March/April 1983 - American Handgunner

Attracts 834 police officers...1182PPC NATIDIA IThe Winner: Patrolman Kerry Hile of the Columbus, Ohiopolice department, with a score of 1495-109X (all reloads).By Seth R. NadelEditor's note: Seth Nadel, a U.S.Customs Service agent stationed at SanYsidro, California, won a gold medal (forfirst place in the Federal Master Class; hisscore was 247X2S0, at 50 yards) and twobronze medals (one for 7th place in the7-yard and IS-yard stage, the o.ther for 4thplace in the aggregate, with a score of1478;both same class).Perfection is the ultimate goal in allsports. For thousands of U.S. Police officers,perfection means firing 150 shotsinto a six-inch-by-four-inch oval at distancesup to 50 yards with a .38 caliber revolver,for a possible score of 1500.Each year, the nation's top shooters inthe Practical Pistol Course (PPC) gather tosee who comes closest to perfection. Lastyear, the PPC nationals were held in DesMoines, Iowa, where 834 officers infederal, state, _county, municipal, and industrialcategories gathered to search forthat ultimate goal: the perfect score.The overall winner was PatrolmanKerry Hile of the Columbus, Ohio policedepartment, who posted a 1495; 109 of hisshots were in the three-inch-by-two-inchX-ring.Hile was closely followed-and out-XdbySam Yarosh of the U.S. Secret Servicewith a 194;3-115X, and Frank Glenn of theArizona Department ofPublic Safety witha 1492-111X. Washington D.C. Police OfficerElizabeth Callahan was high womanshooter with a 1479-83X.CENTER HOLDHile used a mix of old ideas and newones, employing the older center hold(rather than the neck hold), and the Bomarrib on his Harold Koontz-built gun, whichsports a Douglas barrel and Hogue grips.He used Dade speedloaders and a TexShoemaker holster, to round out his shootinggear.Hile is a firearms instructor with the ColumbusPolice department and shoots theentire ISO-round PPC course four or fivetimes a week, each time trying to duplicateactual match conditions. His ammo is allreloads, in mixed brass, with Winchesterpowder and primers. Most shooters at theDes Moines match fired factory ammo at50 yards, obviously lacking Hile's faith inhandloads.He uses the popular Weaver stance inthe standing position without support.This stance is becoming more evident inPPC matches, as more police today shoottwo types of matches: PPC and IPSC(International Practical ShootingConfederation).The PPC course (150 rounds) is fired at7, 15, 25'and 50 yards, from the standing,sitting, prone and kneeling positions; inaddition, 24 shots are fired (left- and righthand)from behind barracades.The commercial row at the match sawheavy action, as shooters bought holstersand new guns to help them in this year'sattainment of that perfect ~score: 1500-150X. ,AMERICAN HANDGUNNER· MARCH/APRIL 1983 55