While AccurateShooter.com focuses on rifles, we know that a large percentage of our readers own handguns, with 1911-style pistols being particular favorites. For you 1911 owners, here are six short videos from Brownells showing how to customize a 1911-style pistol with after-market upgrades.
How to Accessorize Your 1911
This six-part series by Brownells provides step-by-step instruction on how to accessorize your 1911. The videos cover changing out the mainspring housing, magazine release, slide release, hammer, guide rod, and installing a group gripper. If you want to upgrade your 1911, these videos are worth watching.
Model 1911 Components and Cycling — Cut-Away Animation Video
If you’re not familiar with M1911 type single-action pistols, this video animation provides an inside look at the M1911’s components and shows how the M1911 cycles:
To help serve America’s many millions of new gun owners, Winchester has created a new online information site for first-time ammunition and firearms buyers as well as those just getting started in the shooting sports and hunting. Winchester’s New Shooters Site has many helpful articles plus a series of videos.
Winchester’s New Shooters Site also incorporates the NSSF’s WHERE-To-SHOOT Resource, the internet’s most comprehensive listing of gun ranges. The Where-to-Shoot section makes finding a local range easy. Simply input your location and max desired distance, and the site will generate a list of nearby indoor and outdoor ranges with a Google map.
“More than 12 million people since the beginning of 2020 purchased a firearm for the first time, and that is in addition to the more than 56 million people in the U.S. who currently target shoot,” said Matt Campbell, vice president of sales and marketing for Winchester Ammunition. “As an industry leader, we are committed to helping educate people about the many topics surrounding firearms, ammunition, safety and more. More and more people want to participate in the shooting sports and hunting. Our audience is diverse and growing, and this platform will be an excellent resource.”
— Skill-level filtering, allowing new shooters to find the most relevant content
— New video series and blog posts with entry-level topics
— Product recommendations for firearms and ammunition
— Tips and training (shooting fundamentals)
— Safety and storage
About Winchester Ammunition
Winchester was founded in 1866, 155 years ago. Winchester is now the largest small caliber ammunition enterprise in the world providing a huge variety of pistol, rifle, and shotgun ammunition. Learn more about Winchester by visiting Winchester.com or Winchester’s Facebook Page.
Legal Heat, a major firearms training firm*, has released the 2021 Edition of the 50 State Guide to Firearm Laws and Regulations. For each state, this $20 book covers key firearms laws, lists prohibited areas, and provides key statutory references for further research. With over 20,000 gun laws nationwide affecting concealed carry permit holders, Legal Heat’s 50 State Guide helps gun owners stay informed about important gun statutes and regulations.
The Legal Heat 50 State Guide is an authoritative reference guide on concealed carry and transport laws with concise synopses, including legal citations. Written and edited by attorneys and firearms instructors. This full-color, $20 book provides a comprehensive overview of state and Federal gun laws, serving as a quick reference guide for travelers.
GET FREE Legal Heat APP for Android or Apple
Along with the $20 print book, there is a FREE Legal Heat APP that provides the same information at no cost to you. Just download the App to your smartphone or tablet. CLICK HERE to learn more about the FREE 50-State Law App. There are FREE versions for both Android (Google) and iOS (Apple). This is the only APP with comprehensive Concealed and Open Carry Law summaries written by attorneys.
Key Topics Covered in Dedicated Sections
The Legal Heat 50 State Guide has specific sections dedicated to important topics, such as Gun Transport at Airports, Police Stops, Inter-State Travel, and Purchasing/Selling. Having these and other key topics clearly outlined is one of the compelling reasons to buy the book. Here are the Key Topics:
- Airports
– Police Encounters
– State-to-State Firearms Transport in Vehicle
– Purchasing/Selling A Firearm
– Castle Doctrines
– AMTRAK
- U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers Land
– National Parks And Monuments
– BLM Land
– Indian Reservations
– May Issue Vs. Shall Issue States
– Contact Info For Attorney Generals
State by State Law Summaries
For every one of the 50 U.S. STATES, there is a dedicated summary covering:
1. All Prohibited Areas for Firearms
This Section Is Essential Knowledge For All Concealed Firearm Permit Holders. 2. Self-Defense and Firearms Laws 3. Reciprocity (Recognition of Other State’s Permits)
This lists ALL firearm permits from other states that are recognized. 4. Self Defense And Firearm Laws Statutory References (For Additional Research) 5. Ratings of Each State for “Friendliness” to gun owners.
Video Summary of 50 State Firearms Guide
This video covers the highlights of the Legal Heat 50 State Guidebook. This shows the 2018 Edition, but the latest 2021 Edition contains all those elements, updated with current law changes.
* With over 250,000 certified students, Legal Heat claims to be the nation’s largest firearms training company. Legal Heat provides in-person as well as online training, and works with major gun retailers including Cabela’s, Bass Pro Shops, and Sportsman’s Warehouse. CLICK HERE for more information on Legal Heat Training Programs.
The NRA’s Shooting Illustrated magazine has a new website, with a smart-phone friendly layout and abundant photos and videos. A lot of work went into the new site, which offers a ton of content for firearms fans. The content mix is heavy on handguns, but you’ll also find features on Modern Sporting Rifles and long-range rifles. The main change in the site is the inclusion of many more photos and videos. ShootingIllustrated.com is now definitely “image-rich” and great for video fans. And the site is now easier to navigate thanks to an intuitive menu bar.
Shooting Illustrated’s new website boasts “a new user-friendly layout [that] enhances the experience for watching videos on smartphones, tablets and desktop computers. Look for “I Carry” videos featuring new everyday carry guns and gear, as well as “First Shot” videos highlighting new pistols and rifles.
Here are three top stories you can access right now on the new Shooting Illustrated website. If you like this type of content, then check out ’s Facebook and Instagram feeds for the latest coverage of new products with articles, imagery, and videos.
Click Photos to Read Shooting Illustrated Feature Stories:
“Whether it is a 9mm pistol, or a rifle, it is ridiculous. I am continuing to push to eliminate the sale of those things.” — President Biden, CNN Townhall, 2021.
CCRKBA TV Notice Quotes President’s Aim to Ban Common Handguns
The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA) has a new 60-second TV message on several cable networks which exposes the Biden Administration’s true gun control agenda. The focus of the message are the President’s own, undeniable admission that he wants to ban 9mm handguns.
“Neither Joe Biden nor his White House handlers can sugar-coat the president’s acknowledgement during a CNN Townhall program that he intends to ban some of the most popular pistols in the country,” said CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb. “This was no Biden gaffe[.] It was an admission … that his hope is to ban 9mm handguns owned and used by tens of millions of Americans, including thousands of police officers.”
Biden was responding to a question about gun control when he told his audience: “Whether it is a 9mm pistol, or a rifle, it is ridiculous. I am continuing to push to eliminate the sale of those things.”
“Biden cannot walk that one back no matter how hard he tries,” Gottlieb said, “and we’re going to keep reminding America about what he said. This is not going to be swept under the rug as just another one of Joe Biden’s famous slips of the tongue.”
“When Joe Biden ran for the presidency,” Gottlieb recalled, “his gun control plan was already extreme, but now he’s exposed himself as a handgun prohibitionist. We’re going to energize every American gun owner possible to stop Biden’s radical agenda.”
CCRKBA’s 60-second message will be broadcast on multiple major cable outlets and networks, including AMC, CNN, MSNBC, FOX, The Weather Channel, HLN, Dish TV, CNBC, the Outdoor Channel and Sportsman Channel and many more.
With more than 650,000 members, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms is one of the nation’s leading gun rights organizations. The non-profit Citizens Committee is dedicated to preserving firearms freedoms through active lobbying of elected officials and grass-roots organization of gun rights activists throughout the USA. For more information, visit CCRKBA.org.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott recently signed legislation that provides a Constitutional Right to Carry in the state of Texas. This new law goes into effect September 1, 2021. To help Texans understand how the new Constitutional Carry law works, U.S. LawShield has prepared a free, 28-page downloadable Guide.
Guide Prepared by Texas Attorneys
The U.S. LawShield Texas Constitutional Carry Guide was prepared by the Independent Program Attorneys. The FREE 28-page Guide covers the essential information gun owners need to know, explaining the new law in an easy-to-understand way. Download the free U.S. LawShield Texas Constitutional Carry Guide here: www.uslawshield.com/txcarry.
U.S. LawShield cautions that there are some pitfalls with the new Texas Carry Law: “You could say Constitutional Carry is as simple as carrying without a permit… but you’d be wrong. There’s a reason why gun owners refer to this law as ‘complicated carry’ — it can be an easy trap with severe penalties for the uninformed and irresponsible.”
P.J. Hermosa, CEO of U.S. LawShield, warns: “Constitutional Carry doesn’t mean that anyone can just carry a gun – you must meet the requirements of the law. If not, then you are now a criminal”. That is why we recommend that all Texans who currently carry a firearm, or contemplate doing so in the future, download the FREE TX Constitutional Carry Guide.
More Information for Gun Owners with Carry Permits
OK this is no novice. But even champion pistol shooter Jessie Harrison, Captain of Team Taurus, had to start with the basics. Jessie says that safety should always be your number one priority.
At AccurateShooter.com, our primary focus is precision target shooting with rifles. But it’s definitely fun to shoot pistols too, and we bet most of our regular readers own handguns. Here are six tips for shooting safely and accurately with handguns. These pointers will help you advance your skills and have more fun with your pistols and revolvers.
1. Make Sure Safety Is Number One
Whether you own one gun or one hundred, gun safety must always be your main priority. In this video, Smith & Wesson Team Captain Julie Golob covers the basics of gun safety.
2. Start with a .22 LR Handgun
We strongly recommend that new pistol shooters start off with a .22 LR rimfire handgun. The .22 LR cartridge is accurate but has very low recoil, less “bark” than a centerfire, and very little smoke and muzzle flash. New shooters won’t have to fight muzzle flip, and won’t develop a flinch from the sharp recoil and muzzle blast common to larger calibers. With the .22 LR, the trainee can focus on sight alignment, breathing, and trigger pull. When he or she has mastered those skills, move on to a .38 Special or 9mm Luger (9x19mm).
What gun to use? We recommend the 10-shot Smith & Wesson Model 617. Tthis is ideal for initial training, shooting single action, slow-fire. You want to focus on sight picture and holding steady. Shown above is the 4″-barrel Model 617 which balances well. There is also a 6″-barrel version. It has a longer sight radius, but is a little nose-heavy. Both are great choices. They are extremely accurate and they boast a very clean, precise trigger.
If you prefer a semi-auto .22 LR pistol, we recommend the Browning Buck Mark series. Buck Marks are very accurate and very reliable. This rimfire pistol is available in a variety of models starting at under $350.00. Like the S&W Model 617, a good Buck Mark will serve you for a lifetime.
3. Use Quality Targets with Multiple Aim Points
It’s common for new pistoleros to start shooting at cans or clay birds at a public range. That can be fun, but it’s better to start with proper targets, placed at eye level, at 7-10 yards. We like to use targets with large, brightly colored circles. Focus on putting 5 shots in a circle. We recommend targets that have multiple bullseyes or aiming points — that way you don’t have to constantly change your target. There are also special paper targets that can help you diagnose common shooting problems, such as anticipating recoil. EZ2C makes very good targets with bright, red-orange aim points. You can also use the bright orange Birchwood Casey stick-on Target Dots (right). These come in a variety of diameters. We like the 2″ dot at 10 yards.
4. Shoot Outdoors If You Can
We recommend that new pistol shooters begin their training at an outdoor range. There are many reasons. First, the light is better outdoors. Indoor ranges can be dark with lots of shadows, making it harder to see your target. Second, sound dissipates better outdoors. The sound of gunfire echoes and bounces off walls indoors. Third, an outdoor range is a more comfortable environment, particularly if you can get out on a weekday morning. Indoor ranges, at least in urban areas, tend to be crowded. Many also have poor ventilation. If you can make it to an outdoor range, you’ll be happy. Many outdoor ranges also have some steel pistol targets, which offer a fun alternative to paper. When shooting steel however, we recommend polymer encased or lead bullets to avoid ricochets.
Too many new pistol shooters try to move right to rapid fire drills. It’s better to start slow, practicing the basics, under the guidance of a good mentor. If you belong to a club, ask if there are certified instructors who will help out. This Editor learned pistol shooting from a seasoned bullseye shooter, who got me started with a .22 LR revolver and very close targets. Over the course of a few range sessions we progressed to farther targets and faster pace. But the fundamentals were never forgotten. When starting your pistol training, it’s wise to view some instructional videos. Top Shot Champion Chris Cheng hosts an excellent Handgun 101 Series produced by the NSSF. We’ve linked one of these Handgun 101 videos for Tip #6.
6. SLOW DOWN — This Is Not a Race
When you learned to ride a bicycle, you started slow — maybe even with training wheels. The same principle applies to pistol shooting. When you get started with handguns, we recommend you shoot slowly and deliberately. Start with the handgun unloaded — just work on your sight alignment and breathing. With snap caps in place, try some dry-firing drills. Then progress to live fire. But be deliberate and slow. With the target at 20 feet, see if you can get three successive shot-holes to touch. Believe it or not, many common pistols are capable of this kind of accuracy (but you won’t see many shooters at indoor ranges who pursue that kind of precision). Once you master your form and accuracy, then you can work on your speed.
The Gun Digest 2022, 76th Edition, can be pre-ordered now for $34.99 (paperback). Set for release on 8/17/2021, this 592-page resource covers rifles, shotguns, handguns, muzzleloaders, airguns, optics and more. We like the print edition, but there is also a PDF eBook version for $32.99 at Gundigeststore.com. You can read the PDF version on your tablet or computer. Both paperback and PDF versions provide hundreds of photos plus new product roundups, in-depth product tests, and scores of articles and stories.
The Gun Digest 2022 Annual is also available on Amazon.com. The paperback print edition is $31.87 at Amazon while the electronic Kindle version is $23.16 at Amazon.
Gun Digest 2022 Editor-in-Chief Phil Massaro has assembled a large team of respected industry authors for the new book, including Craig Boddington, Joe Coogan, Ron Spomer, Patrick Sweeney, Jim Supica, Thomas Gomez, Tom Turpin, Wayne van Zwoll, Bob Campbell and many more.
Gun Digest 2022 covers hunting, personal defense, target shooting, gunsmithing, and collecting. Historical articles look at the role played by firearms in our country. There are Updated Ballistics Tables, and the catalog section shows off the newest offerings in rifles, handguns, shotguns, muzzleloaders and air rifles.
Reports from the Field cover the newest firearms and accessories. A Testfire section brings readers up to date on product performance. And the annual photo essay spotlights the finest custom and engraved guns.
Other Good Books from Gun Digest Media
Gun Digest Media produces numerous other quality books for rifle, pistol, and shotgun owners. Here are four volumes we recommend. These are offered in both paperback and eBook versions:
At the request of our readers, we provide select “Deals of the Week”. Every Sunday afternoon or Monday morning we offer our Best Bargain selections. Here are some of the best deals on firearms, hardware, reloading components, optics, and shooting accessories. Be aware that sale prices are subject to change, and once clearance inventory is sold, it’s gone for good. You snooze you lose.
1. Creedmoor Sports — American Practice Bullets, Save 20-30%
⏺ Save money on big brand bullets so you can practice more often
Creedmoor Sports is offering 500-ct bulk packs of factory second bullets. You can snatch up these American Bullet Company Practice Bullets in .22, 6mm, and .308 calibers at exceptionally low prices. These are factory ‘seconds’ from a very well-known manufacturer (think green) that are bulk-packed and ready to load. Get a box of 500 bullets at huge savings over regular prices. NOTE: There may be minor cosmetic issues with the bullets, or weight variances. In today’s world of component shortages, this is a great way to save money, and/or do more live fire practice with a lower cost per shot.
2. Sportsman’s WHSE — Savage 110 Elite Precision, $1749.99
⏺ Competitive PRS Production Class Rig with MDT Chassis
Excellent Video Review of Savage 110 Elite Precision in 6mm Creedmoor
PRS Production Class has a $2500 limit. With this Savage 110 Elite Precision you get a very competitive 6mm Creedmoor rifle, with a top-quality chassis, for $1749.99. That’s hundreds less than similar quality boutique-brand PRS Production rigs. Put the money saved into optics. The Savage Arms 110 Elite Precision boasts a Modular Driven Technologies (MDT) Adjustable Core Competition (ACC) Chassis, a full-length forearm ARCA rail, titanium nitride-coated “blueprinted” action, and effective muzzle brake. This Guns & Ammo video showcases the Elite Precision’s notable features.
⏺ Turn-key solution for 6mm Dasher Shooters with great dies
The 6mm Dasher is very popular in PRS and Mid-range Benchrest. And a 6mm Dasher just won the F-Open Mid-Range Nationals convincingly. If you’re ready to build a Dasher, consider the 6mm Dasher Starter Kit from Whidden Gunworks. The kit includes your choice of standard dies, 100 pieces of Lapua 6mmBR brass, 6mm Dasher Hydraulic Form Die, and a 6mm Dasher Case Gauge. This is everything you need to get up and running with this match-winning wildcat cartridge.
4. Creedmoor Sports — Sierra Bullets PLUS FREE Ammo Box
⏺ Good Deal on Sierra bullets plus handy Ammo Box
Sierra makes some of the highest-quality bullets on the market. Right now Creedmoor Sports has most popular Sierra Bullets in stock and ready to ship in many calibers. Most of the popular MatchKing bullet types have the meplats “tipped” at the factory for consistent BC and improved long-range performance. NOTE: If you purchase at least $150 in Sierra bullets you’ll get a FREE high-quality Plano Ammo Box.
5. KYGUNCO — Taurus G2c 9mm Pistol, $205.99
⏺ Great Deal on Reliable 12rd 9mm Carry Pistol
The Taurus G2c is a good little compact carry gun at a VERY attractive price — a third what you might pay for a 9mm Glock 19 these days. KYGUNCO has the black-on-black 9mm Taurus G2c for just $205.99 (cash price). That’s the best deal we’ve seen on a major brand 9mm pistol in a long time. At 6.25″ OAL, and weighing just 21.2 oz. unloaded, this affordable 9mm handgun is a true compact. Despite its small size, the G2c boasts a 12-round magazine. We like the fact it has a left-side manual safety (unlike the Glock).
6. Amazon — RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme, $188.99
⏺ Strong, versatile full-size press with lifetime warranty
With the shortages of good factory ammo, more shooters are hand-loading than ever before. That means that good reloading presses have been hard to find at reasonable prices. But here’s a good deal on a great press. Right now Amazon has the legendary RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme for under $190.00. This strong, capable press and allows you to do myriad reloading tasks: decapping, neck-sizing, FL-sizing, crimping, and even swaging bullets. RCBS offers a rock-solid lifetime warranty.
7. Amazon — Caldwell The Rock BR Rest, $140.79
⏺ Good basic rest for Varmint work and sighting-in rifles
Right now the green-framed Caldwell Rests are deeply discounted on Amazon. If you’re looking for something you could use in competition as well as varminting, check out the Caldwell Rock BR at $140.79. The Rock BR model is stable and works well for varmint shooting. If you want something lighter and more basic, the Rock Deluxe at $75.19 is an excellent value. Or if you prefer a compact, lightweight front rest for basic rifle and pistol work, consider a Rock Jr. at $35.54.
8. Natchez — CCI Blazer 9mm Ammunition, $19.99
⏺ Very reliable 9mm practice ammo at a good price
Finding quality 9mm Luger ammo at a decent price has been difficult lately. But here’s a good deal at Natchez. Quality, aluminum-case CCI Blazer 9mm 115gr ammo is now just $19.99 per 50-count box. That’s HALF the cost of 9mm pistol ammo at some other vendors. NOTE: Having aluminum cases, this ammo is NOT reloadable. But, in our experience it is reliable and accurate.
9. Amazon — KUBEI USB Rechargeable Digital Scale, $24.99
⏺ Compact scale with USB-rechargeable battery at great price
Everyone can use an inexpensive, compact scale for loading at the range or sorting bullets or maybe even primers. One very affordable option KUBEI USB Rechargeable Digital Scale. Unlike most other inexpensive digital scales, this comes with a large dust cover with a “window” for your powder pan. Notably, this scale can be conveniently recharged with a standard USB cable — no batteries to replace ever! We have heard positive reports from Forum members about this $24.99 portable scale, which offers 9 types of weight units, calibration weight, and fold-down protective lid.
10. Amazon — Tactical Hard Case, Customizable Foam, $89.99
⏺ Solid, strong wheeled case for ARs, or hunting rifles
Whether driving or flying, you need a good, strong case to protect your firearms. This affordable TSA-approved HQ ISSUE Tactical Rifle Hard Case has room for an AR, handguns, and accessories or a couple hunting rifles (with moderate-length barrels). NOTE: This case has rollers — something you don’t typically find on cases at this price point. The included pluckable foam interior can be easily customized to fit your rifle. External dimensions are: 43″ x 16″ x 7″.
11. Amazon — LEE Perfect Powder Measure, $22.95
⏺ Low-cost unit will work for basic powder-dispensing duties
Sometimes you just need a simple but effective way to throw powder charges without a big investment. For basic powder-throwing tasks the LEE Perfect Powder Measure can do the job. With a simple adjustment you can throw anywhere from 2 grains to over 70 grains. This is fine for most pistol charges. For more accurate rifle handloads, you can throw the charge within a grain and then trickle up to the final load weight using using a scale and separate trickler.
SSG Greg Markowski of the USAMU at Camp Perry, Ohio.
Today is the final day of pistol competition for the National Matches at Camp Perry. Many of the best pistol shooters in the country will be on the firing line, including members of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit Service Pistol team. Today, July 18th, the handgun phase of the CMP National Matches concludes with the Oliver Hazard Perry Pop-Up Pistol Match, Military & Police Pistol Match, 1911 As-Issued Pistol Match, and Glock Match. After the last match, trophies and awards will be presented to the top shooters.
If you want to compete in top competitions like this, you’ll need good ammo. The following USAMU article provides rock-solid reloading advice, explaining how to load accurate, reliable handgun ammo.
Camp Perry NM pistol firing line from CMP Photo Archives.
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.
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, for the “long line” (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 U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit and native of Poland, fires his pistol during the 2018 Civilian Marksmanship Program’s National Pistol Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio July 13, 2018. 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.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott recently signed legislation that provides a Constitutional Right to Carry in the state of Texas. This new law goes into effect September 1, 2021. To help Texans understand how the new Constitutional Carry law works, 
It’s common for new pistoleros to start shooting at cans or clay birds at a public range. That can be fun, but it’s better to start with proper targets, placed at eye level, at 7-10 yards. We like to use targets with large, brightly colored circles. Focus on putting 5 shots in a circle. We recommend targets that have multiple bullseyes or aiming points — that way you don’t have to constantly change your target. There are also special paper targets that can help you diagnose common shooting problems, such as anticipating recoil. EZ2C makes very good targets with bright, red-orange aim points. You can also use the bright orange Birchwood Casey stick-on Target Dots (right). These come in a variety of diameters. We like the 2″ dot at 10 yards.
Use Consistent Brass
