VANITY: Collegiate Marksmanship Program

RKV ^ | 23 January 2006 | RVK

[RKV]

Courtesy of the NRA, the Winchester Canyon Gun Club has a grant for our collegiate shooting program. I would like your suggestions as to how best to spend the $1500 with they have been kind enough to share with us. Over the last two years I have hosted 5 events at our club, including rifle, pistol and shotgun marksmanship familiarization and training. Now it is time to buy hardware. My first thought is to teach pistol marksmanship. One, the kids like shooting pistols. Two, I enjoy teaching pistol marksmanship and we have a few members who teach it even better than I do. Three, its NOT politically correct. And four, (depressingly I might add) we have several college kids who REALLY can shoot well (young eyes and steady hands make for high scores). At any rate, my theory is to acquire 3 Ruger Government Target .22 LR pistols (semi-auto, 7 inch heavy barelled Ruger Mark II pistols, same as the military teaches pistol marksmanship with). Can any of my fellow freepers suggest a better pistol or even a different approach? We have a number of shotguns which we use with the UCSBGUNS to teach trap as of now, so that is also on the table. Thanks in advance for your advice and comment.

[Sergio]

For the price, you can't really go wrong with your selection. Plus, the Ruger is overbuilt, meaning it will handle an unexpected fall much better than the more expensive and more delicate European target .22s.

Good luck on your venture.

Sergio

[RKV]

Thanks Sergio.

[GSlob]

Check www.beamhit.com - they used to sell laser modules which inserted in a gun barrel and "shot" a short burst of red light on vibrational activation. These allow the shooter to visualize the "hit" from a dry firing on a wall [any wall- you can do it in a room - no bullets flying, no expense for ammo, and no noise] and also to visualize the grip steadiness- whether the light trace is a line [i.e. hand jerk] or more like a dot, as it ought to be.

[RKV]

[RKV]

Thanks for the suggestion on beamhit. BTW, that's RKV on the left and Antony shooting the Smith .357.

[petro45acp]

Stick with the Rugers! Just about the most reliable and moderately priced .22 there is.

I have an old MkI. The pistol is nearly 30 years old, and it is still one of the most accurate in my collection.

They go bang every time you pull the trigger, they are easily repaired and upgraded, and there are enough aftermarket parts and bolt-ons to turn a standard pistol into a space-gun.

Depending on the type of events you are firing, might want to go with the shorter bull-barreled pistol. Shorter slug-time in the barrel, and heavy enough to be stable.

Good luck and good hunting!

[RKV]

[RKV]

Thanks for the encouragement. I had thought to try them out and then maybe drop in the Volquartsen trigger/sear/extractor combo to get the trigger pull down to 2 1/2 pounds. Depends on how the Ruger product shoots from the factory.

[facedown]

Ditto on Rugers both for accuracy and ruggedness.

As the bull barrel versions are a bit heavy, you might want to consider getting one of the three with a standard barrel for beginners.

[Jack Hammer]

Ruger Mk. II - best .22 match target bang for the buck available. Good choice.

[absolootezer0]

gotta put in a plug for the buckmark .22 pistol. matches up fairly well against the ruger, but the grip angle and controls more resemble 1911s.
for durability.. i'm over 10,000rds with mine, no problems yet.

[Cobra64]

Ditto on Rugers both for accuracy and ruggedness. As the bull barrel versions are a bit heavy, you might want to consider getting one of the three with a standard barrel for beginners.

I agree. There should be an assortment. When I taught my children, we used a wheel gun, a Colt Woodsman semi, and a bull-barrel. Then we moved up to my Ruger Blackhawk .357 shooting .38, then loaded up on hot .357 rounds.

Final step were with SIGs in 9mm.

[rllngrk33]

gotta put in a plug for the buckmark .22 pistol. matches up fairly well against the ruger, but the grip angle and controls more resemble 1911s.

Ruger makes a 22/45 MK II/MK III that has the 1911 grip angle also. I have one and the only failures have been due to ammunition.

[jamesm51]

Thanks for putting on the event! I had a great time with the guns available (my favorites were the .45's, the GLOCK, and the desert eagle).

[RKV]

You are very welcome. I had a great time, too. Stay tuned and we'll do it again in the spring - rifles this time. RKV

[RKV]