SERVICE PISTOL
The Service Pistol match was the first of the matches to break away from the conventional one-handed, offhand shooting techniques used in the matches described previously.
The course of fire is shot at ranges from 50 yards down to 7 yards and consists of 90 scoring shots. Shooting is done on turning targets and throughout the course of fire shooters are required to shoot prone, sitting, standing from a barricade position with both right and left hand, left and right hand only, and from the “unsighted” position where the handgun must be held below shoulder level.
Time sequences are as short as 4 seconds and several series require reloading during the time allowed. As all series are in 6 round sequences, revolvers are equally well suited to the match as semi-auto’s. The Service Pistol match is split into Service Pistol, and Service Pistol Unrestricted categories.
The course of fire is identical with the main differences being that the Service Pistol course requires that the match be shot from the holster rather than from the 45 degree “ready” position, and that the ammunition used is of a minimum power determined by multiplying the bullet weight in grains and the velocity in feet per second. This “Power Factor” must be no less than 120,000.
Double action revolvers are very popular for this match, as they are highly reliable, and once the double action and speed loading techniques are mastered, give nothing away to the semi-auto’s. Service Pistol shooting combines precision, control, speed and timing and can also be shot with a stock standard handgun that meets Centrefire Pistol specifications.
SERVICE PISTOL 25 YARDS
Similar to the Service Pistol Unrestricted match, but is only shot at 25, 10 and 7 yards. Barrels are restricted to 102mm maximum for a revolver and 102mm maximum for a semi-auto. The match was started in Victoria in 1992 and is growing in popularity throughout Australia.