Have you got what it takes? Introducing the “Uncle Jock” Air Pistol Challenge!
If you want to blame someone for what follows, let’s start with Roger Clouser. He writes from time to time for Precision Shooting magazine. A few years ago, he wrote an article about 1,000-yard pistol shooting. No, that’s not a typo – one thousand yards with a pistol. He was shooting at a big mesquite stump or something, but he was hitting it, at least some of the time with (if I remember correctly) a Freedom Arms .44.
When I first read the article, I thought “That’s just plain crazy,” but it got me to thinking . . . just how far could you really shoot with an air pistol and actually hit something? It’s an interesting question that I turned over in my mind for a while and then told the guys in the back room of my brain to work on quietly until they had something to show me.
About three weeks ago, I was taking a shower when one of the back room guys knocked on the door of my consciousness with an idea that walks the line between backyard plinking and high accuracy shooting.
I call it the Uncle Jock Air Pistol Challenge – or UJ for short – and it should prove to be both challenging and fun.
Here’s what you need:
· An air pistol
· Some pellets
· A 12-oz beverage can
· 50 yards of space
The rest is dead easy: set up the beverage can (or download the paper target below) at 50 yards, try to hit it with your air pistol, and report your results here with full details.
Frankly, I don’t know how this will develop – because I haven’t tried it yet – but here are some that I think are likely to happen. The guys who have one of those cool, scoped, precharged pistols like the FX Ranchero are going to find this pretty easy: figure out the trajectory, rest the pistol, put the crosshairs on the target, and punch holes in the can. The folks who are shooting air pistols used often in IHMSA silhouette – like the IZH 46M or the Crosman 2300S – are going to have a more challenging time.
I suspect that the shooters who will really go nuts are the ones that take on the UJ with low-powered but accurate air pistols like the Daisy 747 or the Gamo Compact. They’re going to need optimal conditions to make the shot, I think. Finally, it’s my belief that the shooters with spring-piston air pistols such as the RWS P5 or the Beeman P1 or P11 will have the toughest time of all. But still, there are a few shooters out there who are geniuses at managing the recoil from these pistols, and they might do very well.
Oh yeah, one other thing: you’re not restricted to your shooting position. You can shoot from a rest, from Creedmoor position, standing, sitting . . . whatever floats your boat. Just be sure to make a note of what position you shot from.
The bottom line is that nobody knows how the UJ will turn out. It might be incredibly fun. It could be incredibly challenging. With a little bit of luck, it will be both.
Oh, yeah -- if you'd prefer to shoot at paper, you can download the official UJ Challenge target right here: http://www.airgunsofarizona.com/blog/photos/SodaChallenge.pdf
Give it a try, and report back here . . . I look forward to your results.
Til next time, aim true and shoot straight.
When I first read the article, I thought “That’s just plain crazy,” but it got me to thinking . . . just how far could you really shoot with an air pistol and actually hit something? It’s an interesting question that I turned over in my mind for a while and then told the guys in the back room of my brain to work on quietly until they had something to show me.
About three weeks ago, I was taking a shower when one of the back room guys knocked on the door of my consciousness with an idea that walks the line between backyard plinking and high accuracy shooting.
I call it the Uncle Jock Air Pistol Challenge – or UJ for short – and it should prove to be both challenging and fun.
Here’s what you need:
· An air pistol
· Some pellets
· A 12-oz beverage can
· 50 yards of space
The rest is dead easy: set up the beverage can (or download the paper target below) at 50 yards, try to hit it with your air pistol, and report your results here with full details.
Frankly, I don’t know how this will develop – because I haven’t tried it yet – but here are some that I think are likely to happen. The guys who have one of those cool, scoped, precharged pistols like the FX Ranchero are going to find this pretty easy: figure out the trajectory, rest the pistol, put the crosshairs on the target, and punch holes in the can. The folks who are shooting air pistols used often in IHMSA silhouette – like the IZH 46M or the Crosman 2300S – are going to have a more challenging time.
I suspect that the shooters who will really go nuts are the ones that take on the UJ with low-powered but accurate air pistols like the Daisy 747 or the Gamo Compact. They’re going to need optimal conditions to make the shot, I think. Finally, it’s my belief that the shooters with spring-piston air pistols such as the RWS P5 or the Beeman P1 or P11 will have the toughest time of all. But still, there are a few shooters out there who are geniuses at managing the recoil from these pistols, and they might do very well.
Oh yeah, one other thing: you’re not restricted to your shooting position. You can shoot from a rest, from Creedmoor position, standing, sitting . . . whatever floats your boat. Just be sure to make a note of what position you shot from.
The bottom line is that nobody knows how the UJ will turn out. It might be incredibly fun. It could be incredibly challenging. With a little bit of luck, it will be both.
Oh, yeah -- if you'd prefer to shoot at paper, you can download the official UJ Challenge target right here: http://www.airgunsofarizona.com/blog/photos/SodaChallenge.pdf
Give it a try, and report back here . . . I look forward to your results.
Til next time, aim true and shoot straight.
posted by Jock Elliott at
1:10 AM
18 Comments:
The can width is about the same as the 10-ring for Conventional Pistol (Bullseye). Very good shooters can put all shots at 50 yards into this ring with .22LR. Myself, I do about 90/100 typically on the Bullseye target. Thus, while air pistols would be shooting at considerably less than the 1070fps/40gr that I typically shoot, I suspect I could score about the same without any wind which would mean hitting the can about 4 times out of 10 shots.
Next time I go to practice, I will print out a copy and try it. Since I shoot red-dot sights at the center of the bull, this would not require any modification to the sights.
Joe,
Thanks for the info. I always enjoy your comments.
Be sure to let me know how you make out with the UJ Challenge.
I tried this last evening with my P-1. I have much respect for this pistol and have been enjoying its accuracy since Christmas of 2003. I did however, find the challenge to be just that: quite a challenge. I measured out 150 feet with my tape and set up my bulky homemade pellet trap with the 8.5 x 11 printed out version of the target AND a beverage can (that I just emptied) on a stick right beside the paper target. I sat on the chair on my patio and went to work, both emptying more targets and squeezing off .177 crosman premiers and jsb exacts. It took several shots before I could figure out how high I needed to hold. After about 30 shots, I hit the can and knocked it off the stick. So I walked up there and saw that I hit the paper can 3 times. I want to try this again this evening, but this time I won't be emptying more "targets". My P-1 is not scoped and has not been modded. Cheers and thanks for proposing a very fun and challenging challenge.
Jeremy from Bahama, NC
p.s. If there is a way to post pics, I have a few that I took last night.
Jeremy,
Fantastic! I would not have predicted that the first person to take the UJ Challenge would be a P1 shooter.
I hereby induct you, with great solemnity, into the League of Extraordinary Pistoleers and the Knights of the UJC. Sorry, there is no certificate or anything, no crown, no coat of arms, but nevertheless, ya done good!
As to the pictures, if click on my name at the top of the blog wherre it says "contributors," you can navigate to where you can send me an email. Attach your pictures, with clear identification of what's what, and I'll try to use them at some point in a blog that follows-up on the UJC.
As to the beverage cans, depending upon what the contents are, it could affect your aim . . .
Hi,
I took the challenge today with my Crossman 2540 (12" barrel, boss valve, tuned trigger, and red dot scope). Just having fun (shooting till my C02 cart ran out, ~15 shots), I put 4 Webley domed pellets within 4-5 inches of the paper target. Most of my shots did end up directly below the can, so I'm on track horizontally; I just needed to overcompensate in height some more. Great challenge!! Now I'll go out with my scoped 2400... :-)
Kevin,
I'm glad you're having fun.
That's the whole idea, isn't it -- have fun with airguns.
I look forward to your future results.
Jock, I would like to thank you for introducing me to another aspect to airgunning that I had not considered. I traced the outline of a can onto a piece of paper and set it up at 50 yards on my range. It took one shot to get on target with my modded 2240 and I then shot a 5 shot group all of which were within the outline of the can. I was surprised that I was capable of doing this with a pistol and loved the challenge! So much so that I now have a couple of cans that bare the scars of .22 cal. Superdomes. I will gladly send pictures of the carnage if you like.
Thanks again!
Russ S.
broke out my Jim Ayers modded 2240 today for some 50 yard shooting. Never shot the gun past 30 yards and have shot it very little since converting it to a .22 from a .177. It took a little while to get warmed up but I got respectable results especially with the bugbuster. The target was ok but I had to break out a can for the sound effects. Two mildot holdover for Kodiaks. We need to do a 75 or 100 yard challenge for the rifles next.
Russ,
Please send the pix.
If you click on my name at "Contributors" at the top of the blog, you can navigate to where you can send me an email. Just attach the pictures, and be sure to remind me who they are from!
Lee,
Glad you enjoyed it! Don't worry, eventually there will be a rifle challenge too.
So it looks like you and Russ join the League of Extraordinary Pistoleers and the Knights of the UJC.
Well done!
Jock, I sent you an email with some can pictures. As I mentioned in the email, the wife didn't see the importance of these items when I left them on the table so she put them in the trash. The target fared the worse LOL. Will shoot more and send in pictures.
Thanks again,
Russ S.
I've been itching to try the challenge now that I have a pistol capable of acurately hitting a target at 50 yards. I recently finished modifying a Crosman 1377 to .22 caliber, adding a 14" barrel, power mod, Crooked Barn breech and bolt, 2 stage sear, Purple heartwood grips and foregrip, and a Leapers 6-9X30 Bug Buster 2 scope. I finished zeroing the scope today and decided to get started on the 50 yard challenge.
I took 5 shots at the soda can, 3 shots grouped 2 inches low and to the right, one was 3 inches low. The last shot I compensated for the drop and hit the can!
I'll be trying again at the end of the week. I normally get home too late to start any target practice.
Ian,
Sounds like an excellent pistol, and I look forward to hearing about your progress with the UJ Challenge.
Ian,
I just re-read your post -- you hit the can.
Therefore, you are inducted into the League of Extraordinary Pistoleers and Knights of the UJC.
Well done!
Hi,
Just tried the 50 y pistol challenge and it is tough.
Used my IZH46M fitted with a Sportsman 3-9. Benchrested, very light to non-existent wind
Not too bad for a first attempt. 18/22 shots inside the can (the holes are highlighed with ink to improve contrast). Pix in
Sorry.
I forgot to attach the link to the target picture
http://www.network54.com/Forum/79537/message/1215739506/Uncle+Jock%27s+Challenge
Don
Don,
That's fantastic! Excellent work.
You are officially admitted to the ranks of the League of Extraordinary Pistoleers and the Knights of the UJC.
Thanks Jock.
That is high praise.
One reason for taking the challenge was to scope dope for an upcoming FT match. It is an offhand competition at DCFS and it is a blast to use the IZH.
Don
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