[Shakyshoot]

I tried a dry run of the course of fire for my range's combat league today with my Springfield Range Officer .45. It's 42 shots at a small silhouette target (B29) with the 10 ring measuring 2 1/2" high. Here's the whole course of fire:

I started out okay with 14 out of 18 10's on the first 3 strings. I threw a couple of 8's on the 50 ft target, and on the last string, which is 12 shots in 24 seconds with a reload, I had 5 or 6 9's. Sounds like plenty of time, but I was feeling the time pressure. (I was only guessing at the times) I figure I wound up with 402 out of 420. A 400 is considered a decent score in this league, but you need pretty consistent 410-415's to place. The top guy in the last league had a low of 412 and a high of 418. I feel like I could make 410's, but this was with an imaginary clock, plus I was the only person on the range the whole time. I did better than the times I've tried this with my other pistols, I think because those were DA/SA. If you have a DA pistol you have to shoot the first shot of each string DA. 1911's you can start cocked and locked. As in the .22 league, the top shooters all use red dots. I'm thinking I need a matching 9mm Range Officer and a Fastfire III. I don't know, I might give it a try.

 

[Shakyshoot]

After 80 rounds of 45 ACP, I started on the .22 with the Volquarten Scorpion. I shot 4 timed fire targets with Auto Match, then on the first one I shot with CCI Standards, I hit this 100-8X. (1 3/16" offhand group at 50 ft.)

 

[north country gal]

Shaky, I am impressed. That's some fine combat shooting with that RO. Looks like a gun made for the job.

We do have the Range officer in 9mm and it really is a sweet shooter, noticeably softer than the 45 auto version. Bill shoots it the most, since it's become "his" gun. That's okay because "my" gun is the STI 1911 in 9mm.

 

[Shakyshoot]

Thanks NCG--I do believe I could shoot the strings a little faster with the 9mm, but I really felt like My first 1911 should be a .45. The guy who came in 2nd in the last combat league shoots a 9 mm RO with a Fastfire (and he also owns the same thing in .45) The guy who won it shoots an S&W 686 revolver with a red dot of some kind and powder puff .38 loads. I believe I could shoot my Ruger GP100 pretty well, but it would require some work to put a red dot on it, and I'd have to learn to use a speedloader.

 

[RidgeRunner]

That's nice shootin' Shaky. I think you may want to change you name to Steadyshot, or Sureshot. You are really shootin' well.

 

[north country gal]

Thanks NCG--I do believe I could shoot the strings a little faster with the 9mm, but I really felt like My first 1911 should be a .45. The guy who came in 2nd in the last combat league shoots a 9 mm RO with a Fastfire (and he also owns the same thing in .45) The guy who won it shoots an S&W 686 revolver with a red dot of some kind and powder puff .38 loads. I believe I could shoot my Ruger GP100 pretty well, but it would require some work to put a red dot on it, and I'd have to learn to use a speedloader.

In my informal tests, with my husband timing me, I was not especially fast on my follow up shooting with a 1911 in 45 auto. Okay, the 45 auto is no magnum, but I really do think you will be faster with the 9mm.

What version of the GP do you have? Weigand makes an excellent mount for the standard 4" and 6" GP, no drilling required.

 

[moakes58]

Nice shooting Shakyshoot.

I really would like to try a combat range & may take a class & see what I can do. Not sure about which pistol though, 1911 (.45acp) or CZ75 (9mm)

 

[Shakyshoot]

In my informal tests, with my husband timing me, I was not especially fast on my follow up shooting with a 1911 in 45 auto. Okay, the 45 auto is no magnum, but I really do think you will be faster with the 9mm.

What version of the GP do you have? Weigand makes an excellent mount for the standard 4" and 6" GP, no drilling required.

I have the standard 4" blued. Thanks--I'll look into that mount.

 

[RidgeRunner]

I have Weigand rails and rings. They make excellent products.

 

[bearcatter]

Years ago I got to try a combat course like they showed in "Dirty Harry'; with the plywood building fronts and pop-up plywood people. It was a lot of fun, and I didn't shoot any good guys. I did miss one bad guy, and had a mediocre speed to the finish. I shot it with a Security-Six, loaded with .38. IIRC, it only required one reload.