Countdown to IRC: Going Fast with John Bagakis

John Bagakis likes to go fast.

And with a custom-tuned Saleen Mustang cranking out between 500 and 600 horsepower, going really fast was never a problem for the 40-year-old Livermore, Calif. resident. That is until his illegal street racing caught the attention of law enforcement, and law enforcement caught Bagakis.

“I was a street racer for fun and enjoyed competing, but in 1997 I was busted by the cops and decided it was time to find a new hobby that was legal. So I turned to shooting,” recounted Bagakis.

Bagakis was first introduced to guns around the age of 10 or 11 when his uncle gave him a .22 to shoot and “always liked guns and was a pretty good shot” but his foray into the world of competitive shooting came from a friend and fellow shooter Jason Pettitt, a past champion who also introduced him to revolvers.

“Initially I didn’t like revolvers but when Jason got me started shooting I really enjoyed the revolver’s double-action which most shooters don’t like,” explained Bagakis.

In 2000 Bagakis started shooting competitively, joining the International Confederation of Revolver Enthusiasts (ICORE) and entering his first International Revolver Championship where he finished 11th. Since then he’s steadily moved up the ladder with seven top five finishes including winning the Limited division the last two years.

“Shooting revolvers does two things for me. The first is that it puts me at a disadvantage against those shooting semi-auto pistols and I prefer to be the underdog in a match outshooting the guy with a 22-round 1911,” said Bagakis.

“The second is that it helps my accuracy. The double-action of the revolver eliminates my flinch and makes me a more deliberate shooter, and in ICORE accuracy will win matches every time.”

Like most revolver shooters, Bagakis competes with a Smith & Wesson revolver. His particular gun is an 8-shot model 627 from the company’s Performance Center and features a 6.5” barrel. He estimates that only about 200 of this particular configuration were made and the added barrel length has paid off in accuracy.

According to Bagakis, “most shooters run 5-inch barreled gun, but I like the accuracy that the longer barrel affords – especially with targets out to 50 yards.”

That accuracy has paid off with more than just titles. Bagakis has picked up several sponsors including Smith & Wesson, which has the largest shooting teams of any company in the firearms industry. Other sponsors include .22lr accessory maker Tactical Solutions, grip maker Hogue Inc. and Bear Creek Bullets.

One sponsor in particular is helping Bagakis, and fellow ICORE shooter Rich Wolfe of Escalon, Calif., prepare for this year’s match through specialized strength training. Chuck Halbakken of The Movement training school in Modesto, Calif. has developed a focused training regimen for the shooters that complements their shooting skills and improves their overall performance.

“My workouts with Chuck target two main areas, improved endurance and stronger, faster movement on the range,” explained Bagakis.  “Shooting an all-day match I need to make sure I’m as strong at the end of the match as I am at the start. ICORE is also a run-and-gun sport and any advantage I can pick up in the running portion of my game will pay off in the final score when both time and accuracy are measured. I’ve seen noticeable improvement and hope that it will pay off this weekend at the IRC.”

While Bagakis is considered the odds-on favorite to pick up his third consecutive Limited division title at the 19th Annual Smith & Wesson international Revolver Championship in San Luis Obispo, Calif., he’s not ready to admit any advantage or take anything for granted.

“There are a lot of talented shooters in ICORE and several revolver shooters within other disciplines like the U.S. Practical Shooting Association. Any of them can give me a run for my money so I’m not counting any chickens just yet,” observed the cautious Bagakis.

ICORE’s annual revolver championship kicks off Friday June 4 on the Hogue Action Pistol Range at the San Luis Obispo Sportsmen’s Association, with competition wrapping up Sunday afternoon. The match is expected to draw over 200 competitors from 22 states and six foreign nations, making it the equivalent of the Superbowl for competitive revolver shooters.

Only time will tell if John Bagakis will become the second three-time Limited division winner since his friend Jason Pettitt did it in ’03, ’04 and ‘05.