I like short-barreled revolvers. I'm comfortable carrying my 351PD, my Model 60, or my 629-6.

So for the sake of self-defense practice, how far (in yards) would you place your silhouette target from the firing line?

All opinions sought and gratefully acknowledged.

Rich

I practice often with my s&w 642 at 5-7 yards.

Most self-defense shootings occur at not much more than "bad-breath" distance, so my far shots in practice are at 7 yards.

I rarely shoot less than 10 yards. I'm more likely to be shooting at 15 yards than 7 even with short barrel guns. If you can hit what ever you're aiming at at 10 yards than you hit it at 5 yards. If your groups are off the target at 10 yards practice a lot more.

No set rule, as defensive situations can vary. With many attacks/robberies, the offender will often try to get you to drop your guard by initiating a conversation, so think about how far away people are when you talk with them. I've shot as close as 1 yard at the range, typically from a retention position.

At the other end, the late Louis Awerbuck suggested that defensive encounters typically occur at distances equal to, or less than, the width of a car, the length of a car, and the length of a room. Given those three parameters, the longest distance is 7 yards for me, so I usually practice inside that range.

However, it's also good to know what your maximum effective range is, so occasional practice at longer distances can be beneficial. I've shot as far away as 25 yards with my 642, and because of that I know my own practical limit is around 15 yards. At least, if I want to get effective torso hits.

Also, you should consider your range's rules. Some may not allow extreme close range shooting or drawing from the holster, but you can at least practice those movements with dry fire practice at home, paying close attention to safety, of course.

Another thing you can do is think about the environments you regularly find yourself in. Do some mental scenario exercises. What do you think the maximum distance you might have to shoot would be? Use that for guidance.

I generally shoot pocket guns at 50 feet and service sized handguns at 25 yards.

Bowling pin from 3' to 30 yds.

I do most of my practice at 7 and 10 yards with the occasional 25 yard range added when it is quiet at the range. My 15-2 2" has seen most of the range duty recently with the model 19 and 36 seeing a little action as well. Still trying to master Rastoff's Challenge.

I would practice out to 25 yards. It's doable and the better you are at longer distance the better you are at closer distances. Of course practice at closer distances as well

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I do 15 ft. point shoot drills since in a close self defense situation you might not have time to take a steady aim.
Trying out the .44 Special Bulldog in this session...Charter Arms Bulldog .44 Special review - YouTube

10 yards.

To engage in a self-defense shooting I have to reasonably believe deadly force is justified. The longest line of fire inside my house is 30 feet. Being a civilian, it's hard for me to imagine a street scenario that would justify my shooting beyond 10 yards.

I can honestly say I've never instructed anyone who wasn't capable of placing 5 shots in a 9" circle at 10yds with fair rapidity, provided the gun itself was capable of at least 5".

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Carry.."hope" isn't a strategy

My pie-plate drill is five plates on a 1"x6" board hung horizontally on a tree seven yards away. One hand, DAO.

I also hang a half-gallon milk jug and a string line of cans in a tree 50' from my deck. I practice one and two-handed but always DAO. No, I sure don't plan to get in a gunfight at that distance -- because the critters of the "order Carnivora" don't carry guns.

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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

I practice SD shooting at distances ranging from point blank to 7 yards, most being at 3-5 yards; anything further is target practice. This is for all barrel lengths.

Why limit yourself ? change it up. Shoot from retention, shoot transitions for time, shoot precision, shoot distance. SHoot while moving back, forwards to the side.

I shoot my daily carry 640-1 Pro Series at 15 to 20 feet. If you look up the old FBI/PPC courses with the B29 qualifying target you're from 5ft to 20 ft. in self defense mode with 2"-4" bbls.

We use to qualify from 1-15 yds later 1-25.

While more likely to have a close engagement ....... it's nice to know what you can do at 15-25 with your EDC if the need ever arises.

For snubbies, 3 targets, 7 yard,10 yard and 15 yards. I shoot much faster at the 7 yard and slow down some as I go to the 10 and 15 yard targets. Two shots center mass each, than I check my performance, tape up the holes and do it again. I end my session with fail safe at 5 -7 yards, two to the body one to the head. I do occasionally shoot at my 12" steel plate at 25 yards just for an extra bit of practice.

Most folks say arms length or the length of a car. I practice most at 7-8 yards. Occasionally I'll put the target out to 15 yards. Never further than that.

Think of a mass shooter situation inside a grocery store or a mall. A 15-20 yard shot from behind concealment down a grocery isle, or the long hallway of a mall, is possible.

I have thought about this, and have a plan. I don't carry to protect anybody than those that I love. We are heading for the back of the store as quick as possible, or hiding. It is much harder to hit a moving target than one that is standing there playing showdown at the OK Corral. If I am behind concealment, and the shooter does not see me, sorry but I am not going to advertise my presence. I do train for head shots though, as that is the quickest one shot stops.

Have owned only a few snub nosed guns. For realistic practice, I figured 7-10 yds. was enough. Not many rooms more than 30 feet across. Did normally do a bit of target type shooting beyond that. Hitting a harrow blade at 50 yds. w/ a snub nose ... probably do well on any threat. Couldn't do it regularly in DA, but SA ... not so hard.

Nowadays ... don't own a snub nose. Do practice SD type stuff. Normally set targets at 5, 7, 10 yds. Normally use a 4 inch S&W 66 or a 1911. No longer have access to 50 yd. range. Sincerely. bruce.

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If my range is empty, I use the time to work on drawing and point/unsighted shooting at close ranges- under 5 yds.

If there are other folks there, I'll shoot my snubs out to 15 yards.

Both have benefits.

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Because of the metric system?

That’s my approach. Years ago a service rep at S&W told me they tested Chief’s Specials at 10 yards and expected POA/POI to be within 3-inches at that distance. That was probably in the ‘80s, or maybe late ‘70s. Since then I’ve latched onto that distance for practicing with J-frames and similar guns. Seemed reasonable to me.

Especially with a Chief, 10'. I shoot others are distances from 10' to 22'.

When target shooting, I'll shoot at 25 yards, but that's target shooting only.

10yds and in

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K & N S&W revolvers

I've been introduced to drills that require aimed fire anywhere from 1 - 10 yards. As easy as it sounds it can be a challenge when you are under timer.

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Always Stay Strong!

Since I'm still a sworn officer I have to qualify according to NC Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission rules for basically unrestricted carry in state. This requires day and night (dim light) qualification. Day is from 5 yards to 25 yards. Night is 3 yards to 15 yards. They don't make any allowances for barrel length. I qualified with my 940, 1.78 inch, 986, 2.58 inch and my 629, 2.5 inch this year at the quoted distances. My only problem is prone at 25 yards. This year I had to practice that stage and after practice qualified at over 90% on all courses. I actually shot a 97 with the 629 (with 200 grain specials).

When just practicing, we usually shoot at 15 yards and usually its a combat course with multiple weapons and a lot of moving and shooting. I have to admit the full auto Sig 516 is the most fun to shoot.

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Bill

30' -25 yds both supported and offhand weak and strong hand. (not under pressure).
Not easy, but once you become somewhat proficient, anything under 30' and you will put them in a 1-2" group.

With the 629 or other 6-shot revolver, you could shoot IDPA. Some folks poo-poo it, but it gives you practice at a variety of ranges/target presentations.

Be advised that the vast majority of shooters are gamers and don’t shoot realistic carry guns/rigs, so the folks who run real-world equipment don’t usually place very high.

Actually I guess you could shoot 5-shot revolvers in it, I’m not sure.

Probably the two most important steps in SD shooting are presentation, and target acquisition. People do not need live fire for these two, they can be done safely with a 60 dollar blue gun. Live fire time is still needed but can be accomplished at a safe range following their rules.

I have several training guns, and I train every day with them. Airsoft can be added for some backyard point shooting. With good/fair eyesight the pellets can be seen going to the target, and get a feel for not using the sights at medium to short ranges. I used to practice from 10 yards with pie tins, and could hit them point shooting over 90% of the time. During the summer I go through anywhere from 100, to 500 BBs a day.

Just for fun, Google up Hickok45 YouTube using a
686 plus with 3-inch barrel at what looks like
three or four yards to 80 yards.

He's been a proponent of snubby barreled revolvers
and autos for years.

For handgun defense I practice any where from 3 to 25 yards.

When I go to the range by myself, I'll usually just take my two carry guns, a 640-1 and a 637-2.

I'll practice with them mostly from 3-7 yards away, self defense distances. Just for fun though, I'll run my target out to 15 or maybe even 25 yards just to see how I do. I find this helps me at the shorter distances as well.

I'll also practice one hand shooting alternating from right to left usually at 3-5 yards and I'll finish with a drill where I shoot at five different spots on the target as fast as I can align the sights. Just my routine.

I vote for the distance of a room or 15 feet. My sights are zero'd at that distance.

I once had a deputy U.S. Marshal firearms instructor tell me that if I could hit my targets at longer distances, I would have no trouble hitting them at shorter distances. I practice mostly at 25 yards and occasionally at 8 yards.

I think it makes a big difference between a j frame and a k frame revolver. I carried a Model 64 with 2" (k frame) for a number of years and qualified annually with it. The last 18 rounds of 60 were from behind barricade at 25 yards. Never had a problem shooting in low 90s with it. In basic LE academy in 1976 we practiced point and shoot at 5 yards. Practice, practice, practice! Never was able to shoot as well with a Model 60 (j frame).