While AccurateShooter.com focuses primarily on rifle disciplines, we know that most of our regular readers also own handguns. It’s fun to shoot pistols, both outdoors and indoors. With a short site radius, and the snap of pistol recoil, handguns can be challenging — but that’s part of the fun. We enjoy shooting revolvers and semi-auto pistols at distances from 25 feet to 50 yards. Here are some fun targets you can download and print for FREE. These should provide a fun challenge for your next handgun sessions.
1. Patriotic Stars Target with Three Score Values
Here’s a fun Patriotic Stars Target created by the NSSF. This would be a great target to shoot on the 4th of July. Aim for the stars. The red stars are worth 3 points, the blue stars are 5 points, and the smallest white stars are worth 10 points. After aiming for the one-color stars, try to hit the center red, white, and blue star for added fun. You can also use this target with rifles at longer ranges.
2. Red Center Pistol Target
Here’s a NRA-type target for pistol shooting. The bright red center helps when shooting indoors because well-placed bullet holes are much more visible. This target includes data entry boxes to record gun type, score, and load data. This Red Center Target is one of many good free targets available at Targets4free.com.
3. NSSF Billiards Table Target
This Billiards Table Target offers 15 brightly-colored numbered balls with the cue ball at the bottom. Aim for the numbers, shooting 1-15 in sequence, or alternate between stripes and solids. You can also draw an “X” on the white cue ball (or attach a paster), and use that to set your zero. This target is fun for shooting outdoors with rifles at 50 or 100 yards or indoors with pistols.
4. Tic-Tac-Toe Fun Game Target
This Tic-Tac-Toe Shooting Game Target lets you challenge your shooting buddies at the range. One player can shoot the red triangles, while the other shoots the white zones, taking turns. You proceed just like a regular Tic-Tac-Toe game, alternating shots, with the goal of getting three of the same color in a row. This is a fun game for a parent and a young family member. You’ll find other fun targets on Targets4free.com.
5. NRA Dartboard Target with Five Bullseyes
There are many dartboard-style targets available, but this one has the extra feature of FIVE notable black bullseye aiming points. That makes this NRA Dartboard Target quite good for handgun shooting. NOTE: You’ll want to set the target PDF file to print in landscape (horizontal) mode to get the best results with 8.5×11″ paper.
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The CMP National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio kick off July 7, 2023 with smallbore events. The Camp Perry matches are historic, having been held since 1907 at this location on the shores of Lake Erie. The 2023 First Shot Ceremony takes place Monday, July 10, at 4:30 p.m. on the grounds of Camp Perry. Multi-time Nat’l High Power Champion SFC Brandon Green will speak and make the traditional First Shot to officially open the National Matches.
For this week’s Saturday at the Movies, we offer six videos from Camp Perry. These cover both rimfire and centerfire shooting, team matches (including the famous “Rattle Battle”), along with pistol shooting. If you’re heading to Camp Perry this summer, today’s video showcase provides an informative preview.
CMP National Matches at Camp Perry — 2023 Preview
This 3-minute video shows the Camp Perry ranges and shooting facilities and explains the programs scheduled for summer 2023, including training courses. The video also covers nearby accommodations and explains how to register for the National Matches on the CMP website.
NTIT Team Match — “Rattle Battle” at Camp Perry
The CMP’s National Trophy Infantry Team Match (NTIT) has been a staple at the National Matches since 1922. Also known as the “Rattle Battle,” the event is one of the most unique in the competitive rifling world — scoring is based on how many hits six-person teams can score on a bank of targets during a series of 50-second firing periods at four yardages.
Watch CMP ‘Rattle Battle’ Video — 50 Seconds of Rapid Fire…
Teams fire upon eight silhouette targets from 600, 500, 300 and 200 yards during successive 50-second periods. After each rapid-fire string, team members move forward (to the next-closest distance) carrying all equipment from firing line to firing line. The video shows the California Grizzlies, one of the top junior squads. The lead photo shows the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) Team in action during the NTIT match. See more in USAR “Rattle Battle” Video.
Camp Perry M1 Garand Competition — Vintage Military Rifle
The John C. Garand match is a Camp Perry classic. Note the signature Garand clip in the air.
The CMP hosts the popular M1 Garand Match as well as the Springfield M1A Match. This writer’s father carried a Garand in WWII — reason enough for me to want one. But I also loved the look, feel, and heft of this classic American battle rifle. And the unique “Ping” of the ejected en-bloc clip is music to the ears of Garand fans. Some folks own an M1 Garand for the history, while others enjoy competing with this old war-horse. The CMP’s John C. Garand Match is one of the most popular events at Camp Perry every year. There are other vintage military rifle matches.
Rimfire Sporter Event Draws Hundreds of Competitors
If there is a single CMP event at Camp Perry every summer that offers the highest level of shooter satisfaction, the most diverse group of competitors, and the lowest cost of entry, that would have to be the annual Rimfire Sporter Match. This year’s match will be held on Saturday, July 8, 2023, during the first weekend of the National Match Schedule at Camp Perry. One of the most popular annual Camp Perry events, the Rimfire Sporter Rifle match features .22 LR competition in open sights (O-Class), telescopic (T-Class) and tactical/unlimited (TU) classes, fired at 25 and 50 yards. A CMP Rimfire Clinic will be held prior to the match.
Each year, the Rimfire Sporter Match attracts hundreds of shooters to the shore of Lake Erie at Camp Perry. The CMP National Rimfire Sporter Rifle Match offers shooters a recreation-oriented competition where they use affordable, smallbore sporter rifles with either scopes or iron sights. All you need are a .22 LR rifle, sling, and ammo.
Service Rifle Matches — AR-Platform Rifles, Now with Optics
Service Rifle shooting is fun yet challenging. You need to develop skills with multiple positions and be able to make rapid wind calls. However, the modern AR-based service rifle is affordable and has relatively low recoil. Highly-customizable, modern service rifles can be fitted with adjustable stocks and optional magnified optics. Older military rifles, such as the M1A and M1 Garand, offer different challenges with heavier-recoiling cartridges, greater weights, and classic iron sights. Hi-Lux asked competitors at Camp Perry during CMP’s 2021 summer games what they enjoyed most about competition with service rifles and Military rifles such as the M1 Garand. The shooters’ responses had four key themes: Self-Improvement, Comradery, History (enjoying shooting rifles with heritage), and Challenge.
Camp Perry Bullseye Pistol Competition
Camp Perry hosts the most prestigious annual trophy matches in our nation’s history. And in a venue renowned for service rifle matches, the sport of precision pistol is no less important, no less challenging, and no less respected. The National Trophy Pistol Matches are all about traditional handgunning — the stance, the intense concentration, and of course, the one-handed grip. It’s all unmistakable as the game of Bullseye Pistol. Every year there are 20+ match trophies for the top Bullseye Pistol shooters, both military and civilian. And the very best will claim National Match Trophies and receive the President’s 100 Tab.
CMP Camp Perry National Matches Registration Links
The 2023 CMP National Matches at Camp Perry commence Friday, July 7, 2023 with the Rimfire Sporter Clinic and Smallbore check-in/practice. The summer schedule concludes Saturday, August 5 with the Palma Match and awards. Here is the full CMP schedule (click to zoom):
NOTE: This CMP Calendar is hosted online in spreadsheet format. This allows you to increase display size, and also to search for specific words. CLICK HERE to view full spreadsheet calendar.
History of Camp Perry
“In the year 1907 the machinery of the National Matches, now grown to immense proportions, was moved to the mammoth new range at Camp Perry.”
—James Drain, Arms and the Man, August 1911
Federal legislation originally launched the National Matches. The 1903 legislation also established the National Matches, commissioned the National Trophy and provided funding to support the Matches. The National Matches have been held at Camp Perry since 1907. The range is located along the shores of Lake Erie in northern Ohio near Port Clinton. The site was first acquired in 1906, in response to the need for a larger facility for military training and the NRA’s shooting programs. The original land for Camp Perry was purchased in 1906, and the reservation was named after Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, the American naval commander who won the Battle of Put-in-Bay during the War of 1812.
On August 19, 1907, Cpl. L. B. Jarrett fired the first shot at the new Camp Perry Training Site. And that year, 1907, Camp Perry held its first National Pistol and Rifle Championship events. This location has hosted the annual National Matches ever since. Typically over 4,000 competitors attend the National Matches each year, making it the most popular shooting competition in the western hemisphere.
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If the battery on your safe’s electronic lock is more than a year old, or if it is not giving you the right voltage, replace it today!
Check Your Gun Safe Batteries
We’re halfway through 2023. Hey guys — when was the last time you replaced the batteries in your gun safe? Has it been more than a year? If so, it’s time you get a new battery (or two) for that safe. The electronic keypad won’t work with an insufficient charge, and the lock system could potentially lose its combination memory if you wait too long.
IMPORTANT: If you have a safe with an electronic keypad, you should replace the battery every year as a precautionary measure. Trust us, you don’t want to come back in a few months and find that the keypad memory is kaput, and you’re locked out. That can lead to frustration and an expensive locksmith visit.
Here’s a true story. I have one safe with a Sargent & Greenleaf (S&G) keypad. A couple years back, in early December, I went to get into the safe. I punched in the correct combination, but all I got was a rapid “beep, beep, beep, beep” after I finished the last combination entry. I tried again to ensure I entered the combination correctly (I did). But again, the locking system responded with multiple rapid beeps indicating something was wrong. And the safe would not open. Now I was worried….
I popped out the battery holder (which slides in from the bottom of the keypad housing on the door). I removed the battery and tested it with a volt-meter. The 12-month-old Duracell 9-volt battery only registered 6.1 volts.
Low voltage was the problem. I went down to the store and got a couple new 9V batteries. I tested the new batteries and both measured 9.4 volts output. I slipped one of the new 9V batteries into the keypad housing, punched in the combination and everything worked OK again. Eureka.
Most electronic locks for safes WILL “remember” the combination for a period of time even when the battery is low (and the keypad’s “brain” should retain the combination when you remove the battery for replacement). However, a dead battery, or extended periods of low voltage can give you problems. Don’t rely on wishful thinking…
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For three consecutive years, MidwayUSA Foundation has provided cash Coach Training Grants to support the training and certification of youth shooting sports coaches. This year, 52 cash grants were awarded for a total payout of $250,000. These grants will assist regional and state youth shooting agencies in training about 1,625 youth shooting sports coaches. This can, in turn, benefit 30,000 youth shooting athletes.
Coach Training grants are paid annually through the MidwayUSA Foundation. The grant cycle begins on February 1 and concludes on March 1 each year. CLICK HERE to learn more.
Brian Beard, President of USA Youth Education in Shooting Sports (USA YESS), said: “The Foundation’s Coach Training Grant Program has been instrumental in allowing us to train and certify more coaches for our shooting teams. The more trained coaches we have, the faster youth shooting sports will grow! We … can’t thank the Foundation enough!”
In addition to nearly 2,800 youth shooting team endowments, MidwayUSA Foundation also funds about 80 state and national youth shooting sports organizations through Agency and Donor Designated endowments. These organizations, including SCTP, SASP, ATA, ACUI, NCSSAA, and more, are eligible for the Coach Training Grant Program. Youth shooting teams interested in certifying more coaches should contact their state, regional, or national organization.
The MidwayUSA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity working to sustain and grow the shooting sports industry by providing long-term funding to youth shooting teams. Donations are tax-deductible. The Foundation supports all shooting disciplines. For more information about the MidwayUSA Foundation, visit MidwayUSAFoundation.org or call 1-877-375-4570.
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Thinking of getting started in the Practical/Tactical shooting game? Looking for ways to be more stable when shooting from unconventional positions? Then you may want to read Marcus Blanchard’s Practical Shooter’s Guide (A How-To Approach for Unconventional Firing Positions and Training). Unlike almost every “how to shoot” book on the market, Blanchard’s work focuses on the shooting skills and positions you need to succeed in PRS matches and similar tactical competitions.
Blanchard provides clear advice on shooting from barricades, from roof-tops, from steep angles. Blanchard says you need to train for these types of challenges: “I believe the largest factor in the improvement of the average shooter isn’t necessarily the gear; it’s the way the shooter approaches obstacles and how they properly train for them.”
Blanchard also offers good tips on shooting fundamentals. Here’s an example:
Blanchard on Trigger Control
“There will always be some amount of wobble when shooting in positions other than prone, and timing the shot to go off when the reticle is within the target is difficult to accomplish when poor trigger techniques are employed. The most common [mistake] I have seen is ‘slapping’ the trigger. The finger is usually hovering off the trigger, and when the shooter determines that NOW is the time to fire, they quickly pull their finger to the rear and ‘slap’ the trigger. The finger never pulls the trigger in the same place and often provokes a sympathetic contraction of the rest of the muscles in the hand, which results in unwanted movement before the bullet exits the muzzle.”
Author Marcus Blanchard has the credentials. A Marine Corps veteran, Blanchard is a regular Top 10 finisher in Precision Rifle Series events. In 2015 Blanchard was ranked 8th overall (nationwide) in the PRS series at year’s end. In 2016 Blanchard won the New Mexico Precision Rifleman’s Championship.
Check out the Table of Contents to see the Topics Covered:
Click image above to view larger Table of Contents.
6.5 Guys Recommend Practical Shooter’s Guide
The 6.5 Guys have reviewed Blanchard’s book and they recommend it highly: “What’s a good book for the beginning shooter who wants to get into long range precision rifle or the intermediate shooter who wants to improve his scores? [The Practical Shooter’s Guide] is particularly useful because it explores firing from various positions and props that are encountered in long range precision rifle [events]. This knowledge is completely missing from more traditional books where the shooter is usually slung up and shooting at a paper target. Marcus… goes into considerable detail about shooting from rooftops, reverse rooftops, side slopes, tank traps, barricades etc. This is the type of information that is very difficult to find. We consider ourselves reasonably knowledgeable shooters and this book provided us with new and useful information.” CLICK HERE for 6.5 Guys REVIEW.
6.5 Guys Review Marcus Blanchard’s Practical Shooter’s Guide
Former USMC scout-sniper Frank Galli explains that there is no voodoo when it comes to precision rifle marksmanship, but there ARE techniques that, when practiced, make the difference between good marksmanship and great marksmanship. Understanding the reasons that a bullet hits or doesn’t hit its intended target at ultra-long distances is a crucial element to learning.
Galli’s explanations of how to understand and compensate for wind speed and direction are excellent. In this book, Galli offers great wind-reading advice.
Published in 2020, Galli’s treatise is four years newer than Blanchard’s book, so it includes more of the latest gear and equipment. Galli’s book covers the fundamentals of precision marksmanship with easy-to-understand methodology. The book follows the same instruction process Galli uses in his live marksmanship classes (CLASS REPORT HERE).
Published in 2020, this well-illustrated, 272-page book covers the latest equipment (scopes, LRFs, chassis systems, magazines, bags, bipods, tripods) favored by tactical competitors in PRS/NRL type matches.
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The 44th Edition of the Blue Book of Gun Values is now on sale, for immediate delivery. Purchase this popular price guide through Blue Book Publications for $59.95. Or you can order from Amazon for $54.99 as well. The Blue Book of Gun Values by S.P. Fjestad is the leading gun valuation resource. There are now over 1.8 million copies in circulation worldwide. This book continues to be the “Bible” for buyers, sellers, collectors, and connoisseurs in the firearms industry.
Blue Book of Gun Values, 44th Edition, May 2023
The 44th Edition contains 2,528 pages covering over 1,800 manufacturers/trademarks, with over 35,000 gun model descriptions, and over 180,000 values, with new-for-2023 data!
Review by Tom Gresham, Gun Talk Radio Host
“At some point, every gun owner asks the question, ‘What’s it worth?’ The leading reference for decades has been the Blue Book of Gun Values. Whether you are a seller, a buyer, a shopper, or just curious, this constantly-updated gold mine of research is your friend.”
Features of the new Blue Book of Gun Values:
· Includes the new 2023 makes and models, with many new handguns and rifles, and important pricing updates.
· 2,528 pages covering over 1,800 manufacturers and trademarks, with over 35,000 gun model descriptions.
· 180,000+ up-to-date values are provided — most complete resource in print.
· Important pricing updates on major trademark current, antique, and discontinued models, including Colt, Winchester, Smith & Wesson, and Ruger.
· Color Photo Percentage Grading System (PPGS) makes firearms grading even easier and more accurate.
· More information, more values, more illustrations, and more history than any other gun price guide on the market.
Our nation’s birthday, the 4th of July, is just two weeks away. You can celebrate this special time by adding a Patriotic Stars and Stripes rifle or pistol to your collection. Legacy Sports offers a USA Flag series with red, white and blue graphics. From pistols to rifles, the USA Flag collection of handsomely Cerakoted firearms will stand out from the crowd.
The Howa flag collection includes the APC Chassis models (steel and carbon barrel versions), the Mini Action EXCL Lite, and the TSP X chassis rifle. The USA Flag APC carbon-wrapped barrel version is the latest model. For rimfire fans, the CITADEL Trakr .22 LR rifles are also available in the USA Flag and Grayscale options for both the semi-auto and bolt-action models.
Flag Collection Rifles
• Howa APC Flag Chassis with Carbon-Wrapped Barrel (NEW) – 6.5 Creedmoor / .308 Win
• Howa APC Flag Chassis Steel Barrel – 6.5 Creedmoor / .308 Win
• Howa Mini EXCL Lite – .223 Rem /6.5 Grendel / 7.62×39 / 6mm ARC / 350 Legend
• Howa TSP X Chassis Rifle – 6.5 Creedmoor / .308 Win
• Citadel Trakr – .22 LRs in Semi-Auto and Bolt-Action
CITADEL Flag Collection Pistols
• 1911 .45 ACP
• 1911 .380 AUTO
• CP9 9mm Series
Howa APC American Flag Version
The American Flag Edition of Howa’s APC rifle features USA flag-theme red, white, and blue Cerakote finish and 3-chamber muzzle brake. This special edition is available with a scope and rings and shipped in a hard case. See VIDEO of Stars and Stripes APC Rifle.
Howa TSP X Chassis Rifle
The Howa TSP X Chassis rifle has a Cerakoted T-6 Aluminum Chassis and excellent adjustable, 2-stage HACT trigger. This rifle comes with a sub-MOA guarantee and Lifetime Warranty. The flat black version is offered in four chamberings: 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, .308 Win, and 300 PRC.
Howa Sub-MOA Accuracy Guarantee
Howa rifles are guaranteed to deliver sub-MOA performance of 1 inch or less at 100 yards with premium factory ammunition. Guarantee is not transferable. All Howa rifles purchased in the U.S. on or after January 1, 2017 are covered by this offer.
CITADEL Flag Collection Handguns
The CITADEL USA flag pattern handgun collection includes the new 100% USA-made CITADEL CP9 9mm series, the popular CITADEL .45 ACP full-size 1911 (shown above) and the CITADEL 1911 Baby .380 Auto pistols. Cerakoted ammo cans in the USA Flag and Grayscale Flag versions are also available with the CITADEL handgun options.
PDF Product Catalog Available CLICK HERE to view full Howa/Citadel Product Catalog with all patriotic color options. The Citadel Trakr .22 LR Rimfires and Boss 25 shotgun are also available in the USA Flag and Grayscale options. Cerakoted ammo cans in the USA Flag and Grayscale Flag are available with the Citadel handguns.
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by Sierra Bullets Ballistic Technician Gary Prisendorf
Occasionally someone will ask, “Why did I get a flyer that didn’t go in with the rest of my group?” If I had an answer that would stop flyers from happening, I would be rich.
There are many reasons why this can happen. Everything from gripping a forearm differently to variations in the brass casing, the list goes on and on. Most of the time the flyer is usually shooter induced and sometimes what you may think is a flyer, is just part of your group. There are a lot of shooters, that go out and test a load and they may shoot a 3/8” group at 100 yards and think that load is good. But I have seen far too many times that you can shoot another group, same load, same rifle and the next time you may get a 1 ¼” group.
The total opposite can also occur. You may shoot a 1 ¼” group and turn around and follow it with a 1/2″ group without changing anything. If you only shot the one group, you might decide that load wasn’t any good and move on to something else without really knowing what that load was capable of.
To really determine how a particular load is performing we need to shoot multiple groups and take an average of the group sizes to really see what that rifle/load combination is really capable of.
I suggest shooting a minimum of three 5-shot groups and averaging the group sizes before deciding if the load is acceptable or not. Obviously the more rounds you shoot for a group and the more groups that you shoot, you will get a much better representation of what that particular combination can do.
Now I’m not saying to go out and shoot 30 groups with 50 rounds in each group to determine how well your load is shooting. That would be a bit pointless, in some cases it would be time to re-barrel your rifle before your load development was finished.
In most cases, I feel that three to five, 5-shot groups will give you a pretty good representation of how a load will perform in that specific firearm.
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In our Shooters’ Forum there is a popular photography thread. Along with some great nature and hunting images, you’ll find quality photos of handsome firearms. Among the many images were head-turning photos of some very impressive pistols belonging to Forum member Beiruty from Texas. He has some of the most handsome mag-fed handguns we’ve ever seen. Here are six of his favorite semi-auto pistols from his collection. Three of these handguns boast beautiful engraving.
FN Browning High Power Renaissance
This 9mm hand-engraved High Power with silver finish was made in Belgium in 1971:
NOTE: This is one of a near-matching pair of FN HP Renaissance pistols featured in the top photo.
Hämmerli .22 LR Model 208, Special Edition
This Special Edition, one of 500, marks 125 years of Hämmerli Sportwaffenfabrik (1863-1988):
The handsome grip is factory carved. This Model 208 pistol shipped in a fitted case, shown below.
Colt .45 ACP 1911 Commander
This 1975-vintage Colt Commander 1911 sports fully-engraved frame and slide:
Smith & Wesson .22 LR Model 41 Long Barrel
This target pistol features a 7-3/8″ barrel with factory compensator. Grip is custom:
Browning .22 LR Medalist Pistol
This handsome Browning Medalist, all factory standard, was made in Belgium in 1964:
The video below shows another Browning Medalist of the same design and relative vintage:
Stoeger Arms American Eagle Navy Model Luger
This stainless Stoeger Navy Model 6″ Luger Pistol is vintage 1978-1980:
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Modern long-range benchrest rifles are capable of remarkable accuracy. At the recent Rendezvous Match at the Vapor Trail Valley shooting club, some exceptional targets were shot. This is a special combined match with relays at both 600 and 1000 yards. Be amazed at the accuracy modern rifles can achieve at these distances. Match director Tom Jacobs reports: “We had two screamer groups under a inch at 600 yards, and six groups under 3″ at 1000 yards. Three of those were under 2.5″ screamers.”
New Range Record at 1000 Yards — 1.338″ 5-Shot Group
Dave Way set a new Vapor Trail 1000-yard Range Record for single 5-shot group. He had a wicked small 1.338″ group (0.128 MOA) with a 49 score.
New Single Target Small Group Record at 600 Yards — 0.645 (0.103 MOA)
At the Rendezvous, Jason Cohen set a new single-target small group range record at 600 yards. This was a 0.645″ group shot with a .284. That works out to 0.103 MOA (1 MOA is 6.282″ at 600 yards).
Multiple Agg and Overall Titles for Al Benarrock — and a $1500.00 Check
Al Benarroch had a phenomenal weekend. He won the 16 target 600yd/1000yd Ultimate Agg (Grand Overall), the 1000-yard 8-target group Agg with 4.953″, and the 1000-yard 8 target Overall. What a weekend for Al!
The match was a big success. Match director Tom Jacobs posted: “We had great weather at a match for once, temps were mild for us this time of the year, the winds were not bad at all but we did have quick switches, that the valley is known for. Mirage was bad at times, but no dam hurricanadors for once! We hung 778 targets down range, not including all the tuning targets throughout the week. We estimate 9336 rounds went down range for the match, not counting a week of guys tuning.”
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If you’ve considering a big purchase at Brownells, here are money-saving codes. Brownells is offering $140 Off a $1000+ purchase, $60 Off a $500+ purchase, $20 Off a $200+ purchase, 10% (or $15) Off a $150+ purchase, and $10 Off a $100 purchase. It’s simple to get these discounts — there are no buyers’ clubs to join, no forms to fill out. Just use the appropriate Discount Code during online check-out. You can also use CODE CARTSHIP to get FREE Shipping for orders over $149 (with some restrictions).
Listed below are the Codes to use. Simply use the appropriate Code for your purchase at Brownells.com. NOTE: Most of these codes have no listed expiration date, so Brownells could terminate them at any time. Accordingly, we recommend you do your shopping soon. Also if the highest value code no longer works, try a lesser value CODE.
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Free Shipping with EDGE Program
NOTE: If you join the Brownells EDGE Program for $49.95 (12 months) you’ll get FREE 2-DAY SHIPPING on most orders. There is also discounted overnight shipping for many items.
With a $49.95 EDGE Membership, orders ship directly free of charge — every order, no matter how many. Most orders qualify for FREE 2-DAY SHIPPING. Your membership will pay for itself after only a few orders! Also Brownells typically charges a $10 processing fee on orders containing FFL items. However, with an Edge membership, the $10 FFL processing fee is waived every time.
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SSG Greg Markowski of the USAMU at Camp Perry, Ohio.*
The U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) fields pistol teams as well as rifle and shotgun competition squads. Consequently the USAMU’s Reloading Shop loads tens of thousands of pistol rounds every year. In this article, the USAMU’s handgun experts talk about reloading for handguns — with smart tips on how to achieve superior accuracy with 100% reliability. This article, which offers important insights on COAL, primers, crimps and more.
This video shows .45 ACP centerfire pistol competitors at Camp Perry
Precision Pistol Reloading — Recommended Methods
Optimize the Taper Crimp
One often-overlooked aspect of handloading highly-accurate pistol ammunition is the amount of crimp and its effect on accuracy. Different amounts of taper crimp are used with various handloads to obtain best accuracy. The amount is based on bullet weight, powder burn rate and charge, plus other factors. It is not unusual for our Shop to vary a load’s crimp in degrees of 0.001″ and re-test for finest accuracy.
Use Consistent Brass
Brass is also important to pistol accuracy. While accurate ammunition can be loaded using brass of mixed parentage, that is not conducive to finest results, particularly at 50 yards. It is important for the serious competitor/handloader to use brass of the same headstamp and ideally one lot number, to maximize uniformity. Given the volumes of ammunition consumed by active pistol competitors, using inexpensive, mixed surplus brass for practice, particularly at the “short line” (25 yards), is understandable. However [at 50 yards], purchasing and segregating a lot of high-quality brass to be used strictly for slow-fire is a wise idea.
Importance of Uniform COAL
Uniformity of the Case Overall Length (COAL) as it comes from the factory is also important to achieving utmost accuracy. More uniform case lengths (best measured after sizing) contribute to greater consistency of crimp, neck tension, ignition/burn of powder charge, and so on. Cartridge case-length consistency varies from lot to lot, as well as by maker. Some manufacturers are more consistent in this dimension than others. [Editor’s note: It is easy to trim pistol brass to uniform length. Doing this will make your taper crimps much more consistent.]
Primers and Powders — Comparison Test for Accuracy
Pay attention to primer brands, powder types and charges. Evaluating accuracy with a Ransom or other machine rest at 50 yards can quickly reveal the effect of changes made to handload recipes.
Bullet Selection — FMJ vs. JHP
Bullets are another vital issue. First, there is the question of FMJ vs. JHP. A friend of this writer spent decades making and accuracy-testing rifle and pistol bullets during QC for a major bullet manufacturer. In his experience, making highly-accurate FMJ bullets is much more difficult than making highly-accurate JHPs, in large part due to the way the jackets are formed. Small die changes could affect accuracy of FMJ lots dramatically. The CMP now allows “safe, jacketed ammunition” in Excellence-in-Competition (EIC) Service Pistol matches, although wadcutter ammunition is prohibited. Thus, the option to use very accurate JHP designs simplifies the life of CMP Service Pistol shooters in pursuit of the prestigious Distinguished Pistol Shot badge.
Hopefully, these tips will be helpful to any pistol shooters interested in accurate handloads, not just “Bullseye” shooters. Small tweaks to one’s normal routine can pay big dividends in improved accuracy and make practice and competition more rewarding. Stay safe, and good shooting!
TOP IMAGE: SSG Greg Markowski, a shooter/instructor with the USAMU, fires his pistol during the 2018 Civilian Marksmanship Program’s National Pistol Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio. At that event, Markowski claimed the General Mellon Trophy, General Patton Trophy and the General Custer Trophy. U.S. Army photo by Maj. Michelle Lunato/released by Defense Visual Information Distribution Service.
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