Do you know someone who recently purchased his/her first handgun and is getting started in the shooting sports? Or do you need to brush up your own pistol skills? Then check out a FREE video training series from the SIG Sauer Academy: Shooter’s Edge — Learning to Shoot.
Here is the Second Video from the Shooter’ Edge series, covering Basic Rules of Firearms Safety:
This video series features foundational handgun classes at the SIG Sauer Academy in New Hampshire. The ten-episode series takes viewers into the classroom and onto the range as the instructors walk through the fundamentals of handgun safety, shooting techniques, practice and training exercises, along with instruction in equipment options and handgun selection. The series was shot on location during several of the Academy’s introductory classes.
Click Below to Access Full Video Series on SigSauer.com:
The Shooter’ Edge Series includes the following episodes: Learn to Shoot at SIG Sauer Academy; Basic Rules of Safety; Types of Handguns and Ammunition; Foundational Shooting Techniques; How to Practice and Train Effectively; Choosing the Right Gun; Equipment and Its Purpose; Holsters — Presentation and Recovery; Magazines — Loading and Unloading; and What Happens After Learning to Shoot.
Are you in the market for your first handgun, for target use or for self-defense? The Winchester Blog has a good article for handgun buyers. This story, “Things You Should Know When Purchasing Your First Pistol”, provides many smart tips that can help you choose the right handgun, and save money in the process. In addition, the article explains how to train with your new pistol and handle it safely. READ Full Article.
If possible, you should test a variety of different pistols, to determine which works best for you. Check the feel, the ergonomics, the sight picture, and the controls. And, if possible, test the pistols with live-fire at a range which rents samples.
How do you know if your choice is right for you?
Once you’ve narrowed down choices, try to get time shooting the pistol(s) you are considering. You can usually rent guns at commercial ranges. This is an excellent way to “try before you buy.” NSSF has a list of places to shoot[.] When looking for a range that rents firearms, an online search and then a phone call to confirm what options are available is a solid plan. If you have friends and family who own a model you are interested in, ask if they will go to the range with you so that you can try it.
Take pistols for a test drive
First, dry-fire and manipulate the pistol. Can you easily lock the slide open? Are the sights suited to your vision? Then, fire a magazine or two of ammo [in a supervised range facility]. — Winchester Blog
The Winchester Blog article lists techniques that can help you get the “feel” for a particular firearm:
1. Practice the 4 Rules of Firearm Safety and make sure the gun is empty.
2. [After confirming the gun is empty] manipulate the slide, safety, magazine release, and dry-fire.
3. Perform a dry or empty magazine change — make sure you can hit the release and also reload a new magazine easily.
4. Perform a draw, or if you’re at a range where that is not allowed, simply pick the pistol up off the table and bring it up to your eye level and align the sights. Do this a few times. Can you acquire the sights quickly?
5. How does the backstrap fit your hand? Can you get both hands on the gun with enough “purchase” that you can really grip it well?
This Winchester Blog article is by Becky Yackley. Becky has competed in 3-Gun, Bianchi pistol, Service Rifle, NCAA air rifle, smallbore and air pistol events around the world since 1989.
Most of our readers are rifle guys, but it’s fun to shoot a pistol match now and then. You don’t need a lot of equipment, and if you shoot IDPA (Int’l Defensive Pistol Assn.) matches, you can really win with a $400 pistol and $25.00 worth of bulk 9mm ammo. That’s a bargain compared to what you’ll spend on a competitive PRS or F-Class rig and custom hand-loads.
If you want to get into the IDPA game, Shooting Sports USA has a good article that explains the basic rules and classifications. IDPA is not your grandad’s bullseye pistol match. There is movement and action. Stages are timed, and competitors engage targets from cover if available. Singled-handed shooting is sometimes required, as is shooting while moving. You can compete with pretty much any handgun suitable for self-defense — but no $4000 Raceguns with fancy optics. The fact that you can be 100% competitive without spending a ton of money is what makes IDPA so popular.
Shooting Sports USA polled IDPA shooters at the 2016 IDPA Nationals to determine their favorite gun brands and models. The #1 choice was the 9mm Glock 34 for the SSP (Standard Service Pistol) and ESP (Enhanced Service Pistol) Classes. Next most popular was the Smith & Wesson M&P Pro. We expect in 2024 many competitors are now using SIGs and Walthers, while Glock usage has declined.
Along with SSP and ESP, there are three other main IDPA classes: Custom Defensive Pistol (CDP) for .45 ACPs (mostly 1911 types), Concealed Carry Pistol (CCP), and Revolver (REV). All classes have a minimum power factor. Scores are based on time and shot placement on the IDPA target.
IDPA Scoring System
The official IDPA Target (right) has multiple scoring zones. If you don’t hit the target’s center mass zone or head zone (both appear green in illustration), you drop one or three points. Here’s the formula: Score (in seconds) = Time + Points Down + Penalties. In IDPA, “points down” (and penalties) are added to your time. If you hit the outer edge of the target, you get 3 points down. Nearer center can be 1 point down. Center hit or head shot is 0 points down. See IDPA Scoring for Dummies.
Five Tips for New IDPA Shooters
This Editor got his start in competitive shooting with local IDPA matches. I shot a 9mm Glock 34, and a 9mm SIG Sauer P226, and even did one match with a .38 Spl S&W Snubbie. I eventually settled on the SIG P226, as it fit my hand better than the Glock, was more accurate, and was every bit as reliable. The P226 also pointed better than the Glock for me — something that helps with target acquisition. Here are FIVE TIPS for new IDPA competitors:
1. Dry-Fire Practice at Home
You can improve your grip and sight acquisition dramatically with 30 minutes of dry-firing every week. Get some quality snap caps and go to it. One tip — don’t do this in your back-yard if the nosy neighbors can see. We had one friend who was dry-firing in his yard and got an unexpected visit from the local police (with guns drawn). That can turn out badly to say the least…
2. Practice One-Handed Shooting (Both Strong-Hand and Weak-Hand)
Most of the worst misses I saw during IDPA matches were during stages requiring one-handed shooting. A lot of pistol shooters have spent all their time shooting two-handed. That’s the best technique, but in an IDPA match, you may be required to shoot one-handed on some stages. If you’re a righty, shooting with the left hand only will feel really weird, and your accuracy will be poor unless you practice. We suggest starting your one-handed training with a rimfire pistol, then transition to your centerfire pistol.
3. For 9mm, Don’t Bother to Hand-load Your Ammo
This may seem like sacrilege, but if you’re only shooting one match a month, it’s probably not worth the time and money to reload 9x19mm. I did reload my 9mm ammo on a progressive for a couple years. After looking at money and time, I just started buying commercial 9mm ammo which worked fine. I was only saving a few cents per round by reloading, and that wasn’t worth the time invested.
4. Get a Good Holster That Fits Right
In IDPA matches you normally draw from holster during the match. I saw a lot of people struggle because they had Kydex holsters that would not release easily, or leather holsters that fit too tight or rocked during draw. Try a few different brands at the local store.
5. Be Smooth, Be Calm, and AIM Your Shots
Many folks come into IDPA thinking it’s all about speed. But there are score zones on the official IDPA target, so you need to focus and AIM. Don’t just “run and gun”. If you stay calm, align your sights in the center of the target for EVERY shot, you will end up with a higher score with fewer “points down”. Speed will come with time. It is better to make sure each one of your shots is a hit.
Congratulations to Team Vihtavuori member Doug Koenig on winning the 2024 CMP Bianchi Cup Championship, one of the world’s most prestigious pistol tournaments. Koening took the 2024 title with an impressive 1920-183X Grand Aggregate. Koenig’s 2024 Bianchi Cup title marked a major milestone. This was Koenig’s 20th time winning the prestigious pistol championship. To learn more about Doug’s accomplishments, visit KoenigShooting.com.
The 2024 CMP Bianchi Cup was hosted by the Green Valley Rifle & Pistol Club in Hallsville, Missouri on May 21-24, 2024. For the second year, the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) governed the international competition. In partnering with Green Valley, the CMP seeks to grow the event with more shooters and new divisions. The Bianchi Cup, known as the gold standard in action pistol shooting, has a 40+ year history and attracts the world’s leading competitive pistol shooters.
Koenig, who loads his pistol ammo with Vihtavuori N320 powder, was in a tight race with fellow Team Vihtavuori member Bruce Piatt. Piatt finished in a close second place, followed by SSG Walter Johnson, SSG Anthony Heinauer, and Benito Martinez. The top finishers were only separated by a mere 5 bullseyes.
These two videos show Doug Koenig in action in past years at the Bianchi Cup Range.
There will be major rimfire and centerfire pistol competitions at the 2024 CMP National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio. Hundreds of shooters will participate in these popular individual and team events, which commence in mid-July.
The rimfire/centerfire pistol competitions begin on July 15, 2024 with the handgun Small Arms Firing School (SAFS) followed by M9 Pistol Excellence-In-Competition (EIC) pistol matches. The SAFS will be led by USAMU, Military Team, and CMP instructors. Following classroom instruction and practice on the range, SAFS participants will fire an M9 EIC Match with the goal of earning points towards the prestigious Distinguished Badge.
On July 17, the .22 Rimfire 900 Aggregate, Team Matches, and Rimfire EIC matches will be held. In the past, these matches have been hugely popular — with 480+ Rimfire competitors from novices to experts.
Following the rimfire pistol matches, there will be centerfire Pistol Aggregate and Team Matches on July 18, followed by .45 Pistol Aggregate and Team matches on July 19. Then, on Saturday the 20th, the big President’s 100 Pistol Match, National Trophy Individual Match, National Trophy Pistol Team Matches, and GSSF Glock National Challenge will be held. There will be plenty of talent on the firing line. In recent years, over 90% of the top 50 Service Pistol shooters were Distinguished. The last pistol matches run on Sunday the 21st, with Pistol Games Awards at the end of the day.
This video shows .45 ACP centerfire pistol competitors at Camp Perry
Interested in competing in the Camp Perry Pistol Matches this summer with either a .22 LR Rimfire pistol or centerfire pistol? It’s not too late to register. CLICK HERE for Pistol Match Online Registration.
Summer is almost here, so it’s time to focus on fun. Here are four specialty targets with game themes: Dartboard, Billiards Table, Bowling Alley, and Poker Cards. Each target features multiple aiming points. Shoot the dartboard like a regular game or make up your own sequence. For the billiards target shoot the balls in number sequence or alternate stripes/solids. Click any target to load FREE downloadable PDF files. Then print the targets and take them to the range for a fun shooting session. A big thanks to our friends at NRABlog.com and NSSF for creating these colorful “fun & games” targets. Enjoy!
Dartboard Target
With this fun Dart-Board Target, aim for the four outer bullseyes, then go for the center bull. The colored darts provide additional targets. With an accurate rifle you can also aim for the colored stripes.
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.
This billiards target is part of a set of 12 Fun Targets from the NSSF. These were issued a couple seasons back for National Shooting Sports Month, held in August of each year. The other free targets include Golf Links, Bowling Pins, Fireworks, Baseball Diamond, Dutch Windmill, Water Balloons, Light Bulbs, Dartboard, and three Bullseye targets.
NRA Bowling Pins with Bowling Ball Target
Here’s a fun target for close-range pistol or 100-yard rifle shooting. This NRA Bowling set target has 8 bulleyes. The largest bullseye is on the blue bowling pin. Then there are three slightly smaller bulls on the center of three of the seven bowling pins. Finally there are four small bullseyes located on the top of the first, third, fifth, and seventh pin. To test your skills, start with the bowling ball and then work up to the more challenging bulleyes.
Poker Target — Get the Best Hand
With this playing card-themed target, each shooter takes five shots and the one with the highest hand wins. With the Poker Game Target you can also shoot for 4-of-a-kind, against the clock, fastest four (without a mistake) wins.
Monday, May 27, 2024 is Memorial Day. Many leading shooting sports/outdoor vendors are now running Memorial Day Sales over the next few days. You’ll find savings on guns, ammo, reloading supplies, brass, optics, hunting gear and more.
Brownells Memorial Day Sale — Save 15% with Code MDAY15
Brownells has kicked off a major Memorial Day Sale. Use Code MDAY15 to save 15% sitewide on a vast range of products. You’ll find great deals on Howa products, optics, AR components and more.
Creedmoor Sports — Free Shipping and Peterson Brass Sale
Now through Tuesday, 5/28/24 at noon CST, Creedmoor Sports is offering FREE Shipping on orders over $149.00. In addition, there is a big sale on quality, USA-made Peterson brass. You can save $32 per 100 or more. A very large variety of Peterson brass is in stock now. (Note: Some of the brass sale prices have not been updated yet.)
Palmetto State Armory Memorial Day Sale
Palmetto State Armory has a major Memorial Day Weekend Sale underway now. Save on ammo, optics, tools, triggers, and more. A wide variety of AR-platform parts are discounted and there are some great deals on handguns. For example, the Taurus G2C 9mm pistol is now just $229.99, a $120.00 savings.
Popular retailer KYGUNCO is offering significant savings on Beretta, Glock, Springfield Armory, and Taurus handguns as part of its Memorial Day Sale. For example you can get the Beretta APX-A1 9mm carry pistol for just $199.99 after Beretta $50 factory Rebate. With Rebate that’s $109 off the typical $309.00 price.
Today is the last day of the 2024 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Dallas, Texas. The 153rd NRA Annual Meeting & Exhibits has been running at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, Texas. The Exhibit Hall has been open all three days, showcasing over 14 acres of the latest guns and gear from leading gun industry manufacturers and vendors.
Here are some quick videos showcasing new (or recently-introduced) products on display at the 2024 NRA Exhibits. These four product videos are hosted by GunsAmerica Digest Editor True Pearce, who reviews new rifles and pistols, plus optics. Among the new firearms, Mr. Pearce was quite impressed with the Beretta BRX1 straight-pull rifle, which has a very smooth cycling action and a sub-2-pound trigger. This could be a game changer for hunters. True Pearce also liked Walther’s new WMP model rimfire pistol chambered in .22 WMR. CLICK HERE for more NRA Show product reviews on the GunsAmerica YouTube Channel.
Beretta BRX1 Straight-Pull Rifle
Walther WMP Pistol in .22 WMR
New Colt Viper .357 Mag Revolver
Three New Optics from Steiner
BONUS: Trump 2024 NRA-ILA Speech
Former President Donald Trump spoke at the 2024 NRA Annual Meetings yesterday in Dallas. Here is a video of Mr. Trump’s full 97-minute speech at the NRA-ILA event:
We think all shooters should have a quality .22 LR rimfire pistol — something with a good trigger, ergonomic grip, and excellent accuracy out of the box. Right now, with the Walther P22 Target Model, you can get all those things for just $269.99 at CDNN Sports, a great deal.
Plus, if you order this pistol by June 30th, Walther will throw in 200 rounds of Federal .22 LR Punch ammo, which retails for $11/box of 50. This free ammunition deal is good for all Walther P22 .22 LR rimfire pistols. SEE FREE AMMO details.
So you save hundreds off the price of this nice pistol, plus get $44.00 worth of free ammo. That makes this one of the best rimfire handgun deals we’ve seen in a long time.
The P22 is a very nice rimfire handgun with a 5″ barrel plus a forward ported compensator. The ergonomic grip boasts an interchangeable backstrap. Walther states: “Best-in-class ergonomics, supported by interchangeable backstraps, establishes the P22 as one of the most comfortable handguns available today.” Compared to most other rimfire pistols in this class, the trigger is very good right out of the box with a light, crisp pull. We also like the ambidextrous controls. A rare feature for a rimfire, the P22 is covered by the Walther Legendary Lifetime Limited Warranty.
Video explains how to get 200 Rounds of Federal Punch .22 LR ammo when you purchase a new Walther P22 pistol or get 100 Rounds of Federal Punch .22 WMR ammo when you purchase a Walther WMP pistol during Walther’s Free Ammo Promotion running from May 1st through June 30th, 2024.
Federal offers advanced Syntech ammunition with polymer-encased projectiles. Federal Syntech Ammo is the first range-specific factory-loaded ammunition designed to reduce fouling and extend barrel life with a high-tech polymer bullet coating plus specially-formulated clean-burning powders. The potential for reduced wear and fouling is real. When tested against conventional FMJ ammunition, Federal claims Syntech pistol ammo produced 12% less barrel friction and 14% less heat. Also, since Syntech bullets lack a metal jacket, there is less chance of ricochets on steel targets.
Syntech user reviews have been highly positive:
Syntech ammo does what it says, I’ve tested it. Barrel stays cooler, easier to clean without lead or copper fouling. Extremely reliable — the Syntech coating aides in the feeding cycle.
This my favorite ammo for shooting steel plates. Makes a terrific sound when hitting. Far less barrel cleaning after a day of shooting.
Great range ammo. Clean pistols less often.
Federal now offers Syntech ammunition in 9mm Luger, .40 S&W, 10mm Auto, and .45 ACP. These four chamberings are offered in various bullet weights with both round-nose and flat-nose bullet options. The best value we found is a 500-round case of 124gr 9mm Luger for $239.99 at MidwayUSA.
For years this Editor has loaded his .45 ACP and .44 Mag handguns with polymer/moly matrix-coated bullets from Precision Bullets in Texas. Those poly/moly-encased lead bullets shot VERY accurately and I found that my barrels fouled much less than with conventional lead bullets. Likewise, there was much less cylinder fouling on my revolvers. If the American Syntech bullets work as well as those Precision bullets, we think the Syntech line will be a winner. Syntech bullets should benefit any shooter who frequents a range where conventional lead ammo is not allowed.
Features & Benefits
• Polymer-encapsulated Syntech bullet prevents metal-on-metal contact in the bore, eliminating copper and lead fouling, while extending barrel life.
• Exclusive primer formulation provides reliable, consistent ignition.
• Clean-burning propellants minimize residue and fouling.
• Significantly reduces the required frequency of cleaning.
• Absence of a copper jacket minimizes splash-back on steel targets.
Along with SSP and ESP, there are three other main IDPA classes: Custom Defensive Pistol (CDP) for .45 ACPs (mostly 1911 types), Concealed Carry Pistol (CCP), and Revolver (REV). All classes have a minimum power factor. Scores are based on time and shot placement on the IDPA target.
