TargetTalk

I remember an old article I saw on this site. It was about I believe an American free pistol shooter that either set a world record or American record. Afterwards they tested his gun with the ammo he used along with other ammo and found that the ammo he used was the worst grouping ammo they tested. I did a search but couldn't find it. Not knowing anything about it other than it was freepistol doesn't help. I think it was posted by Rover but since he posts 7 times a day that doesn't help narrow it down either.

Does anybody remember this?

Scott

I vaguely remember it, but I didn't post it. I don't recall it being an American shooter.

There was only one "hot" American FP shooter, Arnie Vitarbo.

It was Bill Demarest, who set the world record (match+finals) in Milan in 2000.

Rover, as usual, proves the Tao correct.

Rover wrote:There was only one "hot" American FP shooter, Arnie Vitarbo.

Please tell us some stories about him...

I vaguely remember the article you are talking about. I can't remember where I read it, but I think it was Erich Buljong, but I'm not sure. I did a quick search and couldn't find anything.

Off topic, but Rover started it. Quite a record.

Arnold Vitarbo (National/Interational Pistol) - 1963-1969, 1972-1973 (pictures: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 )

#112 USAF Distinguished Pistol Shot Badge
#143 USAF Distinguished Rifleman Badge
#108 Distinguished International Badge (1967)
NRA 2650 Club - 1963
President's Hundred
1963 - New Jersey State Champion
1963 - Maryland State Champion
196? - California State Champion
196? - Arizona State Champion
Jul 65 - General Carl Spaatz Trophy - 290
Jul 66 - Winner National Trophy Pistol Team Match (Gold Cup Trophy) (Firing Member)
1966 - Member World Championship Team - 5th place Free Pistol
1967 - Member Pan Am Team - Individual Gold Medal Free Pistol
1967 - Member Pan Am Team - Team Gold Medal Free Pistol
1968 - Member Olympic Team - 4th place Free Pistol
1968 - InterService Service Pistol Team Champion (Vitarbo, Legg, Rupp, Hadley) - InterService Record 1166-35x - still stands
1969 - Set Free Pistol record of 571 - held until 1985
1969 - Set Standard Pistol record of 586 - held until 1978
1969 - Iowa State Champion
1973 - "Benito Juarez" Championship - Gold Medal Standard Pistol
1973 - National Free Pistol Champion
1974 - Hawaii State Champion
1986 - Oregon State Champion
1986 - Set Air Pistol record of 584

For Conradin, I don't have a lot to tell about Arnie. I had run into him at a few matches, and when he offered a shooting seminar I signed up. For a short time he was US Team coach.

Both being NYC area Italians (and ex-Marines), we developed a cordial relationship based on Italian cooking (Italian men frequently get into cooking). We ran into each other more frequently at matches, but discussed recipes more than we did shooting. Besides, he always beat me.

Sorry.

http://www.targettalk.org/viewtopic.php ... lit=Record

Do I win a prize? :-)

Great find! May the Fickle Finger of Fate tickle your innards.

Thats the one I was thinking about! Thank you!

The reason I was trying to find that info was because in a couple of different places new to bullseye shooters were asking about how to get the absolute best most accurate ammo for their .45's. I guess a lot of shooters go through this but it seems like the marksmen/sharpshooters and some experts are constantly searching for that magic ammo that will all by itself bump them up in class. If you look at the forums the marksmen/sharpshooters are all asking about equipment/ammo. The masters/high masters are trying to figure out how to internally improve.

Scott