Northern Ireland Target Sports Association Practical Pistol Competition

Eight Stage Match

Eight Stage Match

The competition consisted of eight stages, with a minimum round count of 170. The match consisted of two long stages of 30 and 32 rounds, three medium stages of 24 rounds and three short stages of 12 rounds.

The stages used a blend of shoot and no shoot targets and partial shoot targets to increase the difficulty. The use of walls and barriers with apertures at different heights increased the difficulty of the stages. Each stage had both full size targets, which allowed you to speed up your shots and a combination of partial targets, with many obscured by no-shoot targets, which meant that you had to slow it down to ensure that you got the hits and avoided getting misses or hitting the no-shoots.



                                                  Jamie Dick used a Para Ordnance in .45 ACP calibre

                                                          to finish in third place in Standard Division

Stage 4 had a series of multiple shooting positions. Also the use of overlapping targets combined with no shoot targets, left many competitors struggling to get the required number of hits and also avoiding the no shoot penalty targets. Stage 5 involved carrying a water filled barrel, this meant that you had to shoot one handed or set the barrel down to use two hands and then pick it back up, which obviously added to your time.



                                                        The 9mm CZ75 Shadow is the most commonly

                                                             encountered pistol in Production Division

Competitor activated swingers and steel reactive targets were used in three of the stages. The stages were designed to offer varying degrees of difficulty and with the score sheets being processed throughout the competition, the results were published and available very quickly after all the competitors had completed their last stages.

Results

Results

Standard Division, Robert McKee took first place. Jeffrey McComb and Jamie Dick took second and third place.

 

                                                    Robert McKee took first place in Standard Division

                                                            with his .40 S&W calibre STI Edge pistol

Production Division David Thompson came in first place, with Philip Middleton and Stephen Potts in second and third place. Jim McEwan took the top spot in Open Division.

 

                                                     Competing in Production Division Philip Middleton

                                                             finished in second place in this Division

As well as attracting competitors from Northern Ireland, we also had a group of competitors from the Republic of Ireland who also participated in the match. Many thanks to all the competitors who attended the match and to all the range officers and NITSA members for their hard work and enthusiasm that was put into running the competition.

NITSA Range Complex

Northern Ireland Target Sports Association

The Northern Ireland Target Sports Association (NITSA) range complex is situated just south of Banbridge near Loughbrickland, County Down. A Registered Firearms Dealership also operates out of the facility and you can see more on their web site at www.TheReloadShop.com



                              The Reload Shop firearms dealers business also operates out of the clubs facility

 
NITSA hosts a series of competitions each month, which include Police and Service Pistol, Cowboy Action, 1500 PPC and bench rest. Of interest to those who shoot practical pistol NITSA hold a monthly club level Practical Pistol competition using just under 100 rounds of ammunition, to which all are welcome. The club plan to run three large practical pistol competitions ( like the event reported on above ) three times per year, between spring and autumn. You can find out more by looking at their web site www.nitsa.org.uk



                                              Fred Hanna uses the CZ Tactical Sport in .40 S&W calibre,

                                                       which is a popular pistol in Standard Division

For those who live in England, Scotland and Wales there is a special membership offer currently available which would enable you to use the club handguns free of charge. For more details on this membership offer please email

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

                            Photographs used in this article © Stephen Potts 2012 www.stephenpotts.co.uk