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View Full Version : Attended my first Steel Challenge match,,,


aarondhgraham
August 30, 2010, 10:18 AM
This looks like the competition for me!

People having a good time,,,
Serious competitors getting along with plinkers.

I love the fact they have a rimfire division,,,
All the shooters take it as seriously as the centerfire division.

No running around and getting all athletic,,,
Just stand in the box and shoot your handgun.

I only shot one stage because I only had 2 magazines,,,
But I surely had fun and didn't do as poorly as I expected I would.

Good shooting fun that doesn't break my wallet in ammo costs.

.

azredhawk44
August 30, 2010, 11:58 AM
I love steel matches!

I try to go at least a couple times a month to the one in my area.

I race the clock and my own times, more than the other shooters. I've got some PHENOMENAL shooters that show up at mine. The same course that I run in 90-100 seconds, will get run by these guys in 40-45 seconds.

You'll spend money, Aaron. Don't worry. You'll spend money.:p

More mags, a holster (not necessarily a "race" one, but just a sturdy carry holster), mag carriers, a belt, sights for your pistol. And ammo. Lots of ammo.

Things like this teach you exactly how small a case of ammo is.:D Pretty soon, you won't feel cozy unless you have at least a couple thousand rounds standing by for the next 8-12 weeks of shooting.

aarondhgraham
August 31, 2010, 08:01 AM
Fortunately for me I make all my own leather gear,,,
So that won't be too much of an expense.

I did order three more mags for my Ruger 22/45,,,
I have the basic slab-side model so there is no accessorizing it,,,
I didn't do too badly with that gun so I think it's the one I'll practice with.

7 shots was the max it took me to hit 5 targets,,,
but I was shooting reeeeeeeeeeeal slow. ;)

I went to Lowes and bought about $25.00 of PVC pipe,,,
It took about 2 hours and I have 5 target stands,,,
They will hold 10" paper plates nicely.

I went to the steel challenge website and downloaded the stage diagrams,,,
I'll go out this weekend and play with them at my range,,,
Not exactly the same as using steel targets,,,
But close enough for practice & fun.

I think I've found my game.

.

g.willikers
August 31, 2010, 01:52 PM
Here's another way to practice steel challenge:
http://www.bamairsoft.com/videos01.html#steelchallenge02
Here's the scaled down stages for airsoft:
http://www.airsoft-shooting.org/Steel-Plate-Shooting-Rules.html

MrBorland
August 31, 2010, 02:44 PM
If the strings are 6 shots or less, try it with your revolver! - a M18, I recall?

I shot a rimfire match last month and had a lot of fun. If time weren't so limited, I'd shoot more of them. I used my 10-shot 4" 617 to good effect, and I'd consider it the nearly-perfect rimfire steel gun.

aarondhgraham
August 31, 2010, 03:22 PM
I do have a Model 18 but it's only a six-shooter,,,
Most stages that would allow me one miss.

I also have a Taurus 990 Tracker .22 revolver,,,
It's a 9-shooter so might be a bit better.

But I think for a while I'll play with my 22/45,,,
I bought it because it felt so good in my hand when I held it,,,
Now I'm no Annie Oakley but I do seem to hit fairly well with that gun.

I also have my newest toy I want to practice with,,,
Last month I bought a new CZ-75B Kadet in .22,,,
It's a very nice pistol and I want to use it some.

I only have 2 magazines for it though,,,
I'm having trouble locating any more to purchase,,,
Everyone I saw and spoke with said 5 mags is the minimum.

But look at me talking like I know something,,,
I've only watched one match and I'm an expert on it. :rolleyes:

At the match I attended there was not anyone shooting a revolver,,,
There were a lot of folk (15-20) shooting centerfire,,,
And about the same number shooting rimfire,,,
But they were all semi-auto's.

Lots of Rugers and a few Buckmarks,,,
One young lady was going crazy with a Beretta NEOS,,,
But the best thing I noticed was that everyone was having lots of fun.

.

Magnum Wheel Man
August 31, 2010, 04:00 PM
I'd really like to try it myself... been many years now, but my buddys & I used to get together & shoot at a couple home made dualing trees ( similar to what was used on Top Shot )... I almost wrecked my Ruger Gov. Target Model ( full bull ) as there were 4 of us shooting, & one weekend I put over 1000 rounds down the pipe, & didn't clean the gun... being a new shooter, & shooting so much, I was dumb, I was just shooting cheap Remington Thunder Bolt ammo... I noticed that 3/4 of the way through the 2nd day, my accuracy started going... after we were finished, I stuck a bore brush 1/2 way down the pipe... I had to pound it out :eek: there was SO much lead in the barrel... I highly recommend using copper washed bulk bullets if you are going to shoot 1000's of rounds...

this has got me thinking again... I need to have my welder make me up a couple new dueling trees

aarondhgraham
August 31, 2010, 04:41 PM
Just because of the money,,,
But eventually I will have to try my 9mm CZ-75.

.

MrBorland
August 31, 2010, 04:52 PM
Yeah, you can really burn through some ammo shooting steel.

I've been using my 617 .22 for steel shooting drills to help help my IDPA/USPSA shooting. It's great practice, IMO, for getting quick sight picture as well as for transitions. Recoil's not the same, but again, it's quick sight picture, 1 shot and quick transition to the next.

I'll burn several hundred .22 rounds alone on this drill. Unthinkable with my 686.

Revolvers in a steel match? You bet! IIRC, there were only 2 other revo shooters at this match, yet nearly to a person, those with a semi-auto took time penalties to clean jams. It's like free time for a wheelgunner! :D