frame, Bo-Mar rib, Aristocrat counterweight, 1 inch diameter Apex barrel. Weight: 55 ounces.
I shot PPC in the early 70' and had to stop when my LEO pocket book could not keep up. There was a TX DPS officer, Reeves Junkin, that made some of the finest PPC revolvers I have ever shot , only problem was he made then on Colt Pythons and I am not a Colt revolver fan.
Dude...is that all holster wear?
Cuz it's gorgeous.
NYLakesider said:
It seems like there's always at least two or three PPC guns for sale over in Beecroft's in Schaghticoke. Never any with Bo-Mar ribs, though.
Thanks for reminding me about Beecrofts, since I moved out of Colonie, I just never seen to make it there anymore. Years past I did some business there. Just recently a couple guys I shoot skeet with said they had a good selection of older military rifles for sale.
Will take a trip and not that interested in buying but if they have any PPC guns I just might check them out. I did fire a few of them years back during the time I talked about in my post!
Protocall_Design
Member
Here is a 686 PPC gun I built for myself. This one has a lot of miles on it, but still going strong. I have won most of my trophies with it.
This is a matching 625 PPC gun. Haven't used it as much, but they both shoot 1-1/2" or better at 50 yards.
This is a M29 bowling pin gun built in the style of a PPC gun. The caliber is .44 Auto Mag. It uses cases made of .308 rifle brass and altered .45 ACP moon clips. I did all the work on all guns and accessories. The finish is electroless nickel.
This is a closeup view of the trigger guard spur. I tig welded it on and blended it to the trigger guard.
This is what I do with these target guns. No safe queens here.
This is a matching 625 PPC gun. Haven't used it as much, but they both shoot 1-1/2" or better at 50 yards.
This is a M29 bowling pin gun built in the style of a PPC gun. The caliber is .44 Auto Mag. It uses cases made of .308 rifle brass and altered .45 ACP moon clips. I did all the work on all guns and accessories. The finish is electroless nickel.
This is a closeup view of the trigger guard spur. I tig welded it on and blended it to the trigger guard.
This is what I do with these target guns. No safe queens here.
Just to clear up a couple things, the guns pictured above are open class guns. Then there were the guns accepted for the Distinguished class (had to be a factory offering within certain specs), snubby class and possibly a "stock" class. This last would have been 4 inch service types (OK, the model 15 would probably fit there. Service might have been an unofficial thing to try and get people in the door.).
Thanks for reminding me about Beecrofts, since I moved out of Colonie, I just never seen to make it there anymore. Years past I did some business there. Just recently a couple guys I shoot skeet with said they had a good selection of older military rifles for sale.
Will take a trip and not that interested in buying but if they have any PPC guns I just might check them out. I did fire a few of them years back during the time I talked about in my post!
I'm closer, and I still don't drive over there all that often!
I haven't been in maybe 9 or 10 months, but the last time I was there they had three 4" Model 10s, if I'm not mistaken, in the $400-$525 range. It may be that they've simply been the same three guns each time I went! They have more military bolts than anywhere else I've seen, but that's not saying much. I wouldn't know a silk purse from a sow's ear on that front.
But alas, there's only a couple old military bolts I'd have any interest in--and plinkers at that--and I already have the "optics on a wheelgun" covered with the 327 R8.
Clarke Hammer
Member
Protocall Design -- Very impressive revolvers and trophies! I really like that Model 29. Well done sir!
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