ihmsa forums

Just trying to understand why you can shoot bolt guns in production SB, but not in BB,FP,1/2?

Short answer is that you can not. Bolt guns are not Production legal except for air pistol.

Steve W.

They use them in IMSSU but NOT IHMSA..



Cody Abel

They did in the past why not now?

IHMSA did not ever approve bolt guns in Production Class. The Europeans wanted them approved in the early '80's and it was nixed. Thus, the European countries left IHMSA and formed IMMSU where as mentioned earlier they are legal.

Steve W.

I thought IHMSA at one time allowed stock XP-100s in .221 Fireball to be shot in Production but that turned out not to be practical so they were never used much. I think one of our club members tried it several times but with the lousy sights and low knock down power he ended up using a TC. Correct me if I'm wrong Steve.

2012 rules book
section VI:Handguns

A Production
#1 A [pistol or revolver that is or was a manufacturer's catalog product and is or was readily available to the general public.

#18 Bolt action handguns are allowed for air pistol Production handguns ONLY

That's all I could fined and I was told this when I 1st. started shooting and gathering my toys that no production gun could be a bolt gun except in air pistol

260 Striker wrote:I thought IHMSA at one time allowed stock XP-100s in .221 Fireball to be shot in Production but that turned out not to be practical so they were never used much. I think one of our club members tried it several times but with the lousy sights and low knock down power he ended up using a TC. Correct me if I'm wrong Steve.

The XP100 in 221 Fireball was indeed allowed at one time. In fact, I used a Fireball to step into Production Int class. At that time, 36X40 would get you into Int. The factory sights were poor but the gun shot so flat I did not need to adjust for distance. I used a Hornady 60 grain spire point and 4198 powder. I think my best score was a 37 or maybe a 38. I can't remember for sure. You had to hit the rams high and you were at the mercy of the target setters. If they did not set the topple point right you were doomed. I remember the last entry I shot with that Fireball before moving on to a Contender 30 Herrett. I knocked down the first 5 rams with no problems. The targets were reset and I rang # 6, then rang #7, both with good hits. I shot the last three in the head and none fell. I now find no mention of the Fireball being allowed in the current rule book.

I don't have a rule book in front of me, but I believe it is covered at the end under what is allowed and not allowed.

Under a broad and gray interpretatation of the aftermarket barrel and sight rule. You could possibly rebarrel one with a twist rate for 77-80 grain bullets and use after market sights. You would be stuck with the plastic stock and a not so good trigger. Again this is a real broad and gray interpretation.

As Charlie mentions, in the formative years the rule said ''Was a catalog item as of 1978'' or words to that effect. In his book on Metallic Silhouette, Elgin mentions working about three months with one before deciding it didn't have predictable and repeatable success on Rams to be practical. But, we retained the rule. One year at Oak Ridge,Tn someone complained their 221 wouldn't reliably kill rams. If you used one your day was when they clamped Rams and counted hits; other than that you suffered and eventually migrated to something else. They remain a fun gun and if yours will handle 55gr bullets it makes a serviceable candidate in Any Sights half scale.
It is a shame that its obvious potential was not exploitable at the time it was introduced due to its short sight radius and crude issue sights as well as the dearth of optics as we have today. rp