Pistol Bullseye
Adapted from “An Introduction to Bullseye (Pistol) at the Outdoor Sportsman’s Club (OSC)” by Kirk Anderson.
What is Bullseye?
In 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt enacted Title 10 U.S. Code § 4312 (“National Rifle and Pistol Matches: Small-Arms Firing School”). The War Department funded these matches to promote improved civilian marksmanship and familiarity with the service rifle and service pistol firearms of the day. Each year, the Army also conducts the Small Arms Firing School at the National Matches. Today, Bullseye continues with the support of both the NRA and the CMP, along with local clubs such as OSC.
A Bullseye match—also known as a “2700”—consists of three 900-point matches (i.e., .22, Centerfire, and .45). Special matches such as Distinguished Service Pistol or Distinguished Revolver may also be offered at larger events. Matches typically follow the standard 900 format shown below. For practice, however, some clubs use an abbreviated 600 version. Two alternative 600-point formats exist; the format used for OSC Bullseye practice consists of two National Match Courses (NMCs).
900
Slow Fire Match
- Slow Fire #1
- Slow Fire #2
National Match Course
- NMC Slow Fire
- NMC Timed Fire
- NMC Rapid Fire
Timed Fire Match
- Timed Fire #1
- Timed Fire #2
Rapid Fire Match
- Rapid Fire #1
- Rapid Fire #2
600
Slow Fire Match
- Slow Fire #1
- Slow Fire #2
Timed Fire Match
- Timed Fire #1
- Timed Fire #2
Rapid Fire Match
- Rapid Fire #1
- Rapid Fire #2
600
National Match Course #1
- Slow Fire
- Timed Fire
- Rapid Fire
National Match Course #2
- Slow Fire
- Timed Fire
- Rapid Fire
Equipment
OSC restricts certain projection sights and ammunition types. For complete information about competing in sanctioned matches, refer to the NRA and CMP rulebooks. These provide detailed guidance on permitted and restricted equipment, allowable modifications, minimum trigger weights, and other requirements.
The NRA rulebook governs Precision Pistol (formerly known as Bullseye) and Distinguished Revolver matches. The CMP rulebook governs Service Pistol and Service Rifle matches, including Distinguished Service Pistol (Rifle), the President’s 100 (P100), the National Trophy Individual (NTI), and the National Trophy Team (NTT) matches. All CMP matches must be fired with firearms that meet the Service Pistol or Service Rifle definitions.
Sights
OSC does not permit laser sights or any sighting device that projects light downrange, as such projections can distract neighboring shooters. Traditional iron sights, scopes, red dots, and similar optics are permitted.
Ammunition
OSC does not permit hollow points or wadcutters in the indoor range (in order to reduce wear and tear on the self-healing rubber backstop). For the outdoor range, ammunition is not restricted.
Alibis
OSC Bullseye practice allows for mechanical problems without limitation. However, in a sanctioned match, it is important to understand the match structure: only one alibi per match is allowed for certain mechanical issues, such as a failure to feed or a failure to fire. (These are commonly called alibis and sometimes misfires.) No allowance is made for shooter errors such as forgetting to load or not seating the magazine properly. A double alibi within a single match will result in lost points, so it is prudent to keep your equipment in the best working order possible.
Slow Fire
Shooters will notice two key differences when attending officially sanctioned matches. For expediency, OSC Bullseye practice uses a five-minute slow-fire period rather than the standard “ten shots in ten minutes.” In addition, for simplicity, OSC shooters typically fire timed-fire and rapid-fire targets during slow-fire practice. OSC does have slow-fire targets available for shooters to use at their discretion; these targets present a greater challenge and will significantly affect your scoring basis.
Grip
OSC Bullseye practice encourages new shooters to use either one or two hands, as needed. OSC recognizes that trigger time is valuable and that, regardless of grip preference, Bullseye practice offers an excellent opportunity to strengthen fundamental skills. However, in a sanctioned match, Bullseye requires a one-handed grip on the firearm.
There are also important differences between NRA and CMP rules concerning firearm grips and stocks. The CMP (Service Pistol definition) is quite strict, while the NRA allows more flexibility, including the use of supportive orthopedic grips. In no case may a shooter gain support from anything beyond the wrist, and during a sanctioned match, no support may be taken from the shooting bench.
Shields
The OSC indoor range provides partitions that separate neighboring shooters and, to a limited extent, protect them from flying brass. The outdoor range does not offer this feature, nor do most other ranges—including Camp Perry. When competing at such venues, it is wise to bring your own protection from just-fired brass.
Hot brass burns—and it will leave a mark. It’s bad enough when it lands on your arm, but if it becomes trapped inside your shirt or blouse, it can be very distracting. If you’re fortunate, the shooter on your left may use a brass catcher; however, these are not common. Be prepared.
Classification
OSC Bullseye practice does not use the classification system. However, shooters who choose to compete in official Bullseye matches will encounter classifications. The classification system divides shooters into groups of similar skill levels so they can compete more equitably.
Shooters do not earn a classification until they have participated in a minimum number of sanctioned competitions, and those scores have been submitted to the sanctioning body—the NRA. Beyond Marksman, the higher classifications require the minimum average percentage shown in the rulebook.
Unclassified shooters may be grouped with higher-ranking competitors until they receive their classification card. Although this may seem unfair, the intent is to prevent “ringers.” The NRA maintains separate classifications for both indoor and outdoor competition. Indoor classifications generally reflect .22 caliber skills, while outdoor classifications represent an average of .22, Centerfire, and .45 performance across the board.
Range Design
Range design influences the equipment shooters use. Throughout Pennsylvania and abroad, outdoor Bullseye ranges are typically constructed with one firing line and two sets of targets: one at fifty yards for slow fire (SF) and one at twenty-five yards with turning targets for timed fire (TF) and rapid fire (RF).
At the National Matches hosted at Camp Perry, however, two firing lines share a single set of targets. As a result, it is necessary to quickly gather your gear and transport it from the SF firing line benches to the TF/RF firing line benches during the National Match Course (NMC). To address this, shooters have devised many solutions, the most common of which is the shooting box. You do not need one for practice at OSC, but it is helpful to understand why they exist.
Safety
A major contributor to safety is understanding when the firing line is hot and when it is not. The range becomes hot when the “load” command is given. Note that this refers to the last words of the command: “With five rounds, load.” Please respect the caller and refrain from snapping cylinders closed or seating magazines before the “load” command is spoken.
After completing the course of fire, shooters are instructed to place Empty Chamber Indicators (ECIs). These assist with visual verification that the firearm is unloaded and that the breech is open. Pistol shooters insert the ECI into the chamber and barrel; revolver shooters insert the ECI into an empty cylinder chamber.
Everyone is responsible for safety. Sometimes this means offering your neighbor a friendly reminder—before the line judge arrives.
Scoring
For OSC Bullseye practice, scoring is optional, and each shooter scores their own targets. At an official match, shooters typically score the neighboring target. Scorers may use overlays but are not permitted to “plug” targets with a magnifier. The shooter may, however, request that a line judge insert a plug for the scorer’s review. After the review, the line judge will mark the target “Plug In” or “Plug Out.” Targets that have been plugged may not be protested, as the insertion of a plug may alter the target. Plugs may only be inserted into single holes, not ragged holes resulting from multiple shots.
Special scoring rules apply to skidders—shots that enter the target at an angle such that the entry hole spans two or more scoring rings. All skidders must be shown to have entered from the front of the target; skidders entering from the rear are scored as misses.
Cross Fires
Any cross-fired target is eligible for a re-fire at the shooter’s discretion. The shooter may choose to either accept the lowest-scoring ten shots on the target or re-fire the target completely. The shooter who fired the cross-fired shot(s) is scored with misses.
At OSC’s indoor range, cross-fires are less common because all targets are set at 25 yards. At outdoor ranges, cross-fires can occur more easily during the 50-yard slow-fire match. They may result in “off-by-one” errors—or even “off-by-two” errors when target markers are alternately painted different colors, such as the black and white markers used at Camp Perry.
Refires
Any refire target is marked with the expected number of shots, as determined by the line judge who investigated the alibi. The scorer then scores the lowest-scoring ten shots on the target. If fewer than the expected number of shots are found, the missing shots are scored as misses.
For OSC practice, each shooter may optionally score their own target. (Note that refires are often conducted at the end of the match, unlike alibi strings.)
Protests
In an official match, a shooter may protest the scorer’s marking of a target for a nominal fee. In such cases, the line judges or match director will rescore the target, often using special tools (e.g., Eagle Eye). Protests do not apply to OSC Bullseye practice, though you may encounter them at major matches.
Shot Plan
The shot plan is designed to help the shooter achieve optimum performance. It generally consists of a series of steps, often synchronized to the range commands, that the shooter performs. Each plan is unique to the individual; an example plan is shown below.
Update
This introduction described the NRA and CMP working together, but sadly that is no longer the case. The year 2019 was the final year that the NRA and CMP jointly conducted the National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio.
In 2020, the CMP planned to continue the National Matches at Camp Perry, while the NRA decided to host its National Championship matches separately at Camp Atterbury, Illinois. Of course, 2020 was the year of the fear, and neither event occurred: the CMP cancelled its National Matches at Camp Perry, and the NRA cancelled its National Championship matches at Camp Atterbury.
It is impossible to predict what the future holds. CMP support of the National Matches is codified in U.S. law, so we can only hope for its continued involvement.
Milestone Targets
Glossary
Alibi – An excuse to repeat a string of fire due to some mechanical difficulty.
Failure to Feed – A jam of some kind, often called a stovepipe.
Failure to Fire – Verify that the cartridge was struck by the firing pin and left an indentation.
NPA – Natural point of aim. Close your eyes and stretch out your arm towards the target. Open your eyes and see whether or not your arm is facing the target. Align your arm with the target by adjusting your stance and moving your feet, while maintaining your arm in its most natural out-stretched position.
NTI — National Trophy Individual match sanctioned by the CMP and held at Camp Perry.
NTT – National Trophy Team match sanctioned by the CMP and held at Camp Perry. Four members shoot, including one “New Shooter” each year and three “Old Shooters”. Additional members are available for support.
P100 – President’s 100 match sanctioned by the CMP and hosted at Camp Perry. The top one hundred finishers receive a personal commendation from the President of the United States.
PRPA – Pennsylvania Rifle & Pistol Association. For Pennsylvania residents, this is the state-wide shooting organization which is responsible for establishing state teams in both the wad-gun (NRA) matches and the (service pistol) National Trophy Team (NTT) match.
About the Author
This introduction is far from complete, but the author hopes it will capture your interest in the sport and inspire you to compete according to your own goals. In 2020, the author returned to the sport after an eight-year absence, supporting other family sporting activities.
The author is an NRA-classified shooter (outdoor Sharpshooter, indoor Expert), who earned both the Distinguished Service Pistol badge (#1495) and the Distinguished Revolver badge (#110) in 2011, and has represented the state of Pennsylvania in the National Trophy Team match in 2010 at the National Matches in Camp Perry.
