RIMFIRE and STEEL CHALLENGE

[TAB]

The thing about rugers is you throw away everything but the serialized part.

I would take a sw model 41 all day long.   My colt woodsman out shoots me despite being 70+ years old.

[alfsauve]

Woodsman are no longer made, but with 690,000 made I’m sure there are plenty available on the used market.  The 41?  At $1,500 sure it’s good but stack that up against the custom models, some a few hundred less I’m not thinking it’s a good ROI.  Then consider using it for Steel, not Bullseye, the Ruger makes so much more sense.

[Big Frank]

From what I've read about them, the S&W 41 was good for what it was made for, but expensive.

My dad had a Colt Woodman that flew out of his home-made shoulder holster when he was running through the woods and was lost forever. He got a Ruger Mk II Target Model which I have now. It had a MK II mag and a MK I mag that I've since replaced. The weight of 6 7/8" tapered barrel and 5 1/2" bull barrel are exactly the same. But the 22/45 Zytel grip frame is lighter than the steel MK II, so my 5 1/2" gun is lighter than my 6 7/8".

[Rastus]

Well when I ride into Tulsa tomorrow I may just have to swing by a gun store or two and pick up various models. 

[Big Frank]

If I was going to buy another .22 pistol right now I'd get a Mark IV 22/45 Tactical with a threaded barrel, either a 4.4" barrel or a Silencer Shop exclusive 3" barrel. I don't have anything suppressed and either of those would be a great first suppressor host IMO. I'd probably get the 4.4" with sights on it, then decide what kind of red dot and light to mount. Something small and lightweight for both.

I was so used to steel frame pistols like my Colt Gov't Model, that my 22/45 felt top-heavy at first. It didn't take long to get used to it, and it should feel good to anyone who shoots a polymer frame pistol. The old non-removable grips were too slippery for me so I put a Hogue HandALL Universal Full Size Grip Sleeve on it. Problem solved. Checkering would be a more elegant solution but cost a lot more to get done than slipping on the Hague HandALL. I'll still consider getting it done when I have more money.

That's got to be cheaper than milling out the grip frame to accept 1911 grips, but now that I think of it, my laser-engraved grim reaper grips would really look cool on it. They were a limited run and the computer programming for the laser was immediately destroyed at the end of the run so they wouldn't be duplicated. Does anyone know where I can get my old 22/45 modified to take 1911 grips? I know someone was doing that before the MK III and MK IV came out.

[Sponsor]

[alfsauve]

The thing about rugers is you throw away everything but the serialized part.

When I went into the LGS a couple of months back and saw the entry level 10/22 for $219, I jumped on it. The clerk kept trying to extol the features of the gun.  I finally had to say, "Look. All I want is the receiver and the bolt.  Everything, everything else is getting replaced."   He finally shut up and finished the paper work.  I will say on the top end 22/45s no a lot needs to be done. 

[alfsauve]

Getting ready for the World Speed Shoot next week. Probably 800 rounds practice this week and 400 next.

Did a sort of the upcoming 2025 World Steel Challenge match breakdown.   What's Trending you might ask? Here's a list of the match breakdown (minor changes between now and the end of the match of course). Looks like there aren't enough people to award prizes in the Single Stack category. Interesting how Single Stack has so few entries.  Gun wise, single action it should be up there, but I guess iron sights aren't popular

I find it interesting that PCCI & RFPI are so low but then they are Iron sights, though RFRI is #4. But as expected all the Optic/Open (read that red-dot) divisions are on top. Would surprise me if someone suggest making the bottom 4 division optional for some matches.  (I'm going to shoot Limited Optic next month so I can keep my status as Classified in all 14 divisions.)

Division   Entries   Percent
RFRO   152   22%
PCCI    119   17%
RFPO   109   16%
RFRI      59   9%
CO        58   8%
LO        42   6%
OPN      39   6%
RFPI      29   4%
PCCI     24   3%
OSR     17   2%
LTD      14   2%
PRO     13   2%
ISR      11   2%
SS       7   1%
         693   

[Flamver]

Finished my Optic, red dot, a Ruger MKIV 22/45 Lite.  Just added Holosun Comp sight, a Le Vang comp (red to color things up like Michael suggests) and a TandemKross recharging ring.  Oh,  and cut the notch in the back of the grip to accommodate MkIII magazines.

Looks great! That pistol really seems like a perfect platform for customizing it exactly the way you want. I’ll definitely need to take a closer look at one of these.
Noticed any downsides so far?

[alfsauve]

Downsides?

Some people don’t like the grip angle.  Some runs at the factory they’ve used two different screw types on the sights.  My two came, NIB, with slotted screw for elevation and Allen head for windage.  Just a nit. I don’t think they do that any more.  The biggest thing is the hold open mechanism is a press fit and it didn’t fit well  on one of mine.  I threw it away as I don’t really need it for competition.  I did put a TandemKross Halo Ring on the back of the bolt to make it easier to cock/charge.

Of course all manner of upgrades if you feel inclined.  Bolts, triggers, extractors, firing pins…

[alfsauve]

Right after I posted this I wondered how do I insert a chamber flag w/o a hold open and only two hands?
It’s been a while since I’ve used it.  Then I verified chamber flags are not required on handguns in SCSA. Senior moment.