Canadian National ISSF Pistol Championships

[Dr. Jim]

The ISSF matches were shot in Calgary, August 17 - 24. Results should be up soon on the AHA website (www.aha.abshooters.org/). I served as Classification officer and have a few observations. I had 95 shooters to examine and approximately 350 handguns passed through inspection. As usual there was the 5 - 6 percent that could not pass the trigger check on the first attempt and had to be adjusted. In most cases I suspect this was due to the vibration of air travel making screws wander a bit. The most novel device at inspection was a shoe flexibility testbed, and no shoes failed. Even the newest Sauer shoes, which were the stiffest, only pulled 9.5 Newtons, so unless evidence of unreasonable stiffness or modification is present, there is little justification for the device (but it will appear in future Nationals!).
In AP, there were a few Hammerli AP40s, a few Morinis, one Pardini, but the dominant pistols were the Steyr products. On the 50 metre line, the majority of pistols were Morini, a few TOZ 35s, one Pardini PGP, one HPM, and one Hammerli 152, and a 208 were also present. In the Sport, Standard, and Centrefire matches, there was an almost equal division between Pardini and Walther, but there was one S&W 41, one HiStandard, one MG2, one Morini C22, and one S&W M52. Only one revolver (S&W M16) was checked through, but was not used.
Matches were shot on Megalink electronic systems, and the software provided the usual glitches, panic and calls to Norway - well, only one. Otherwise things ran smoothly, until an unforseen circumstance forced the move of the match from the outdoor range to the indoor range of the Calgary Rifle and Pistol Club, and consequently an increased number of relays.
In all the matches were a success, but this may have been the last time the event could be held in Alberta.

Cheers Dr Jim

[David M]

As usual there was the 5 - 6 percent that could not pass the trigger check on the first attempt and had to be adjusted

Have you also noted that often its the same shooters who's guns fail year after year, even when they have new guns!.....

[Dr. Jim]

Often yes - those who insist on getting their triggers to the absolute limit. On the other hand, the Pardini dealer arrived this year kidding me about failing all of his guns last year. This time all but one passed, so I had to quit joking about Pardini-failures.

Dr Jim

[Gerard]

Turned out that I couldn't make it to Calgary, much as I wanted to, as work demands are overwhelming this summer. But if I had, my Pardini K10's trigger might well have failed. Last week in practicing at home I had several accidental, premature shots so I put my 520gram weight on it, and sure enough, it failed. By quite a lot. Took about 4 full turns of the screw to get it back up to just barely going at that weight. Last time I'd checked and adjusted it was in June. Haven't bumped the pistol, nor even had it out of the house to go to the range this summer as I've been so busy, so 'vibration' from travel is not an excuse. All I can guess is that Pardini's trigger mechanism is somehow subject to random changes in release weight.

My Baikal 46m was similar, but in the other direction. When I checked in with that at the Spring Match in Richmond it seemed to be set at about 900grams, and I hadn't adjusted it since the Hibernation Match the previous November where it was about 530grams.

As with the Pardini I have no idea what might have caused a change, but each case tells me that I should be checking trigger weight more regularly. I'll make it a thing to do every time I open a new tin of pellets, that should be a good reminder.

[Rover]

In the past, I've chatted with both Dr. Jim & Gerard. Reasonable guys!

There have been several posts on this subject on TT in the past, at least one started by me.

Here it is quick and dirty: two tins of pellets, duct tape, bent coat hanger. No more damn excuses!

[Gerard]

I melted a bunch of used pellets into a pellet tin, drilled a hole through the middle, put a steel rod through that and drilled/tapped for a bolt on the bottom, bent the top into a hook. A bit more fuss, but not hard with a basic propane torch. I wanted something close, geometrically, to what's used at competitions, just so as not to be surprised by last minute adjustments.

[conradin]

Can the 208 be used for 50M competition?

[David Levene]

Can the 208 be used for 50M competition?

Yes, but you may only load one cartridge at a time.

[Tycho]

an the 208 be used for 50M competition?

You could move to Switzerland, we've got lots of 50m competitions for sport pistols :-D

[Dr. Jim]

Can the 208 be used for 50M competition?

Yes, but you may only load one cartridge at a time.

Always interesting to watch the variations, some insert the next round into the chamber and drop the slide, others go through a ritual of putting the pistol down after removing the magazine, inserting one round, pick up gun, insert mag and close the slide. 5 to 10 second difference in time budget.

Dr. Jim

[mld]

I also could not make it to Calgary this summer because of a previous commitment.

How many facilities are left in Canada that can hold the national championships?

I note Dr. Jim mentions the possibility of the last nationals held in Alberta?

[Dr. Jim]

With the closure, in all probability, of the Steve Johnson range to civilian use, we are out of options on Alberta, and the, site for next year is "up in the air". There are potential ranges, Granby has been used, the Prince Albert F&G range, Kasorso in Kelowna, etc., but until the PanAm games range at Camp Borden near Barrie, Ontario is up and running, there is a lack of electronic ranges. Since competitors are now getting used to these, many would consider it a step back to return to a turning system.

I am not in the loop on the decision making process, so am unable to comment further, but I do hope something arises. Just so long as we don't have to hold it indoors at CRPC-- that would be tooooooo much!

Dr. Jim