Supported Air Pistol Shooting

[zooma]

I have been watching with interest the German progress with their new Supported Air Pistol class of match target shooting for Senior's over the age of 56 years since 2011 when it really got going.

For those that have not seen it or heard of it before the pistol is supported by balancing the base of the grip on a cross tube of about one inch diameter ( imagine the "T" handle on the top of a garden spade). Grips can be adopted or bought from grip makers such as RINK to give a flat base to the underside of the grip. This allows the pistol to roll freely over the tube and so it still needs to be controlled by the shooter.

This completely holds the weight of the pistol but does very little else to support it so it retains many of the skills of pistol shooting but takes the weight away from those old and tired backs, necks, arms, and shoulders.

When many of us "old-uns" struggle with of age related aches and pains as well as paying (with interest) the price for previous injuries such as damaged necks from Rugby tackles etc that seemed to heal OK all those years ago (but come back with some ferocity in old age to haunt us) we find air pistol shooting a lot more difficult than it used to be - and yet we still love the sport.

This Supported Air Pistol Shooting solution has a lot of appeal for myself and I hope for others who like me who struggle with age related aches and pains that remove our ability to compete with those more fortunate than ourselves who are younger and remain fit and strong enough to hold a target pistol steady with (comparative) ease.

I would like to try and start the ball rolling in the UK so by the time the next MPL postal league starts in July this year we could have a trial class for those (aged over 56 years) that would like to have a go at shooting Senior Supported Air Pistol.

I would be happy to produce a set of rules to invite comment and helpful contributions so that we may develop them into a workable and practical set of provisional rules to cover the equipment permitted and the way it could be used here in the UK at home and in the club ranges.

Maybe in due course we can start to catch the Senior German shooters who appear to be having all of the fun with Supported Air Pistol Shooting at the moment - or maybe us "older folk" should just do our own thing and enjoy it here in the UK before "Father Time" takes it away from us completely and forever

[thirdwheel]

Even ex Russian, and German Olympians are taking it very seriously and are back competing again against each other. The sad thing is that I'm even old enough to qualify, even though I think I feel 26!!!

Best cheers
George

[zooma]

Even ex Russian, and German Olympians are taking it very seriously and are back competing again against each other. The sad thing is that I'm even old enough to qualify, even though I think I feel 26!!!

Best cheers
George

Lets give it a try George - RINK even make a fitment for your K12 - it must a "sign"......

[Peter Pig]

As a 73 year old a/p shooter I would be very interested in this, any idea what the support looks like.
Peter

[thirdwheel]

Zooma I get enough "signs" in my life and have learned to shut my eyes!!

As to supported air pistol in Germany it is very popular and is simple. The "rest" is a "T" shape like the top of an old shovel and the rest is round possibly 25 - 30mm in dia. This T is adjustable for height and the T faces across the shooting lane, the athlete's stance is 90 degrees to the lane. In Germany the pistols are brought up to maximum weight and the triggers are lighter. The heel of the grip rests on the round T and you use the pistol in the normal way, the more stable the rest is the better and I've seen them for sale on German websites. As Zooma says there is at least one grip maker making special grips for the discipline, this amounts to a different palm shelf. There is quite a nice four page explanation of supported pistol shooting in the MEC pistol Olympic Sports shooting book, showing the different rests for table top and floor standing.

[RobinC]

Supported Rifle in Germany is one now one of the biggest growing branches of our sport with all the manufacturers making rifles specifically for it, supported pistol is much newer but I am sure that it will grow as big and we shall soon see manufacturers selling supported versions of their match pistols.
Last year at Ulm I had the pleasure of discussing shooting with the CEO of Walther who is a keen sport shooter, he said that the "senior" market is the biggest growing branch of the market for them.
I have seen it shot in Germany at MEC and they encompass and encourage it as one the new branches of our sport and I'm sure you will see supported pistol accesories in their catalogue very shortly.
I think its a great idea to start it here in the UK, stick to the German rules and we have the basis for a new international class, I commend the idea and even suggest that it be proposed to the NSRA.
Best of Luck Bob,
Good shooting
Robin

[Aimstraight]

As a 73 year old a/p shooter I would be very interested in this, any idea what the support looks like.
Peter

The link below gives an idea of the adapted grip, and the T bar rest. I'm guessing the height of the T bar would need to be suited to each person (either adjustable in height or dedicated).

http://www.formgriffe.de/en/shpPfCnt.php?sCI=123

[Peter Pig]

The link below gives an idea of the adapted grip, and the T bar rest. I'm guessing the height of the T bar would need to be suited to each person (either adjustable in height or dedicated).

http://www.formgriffe.de/en/shpPfCnt.php?sCI=123

Thanks for this, I could get the grip conversion done for my Walther CPM 1 for about 60 euros, and I am sure I could fabricate a T bar to fit the club blind shooting rifle stands.
Interesting thread this, many thanks.
Peter