Bowling pin shooting is a shooting sport (primarily for handguns) in which the competitors race against one another to knock standard bowling pins from a table in the shortest elapsed time. Pin shooting is often described as one of the most enjoyable shooting games and one of the easiest means of introducing a new shooter into regular competitive shooting. Pinshooting appeals to both genders. There are many female pinshooters and many distinguished female pinshooters.
Depending on the caliber of handgun used and the table employed, the pins must be knocked backwards up to 3 feet (1 meter) to be knocked clear of the table and onto the ground. The pin shooting tables typically consist of one of the following varieties:
Pin shooting is conducted with both revolvers and semi-automatic pistols in calibers ranging from .22 Long Rifle to .480 Ruger, and others. Bowling pin competition is often recognized to be a big-bore event in which large caliber or high-power handguns such as the .357 Mangum, 10mm, .41 Magnum, .44 Magnum, .45 ACP, .45 Colt and other large-bore handguns have the greatest advantage in removing the pins from the table. Frequently, no allowance is made for shooters who shoot lower-power handguns, though some range officers may permit the distance to the back of the table be reduced to 2 ft for "minor" calibers like 9mm Luger and 38 Special so that these "minor" calibers can approximate head-to-head equivalency with "major" calibers. While handloaded ammunition is regularly employed among pinshooters, it is considered a serious breach of etiquette and sportsmanship for a shooter of a "minor" caliber to handload "minor" ammunition to levels approaching "major" calibers, thus taking unfair advantage of a rule intended to allow novice shooters to participate. Shooters who shoot "hot" "minor" ammunition should declare such to the range officer and shoot targets from the regular pin placement.
Some ranges conduct centerfire handgun competition based on class. When classes are employed, three classes often are recognized: revolver, stock, and pin gun. Magazine capacity may limited to 8 rounds in most competitions in which magazine-fed guns compete only against magazine-fed guns. In events where revolvers compete with magazine-fed guns, magazines are restricted to seven shots, out of respect for the customary six-shot revolver cylinder. The "pin gun class" is for highly advanced, often very expensive "race guns" in which almost all manner of enhancement is allowed, including optical sights (generally red dot sights) and compensators.
The pins are placed far enough away from each other that they are unlikely to interact when hit, so a separate shot is needed to down each pin. The broad spacing and different levels make it challenging to move from target to target. Indirect hits will result in pins lying on their sides on the table in a situation known as "deadwood," where multiple shots may be required to clear the pin from the table. "Deadwood" is further complicated in that one deadwood pin may be lying next to another deadwood pin, interfering with a clear path to knocking either deadwood pin from the table.
Generally, .22 Long Rifle competitions shoot the tops of the pins, known as "pin-tops," which are lighter and more easily knocked down by the light, comparatively low energy bullets. Occasionally, a .22 match may be shot by placing pins at the very back of the table so that the comparatively light .22 hit will still knock the pin off the table. Some matches are also shot with a semiautomatic or pump shotgun, firing buckshot. As shotgun rounds quickly disintegrate the pins, such matches are customarily reserved for the end of a match, when a supply of pins unfit for handgun matches may be put to final utility.
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Bracket-style
"Bracket-style" is shot in pairs of shooters. Each shooter will have his or her own table of pins, and the winner of the round is the shooter whose entire obligation of pins hits the ground first. Pins that are merely in flight do not count until they hit the ground.
"Bracket-style" is similar to the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship, in which shooters are paired against one another, with the round winner advancing to the next level, until an overall match winner is determined. Matches conducted along such lines are tremendously exciting, as a top shooter may fumble, pause or have a momentary equipment failure, allowing a lesser shooter to claim the round. "Bracket-style" competitions often contain a concurrent "losers' bracket," where the losers in the "winners' bracket" compete for a lesser bracket win. "Bracket style" has sometimes been referred to as a "gun drag race."
Timed
Some ranges conduct matches in a timed format, where a shooter clears three tables in an observed time, and the averages of the three tables are computed in a simple mean. The shooter with the overall fastest average wins the match.
King of the Hill
Two shooters conduct a round. The winner shoots against a new shooter, though a sixth pin is added to the winner's table, while the challenger shoots the regular five pins. If the winner takes the subsequent round, a seventh pin is added to the winner's table, until such time as a challenger will be able to clear five pins than the King's ever-growing allotment. When the King of the Hill is beaten, the challenger becomes the new King, and a sixth pin is added, and the round continues until the participants arrive at a stopping point. Magazine restrictions are typically removed for King of the Hill matches.
Safety is the first concern in a pin event, and the authority of the range officer is inviolate. Shooters are absolutely required to obey the range officer at all times.
The shooters are called to their stations, referred to as “the line.” Guns are to be cased or holstered until otherwise permitted by the range officer. There is no limit to the amount of ammunition, magazines or speedloaders that a shooter may bring to the line.
In conducting a round, the range officer gives the following commands:
“Shooters may take an unloaded sight picture.” At this point, guns may be removed from cases and holsters, and shooters are allowed to aim their unloaded guns at the target to ready themselves for fire.
“Shooters may load and make ready.” At this point, shooters load their guns and array their magazines or speedloaders for fast reloading. Shooters are not allowed to point their loaded guns at the target while awaiting permission to fire. Muzzles must be kept at a 45 degree downward angle, or the muzzle may be rested on the shooting station. The shooter’s finger must not be on the trigger.
“Ready on the right?” Right shooter nods approval or states that he or she is not ready to commence fire.
“Ready on the left?” Left shooter nods approval or states that he or she is not ready to commence fire.
“Standby” – Shooters prepare to fire, keeping their muzzles on their stations, fingers off the trigger.
Blow of the whistle or horn – Shooters engage the pins until they have cleared their pins or the whistle or horn is blown a second time.
Second blow of the whistle or horn – Shooters immediately stop firing. The match is over, and the range officer has determined a winner.
“Unload and show clear” Shooters unload their guns, keeping the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, remaining at their stations so that the range officer can verify that the guns are unloaded and in a safe condition.
“Bag or holster.” Shooters return their guns to their cases or holsters and depart the line.
“The line is clear. Go forward and reset targets.” After a round, shooters who were not on the line and are not called to the line for the next round are informally expected to set the pins for the next round of shooters. Persons setting pins should examine the condition of the pin to determine if it remains satisfactory for further use.
If a shooter has a jam, a misfire or other condition that prevents him or her from shooting, the shooter must raise his hand to alert the range officer. The round will be allowed to proceed until the shooter who did not face equipment difficulties clears his or her table, at which point the range officer will whistle the event over.
The range officer will then approach the impaired shooter and endeavour to clear the jam or unsafe condition. The range officer may or may not release the unimpaired shooter during this inspection. While a shooter’s impairment is being examined and corrected, the line is considered “hot,” and no person may go forward of the line.
When the jam or unsafe condition is remedied to the range officer’s satisfaction, the range officer will resume the order of commands noted above.
Bowling pins are often discarded by bowling alleys after a certain amount of use, at which time pin shooters collect them for use in pin shooting. Modern plastic coated bowling pins are very resilient, and can absorb many rounds before becoming too splintered or unbalanced to function as targets. Generally pins start out as targets for the centerfire handguns, then when they start to disintegrate they are saved for use as shotgun targets.
At the start of the event, or when a fresh pin is introduced, a smaller-caliber handgun may be able to remove a pin with comparable authority as a large-bore handgun. As rounds are shot, however, the pins will add weight, as the pins become filled with lead bullets. When the pins add weight, smaller-caliber handguns suffer a great disadvantage, as the smaller round loses ability to move the pin, while the large-bore guns are easily able to clear a bullet-laden pin from the table with speed and authority.
Pins that will no longer stand on their bases have their heads sawed off down to become rimfire targets for the .22 match, where the "pin tops" are engaged by the shooter. Given the very light weight of the "pin top," the .22 is quite capable of removing the target from the table with a single well-placed shot.
Pinshooting is fun, competitive, practical shooting that sharpens one’s handgun skills under time pressure. While winning is the ultimate goal and obviously rewarding, all pinshooters can expect an event that will improve their skills in the company of fellow shooters who are supportive.
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