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Bowling Pin shoot

gravediggergravedigger Member Posts: 945 ✭✭✭✭
edited February 2002 in Ask the Experts
I am going to a Bowling Pin match at my local range, soon. Has anyone competed in one of these before? Are there any tips that would help me out? Also, the guy at the range said that you shouldn't use anything smaller than a .40, b/c although a 9mm knocks them down, they have to be all the way off of the table. It's only 10 yds. Would a 9mm round lose that much energy in 10 yds? Any help would be much appreciated.-Marcus
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Comments

  • Shootist3006Shootist3006 Member Posts: 4,171
    edited November -1
    200 gr SWC loaded at about 900 fps, will blow them off the table. Problem with 9's is they penetrate the pin rather than push it, pins fall down, not blown off the table.
    Quod principi placuit legis habet vigorem.Semper Fidelis
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  • rg666rg666 Member Posts: 395 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have competed in several of these. They usually have a revolver & semi-auto class with top times recognized for each. I have seen 9mm used with some success but only using very heavy hollow points. I use a 40 cal and it has no problem blowing them off the table. Don't rush yourself. Most of the time the guys that push too hard miss and get bad times. Good times are under 6 seconds. Just go, shoot & observe others and you will have a blast. Good luck!! RG
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  • RembrandtRembrandt Member Posts: 4,486 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    In .22 matches the pins are put on the back edge of a 4X8 table....easy to knock off. Center fire matches the pins are put on the front edge of the table...so you'll need to push them 4' to get them off the edge of the table. Have never used a 9mm...but a .44 will certainly do the job. You'll have a lot of fun with this game!
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  • cliffdropover1cliffdropover1 Member Posts: 136 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Most matches place the pins toward the front of the table and a 9mm just doesn't have the power to get them off, especially if it is a wooden top table vs. a metal top table. Some place pins for the 9mm a bit further back on the table to make up for the 9's lack of power. Usually on a wooden top table you would have to hit each pin 2 times to get them off and that would cost too much time. The .45 is king here. The most common load is .225 or .230 grain flat nose lead bullet with 5.8 grains of Winchester 231 powder. Check tables in a reloading manual. You want push not penetration. Hollow points are OK too. Jacketed is not good.
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