2700 CF gun choice

I caught a serious bullseye bug about a year ago. My goal was to make “Expert” with a .22 (which I did) before moving on to the.45. I know that most people use the .45 for both the CF and .45 portions of the 2700 Match. Please chime in on using a 38 special WC for the CF portion. I realize that using 2 guns is easier to learn than 3. Are there any advantages in using 3?
Also, what do you think of the Hammerli P240 38 special WC for CF and attaching a scope to it. (I simply cannot see the front sight clearly and need to use the red dot).
Thank you, in advance, for your responses.

This comes up every year and the first thing you need to decide for YOURSELF is your goals because you are going to get advice from people with different goals. My question to you is are you after just a number or a level of proficiency? You have to shoot the .45 to master it.

Many of us have non .45 caliber centerfire pistols but that doesn't mean we shoot them in matches even though we know a higher score would result.

The bottom line is every HM or 2650 shooter I have seen reply to this always says master two guns before looking at other calibers, aka "playing around."

Well I'm getting a 38 special 1911 built. I expect it to be as accurate as my 45 at about 25% less recoil. I've struggled with the 45 over the last few years but am on my way to mastering it, I often beat my 22 score with my 45, not ideal but it happens.

Most probably will tell you to skip a CF gun for now and just work on your 45. Also less calibers to worry about reloading for.

Sometime I'd like to get a 32acp as well but not sure when.

It might depend somewhat on what you shoot for RF.  I like the 32 Wadcutter as well as the 32 ACP.  Pardini offers all three ( including 22), the other Euro guns are available in 22 and 32 long.  Quite a difference in recoil from 32 to 38.  The P240 is also available in 32.

This way the RF and CF are shot with virtually identical guns.  In my area, some of the matches are 1800 only, which makes this combination quite convenient.

I’ve shot a P240 in 32 ACP, with an Aimpoint sight.  The gun is rather heavy, but handles really nice.

I’m 70, don’t love the recoil in a 45, and don’t really love the 1911 style triggers after shooting the 2 stage Olympic pistols. Just personal preference.

As stated before this has to be a personal choice. What gives you the greatest pleasure. Winning or shooting? I would have a blast shooting a different pistol for every match for the whole season. I am not out to set any world records. Well, maybe 1 or 2. The only advice I would give at this time is that whatever you decide make sure the pistol or pistols you decide on are good enough to take you to your goal. It is no fun shooting a junk pistol. No matter how good it looks or how much it cost.

Len

I had Clark build a .38 Special for me (their Heavy Slide model) back in 1984 when I was shooting the International Centerfire match, since a .45 was not legal.  Shooting the .38 is different than the .45.  It is less forgiving at 50 yards and those clean holes leave little to the imagination when you have a close one next to the higher scoring ring.  One of the other Bullseye shooters likened the .38 "to that girl friend you love a whole lot, but she doesn't always care the same about you".

I do find the lighter recoil more akin to the .22 and the 2 and half pound trigger pull can become addictive.  Of course, mine is still in the Heavy Slide configuration with the full length Bo-Mar tuner rib.  With 2.7 grains of BE, I have to use a 7 pound recoil spring to get it to function reliably.

One of the guys here has a 240 that he mounted a dot on.  I have shot it; the trigger is different than the 1911.  It would take some getting used to, with a lot of range time.

You did say 2700, so I'll say .45, hands down.

That P240 is a hell of a lot of fun to shoot, though.

Thank you for your replies.

As someone who shot a S&W model 52-1 for years in 2700 matches, my advice is to do what the vast majority of top shooters do...shoot the 1911 for centerfire.

I reason it this way - if you’re just shooting to have fun and the achievements or advancement are not critical to you then I say shoot what makes you happy. 

But if you are on a path to succeed and progress then I say this; you have to shoot the 45 in the 45 agg. And it can be a troublesome gun to learn for some people. It was aggravating for me in the beginning. And it’s widely used in CMP matches as well. So if you’re chasing that goal too, you’ve now put the 1911 on your dinner plate twice. Take advantage of the time you’d spend on that gun learning it if you were to us it for CF also. Couple that with (in my case) a 1911 22 conversion unit for a rimfire gun. Now four of your guns are 1911 based (rimfire, CF, 45, and Service Pistol). Use an iron sighted conversion unit for 22 CMP and the only thing that’s left is the revolver for DR. This sport and game is widely shot with a 1911 of some sort or caliber. It’s a gun that we can’t get away from. So I say shoot it in CF and learn it. You’ll need to be good with it in 45 agg anyway. 

Having said all that.... a 1911 in 38 special sounds very attractive....

Shooting a 38 1911 or 52 is a surefire way of forcing the learning of fundamentals.  If you don’t have a solid foundation of grip and stance with excellent trigger control and follow through your scores will be frustratingly lower.  They are a joy to shoot when you have those fundamentals but if you don’t, you’ll be cursing life in general.  

So I recommend that you shoot the 45 most.  Get to a solid 85 slow fire with the 22 before you pick up the 45.  Then shoot the 45 mostly rapid fire drills using a soft load 3.5 Bullseye and a 200 gr Lead bullet.  Alter the recoil spring as necessary for it to function. Learn to manage the recoil.

Wobbley wrote:Shooting a 38 1911 or 52 is a surefire way of forcing the learning of fundamentals.  If you don’t have a solid foundation of grip and stance with excellent trigger control and follow through your scores will be frustratingly lower.  They are a joy to shoot when you have those fundamentals but if you don’t, you’ll be cursing life in general.  

So I recommend that you shoot the 45 most.  Get to a solid 85 slow fire with the 22 before you pick up the 45.  Then shoot the 45 mostly rapid fire drills using a soft load 3.5 Bullseye and a 200 gr Lead bullet.  Alter the recoil spring as necessary for it to function. Learn to manage the recoil.

Hell, I shoot 3.5 grains of Bullseye on the long line! 

Greetings,

I would never drill and tap a P240 for any extraneous accessories.

Spend your money at the Eye Doctor and get a prescription to enable you to see the front sight.

By the way, I hear some shooters use the 32 WadCutter and 32 ACP with some success.

Cheers,

Dave

fc60 wrote:Greetings,

I would never drill and tap a P240 for any extraneous accessories.

Spend your money at the Eye Doctor and get a prescription to enable you to see the front sight.

By the way, I hear some shooters use the 32 WadCutter and 32 ACP with some success.

Cheers,

Dave

I’d drill,tap, silver solder and mil that p240 frame. That’s just me though

All great comments here.  If you want to learn a 3rd gun, perhaps a .38 revolver.  That would help you towards your Distinguished Revolver while shooting CF, if you have such ambitions.  Just a thought.

All great responses. It’s a heck of lot more fun to shoot and WIN than not. Not necessarily to beat other competitors, but to beat my previous scores. My goal is to make master (for now); with a LOT of practice and dry firing I’ll get there. I’ll stick with the .45 for both CF and .45 and probably get and shoot the 38 for fun.

Do what makes you happy and brings enjoyment.

I shoot a lot of revolver because I like em!  45acp revolver.

38 is awesome!

I'm thinking about buying  Ruger .32 revolver just for fun.  Maybe i'll get it rebarreled if it doesn't shoot.

I have no issues not running with the pack.

Gunny Zins shot roll trigger and AW93.  Didn't hear much about those before him did you?

If you have one already, wow. The 240 in 38 Special is a unicorn gun. Worth major money and has a legendary reputation. 

I would not turn one into a BE gun unless your are filthy rich and have two. 

Also in 38 special they have been know to have cracked frames. 

If it were me, I would try to find a decent M52 and send it to Jon, KC or Dave and have them tune it up and re barrel with one of those new Clark Fast twist barrels. 

RT

It depends on who you are. If you shoot limp wristed stay with the 45. With that being said the new fast twist barrels for the 52 are far more accurate, and have solved most of the feeding problems the 52 is notorious for due to the angles on the bottom feet being changed. Good luck!

Action Pistol Clark wrote:It depends on who you are. If you shoot limp wristed stay with the 45. With that being said the new fast twist barrels for the 52 are far more accurate, and have solved most of the feeding problems the 52 is notorious for due to the angles on the bottom feet being changed. Good luck!

Who fit your M52 barrel?

KB2MBC wrote:

Action Pistol Clark wrote:It depends on who you are. If you shoot limp wristed stay with the 45. With that being said the new fast twist barrels for the 52 are far more accurate, and have solved most of the feeding problems the 52 is notorious for due to the angles on the bottom feet being changed. Good luck!

Who fit your M52 barrel?

I fit my own. Company I work for is producing these barrels. Wolff is now making springs for this gun now and the new angles on this barrel make a 38 special MUCH more forgiving.

How do the Clark barrels group with hard cast bullets?