Top Accessories for Competitive Rimfire Pistol Shooting

Compensator: Acquiring a good compensator should be at the top of your list. Compensators are classic additions to any pistol to reduce the recoil by directing the muzzle blast. This improves sight reacquisition by helping your sights return to alignment when it matters most. I run the Volquartsen Scorpion Single-Port Compensator and have had great success, seeing a reduction in muzzle rise.

Volquartsen Scorpion Single-Port Compensator

Thumb rest: Generally, rifles are easier than pistols because of more points of contact to maneuver the gun. We can relate this to having as much of your palms or hands on the pistol as possible for accuracy. For this reason, adding a thumb rest increases the surface area you are controlling on a pistol. This also improves leverage for front sights to bounce back quickly after each shot. The Striplin Custom Gunworks Thumb Rest has an adjustable thumb angle for your preference and is a good addition to your build.

Striplin Custom Gunworks Volquartsen Scorpion Thumbrest

Magazine base plates: One upgrade many competitors rely on is adding magazine base plates. These plates provide more real estate to hold onto, which helps to ensure the magazine is seated. I use the Volquartsen Spring-Loaded Magazine Ejectors, featuring a spring to help it drop swiftly for a magazine change.

Volquartsen Spring-Loaded Magazine Ejector

Textured grips: Aside from a strong grip, textured grips can enhance control of your pistol to solidify the handling of your firearm. Creekside Custom’s Grips and Magwell has stippled grip plates for increased traction. This is a great combo if you are looking for a magwell to speed up reloads.

Creekside Custom Big Daddy Grips and Magwell

Bolt charging handle: Another accessory people add to their pistols is a bolt charging handle for easier racking. You can either add something like a Halo Charging Ring to your bolt or get a Volquartsen Competition Bolt with one built in. This comes with a diamond-like carbon (DLC) premium finish for durability and a smooth bolt action.

Volquartsen Competition Bolt

Sights: Options abound when it comes to sights. You can stay with your stock iron sights or add a red dot to compete in the Rimfire Pistol Optic (RFPO) division. A recent favorite for me is the Vortex Defender-XL with an 8 MOA dot. (MOA, or minute of angle, is a common measurement to describe dot size and accuracy. To learn more about MOA and how it’s used, take a look at this article.)

For Steel Challenge and Rimfire Challenge, the MOA dot comes down to preference, but a 5-to-8 MOA dot is generally used. (Personally, I prefer a standard red dot over a bullseye or a cross-hair dot because I only have to focus on one thing — getting the red on the plate and pulling the trigger. Other competitors use those styles to obtain the dot quicker for the first shot.)

Vortex Defender-XL