I started a couple years ago trying to compete in ELR rifle competitions with a handgun and actually was surprised at how well it went. In 2018 I competed in two ELR competitions and finished bottom of the pack in Texas at TWLSC and mid pack at the NRA/ELR National Match. After the 2018 NRA match I was told that I would not be able to compete there with a handgun again in 2019 due to the rules requiring all weapons to be shoulder fired. In 2019 I once again competed in Texas with my 28 Nosler handgun and finished mid pack. Since I was not allowed to use my handgun in the NRA/ELR National Match again I competed there with a factory Savage 338 Lapua rifle and finished 3rd in the light class and set a new ELR Central World Record at 2158. At the end of the season I had a conversation with one of the other competitors and he told me that I should stick to rifles because I would never be more than a dog and pony show in ELR competitions with a handgun. This year I was only able to make it to two ELR matches using my 33 Nosler handgun due to Covid-19 causing match cancellations. In the two matches that I was able to attend this year the TVP Invitational ELR Match and the ELRSO event at Black Bear Shooting Complex in Virginia I proved that these handguns are no dog and pony show. With a 5th place finish at the TVP Invitational and a 1st place finish in Virginia at the ELRSO Match I think a few eyes were opened. Hopefully 2021 will bring more success for these ELR Handguns and hopefully there will be a few more competitors using them. There are a lot of great shots out there with these handguns and I would love to see some of them venturing into the ELR field.
ELR Handguns
- Thread starter 7Fingers
- Start date
That is great, I agree i feel shooting it with a handgun is cool.
I saw you had done well at the ELRSO match. I plan to start shooting with them in the future. I went down the path with a factory Savage like your record was set with. Hope to start shooting it very soon in load development.
Thanks for your trailblazing it is inspiring.
I saw you had done well at the ELRSO match. I plan to start shooting with them in the future. I went down the path with a factory Savage like your record was set with. Hope to start shooting it very soon in load development.
Thanks for your trailblazing it is inspiring.
Interesting post. Congratulations on your successes and I hope there are many more.
Good luck. He is shooting a 33Nosler
He said his first was with his 28 Nosler.
Just to do something outside the norm.
I've been planning a range/match rifle in 7mm-08AI.
I keep getting told to use what everyone else is using.
Where's the challenge in that?
Thunder Valley Precision in Ohio could make it happen
When getting a plan together having guidelines that are similar to heavy gun at MOA would bring more people. Having to build a specific gun to fit narrow parameters limits people, if we can shoot what we already have that would be helpful. WY-SHOT doesnt really have any rig restrictions.
I'm willing to help figure stuff out
I'm willing to help figure stuff out
The only rule should be barrel length and weight based on class, you could run same classes as wy-shot. My personal opinion on barrel length is maximum of 16 inches only because of 16” being the minimum legal length of a rifle barrel unless you have a SBR stamp. I understand that there is no limit on handgun barrel length but if you are going run this as an ELR Handgun Match do it without the use of a barrel that is legal rifle length. When someone tells me that my handgun is just a rifle without a butt stock I tell them to put a butt stock on it and see what the Feds think of it. In my opinion if the barrel is longer than 16” then they’re right, it’s a rifle without a butt stock. That’s just my 2 cents. With that being said any ELR Handgun match that can be set up east of the Mississippi would be great for the sport, I hope that something can be worked out.
Last edited:
Limiting length to 16" would cut a lot of people out. Lots of guys, and ladies, have 17" or 18" rigs that they could compete with. In the spirit of getting more participation I wouldnt want to limit it to 16" thats just my thoughts. I want to see something happen this side of the Mississippi with as many people as possible
Last edited:
First off, congrats on some great shooting! That's an interesting way of looking at the barrel length debate. I'm actually in the planning stages of my next specialty pistol project and I was debating whether to go with a 16" barrel instead of my regular 18" for reasons very similar to those. Maybe have one class for 16" and under and a second class for anything over that.
I keep thinking about dragging my 338 SnipeTac pistol out to one of the ELR shoots, I just never have time to make it!
The first thing should be to decide if it is going to be a Specialty Pistol fun shoot set up the same as wy-shot where anything without a butt stock can play or an ELR Handgun Match with rules. It would be nice to see an ELR Handgun organization set up much the same as the old handgun silhouette shooting organization where there are a set of rules specific to competition. I think there would be a lot of interest in ELR Handgun Competitions but like any other sport or competition there has to be rules. I would love to see ELR Handgun Competition go mainstream and hopefully it will some day.
7mmmag
Gold $$ Contributor
I have a few 16'' and under but all of my long range pistols have 18 '' . I would be open to cutting them down if there was a couple matches to attend or more . It seems that WY has all of the matches for this sport ! I know there were shooters from Mississippi , Michigan , Ohio , Washington , IL show up there to shoot for 3 days at Wy shot and then MOA . That scheduling is good for guys that can go one to another so mabey schedule them apart from each other .
That being said I would do both so I wonder how many new shooters would attend on on the east side of Mississippi ?
That being said I would do both so I wonder how many new shooters would attend on on the east side of Mississippi ?
Upgrades & Donations
This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.