Practice Distance for SD?

[Ilike9mm]

Here is something interesting: a friend with the CCW was being shot at while he was on the lake in his boat; with wife and kids. He had his .45, the shooter on the shore had an AK.

He's thinking of accuracy at 100 yds. A shootout with a rifle, might be a losing situation. He revved it up and got out of there. Called the ranger, no AK was found. Go figure.

 

[bronco45]

I work on head shots at 15 yds slow fire. I work on head shots, draw and engage at 10 yards, one round per draw. I work on five rounds five seconds at 7 yds. I need to start working on weak hand shooting and reloading.

I practice with what I carry the most a 442 loaded with 158gr LSWCs at 800 fps.

 

[ohiococonut]

A lot of good info that echos what I was taught when I was an LEO. Just keep in mind you're practicing at your own pace at a stationary piece of paper. Once you think you've become proficient think of this. Now this piece of paper has come to life and he's got a knife/gun and coming right at you. In the event you need to draw and fire your weapon in a situation you WILL be under a tremendous amount of stress. The only way to try to simulate this is to run. If you can, set the loaded gun down and run back approx. 25yds, immediately turn around and run back. Then immediately pick up your gun and fire two round at center mass 7yds away. Don't hesitate, do it. Don't be surprised if you miss either. I remember seeing several candidates that couldn't hit a full size silhouette their first time. It's not something you need to practice continuously but it's a good indicator of what to expect. That's my .02

 

[armsmaster270]

I practice 3-7 & 15 yards mostly but stray out as far as 100yds just to keep proficient. My weapon is a Sig 226 in 357sig.

 

[oldman45]

This is likely the only thread where I agree with everything said.

I would like to add that practice is always a good thing and there cannot be enough of it.

However this is not perfect practice. The above practice scenes are being done with forethought and expectations with anticipated movements.

Try carrying a friend with you and an adjustable timer. Set the time to various times and then begin talking with your friend to take your mind off of the shooting. When the timer goes off, draw and fire. This way you may have your back to the target, you may be doing other things or just be engrossed in conversation so the timer is an unexpected event.

You will be shocked at how much different practice becomes.

 

[ContinentalOp]

A lot of good info that echos what I was taught when I was an LEO. Just keep in mind you're practicing at your own pace at a stationary piece of paper. Once you think you've become proficient think of this. Now this piece of paper has come to life and he's got a knife/gun and coming right at you. In the event you need to draw and fire your weapon in a situation you WILL be under a tremendous amount of stress. The only way to try to simulate this is to run. If you can, set the loaded gun down and run back approx. 25yds, immediately turn around and run back. Then immediately pick up your gun and fire two round at center mass 7yds away. Don't hesitate, do it. Don't be surprised if you miss either. I remember seeing several candidates that couldn't hit a full size silhouette their first time. It's not something you need to practice continuously but it's a good indicator of what to expect. That's my .02

This is good advice. I took a training class several years ago where we did a similar drill. We had to fire 7 rounds at a target (I believe it was set at about 10 feet or so), run about 50 ft to pick up a loaded mag, run back 50 ft to the firing line, fire 7 rounds, and repeat until 50 rounds had been fired. On top of that, there were numbers at different areas of the target and we had to shoot the number yelled out by the instructor. I think it was one of the best drills I've ever done.

Unfortunately, I shoot at an indoor range so I doubt this would be acceptable now. However, I've done freehand squats at the bench to get my heart rate up. Not quite as effective, but still beneficial, I think.

Of course, this is presuming you don't have any medical conditions that would preclude such exertion. Training to the point of injury or illness doesn't do anyone any good.

I also think that anyone trying this should also be well-grounded in the fundamentals before moving on to training with exertion. Safety first.

 

[ContinentalOp]

Try carrying a friend with you and an adjustable timer. Set the time to various times and then begin talking with your friend to take your mind off of the shooting. When the timer goes off, draw and fire. This way you may have your back to the target, you may be doing other things or just be engrossed in conversation so the timer is an unexpected event.

I like this idea. Thanks for sharing.

This reminds of a video I'd seen. It was a force-on-force training exercise. The student walked in knowing he was going to engage a target in the room. When it was time to react and shoot he did the startle response, drew and fired. It took him almost 3 seconds to do so. According to the narrator the student had training and experience in military special operations and could probably react, draw, and fire in under 1.5 seconds on a regular shooting range.

 

[Harvester]

Nice... excellent comments and I *really* like the recent posts regarding simulating "real life" situations. Another excellent opportunity to experience scenarios intended to mimic possible situations is IDPA. Again, it is still not the real world but is an excellent tool and a lot of fun!

Like I tell people about hunting and being responsible about harvesting game... you may reasonably expect your shot grouping to at least double afield compared to what you can accomplish at the range. If you can calmly group shots into 5" standing off-hand at the range then you can expect that group to grow to 10" in the woods. Needless to say, I would not consider that sufficient prowess and more practice would be required before heading afield.

Back to the topic at hand- if it is that important to hone your skills when it comes to putting food on the table... how important is honing your skills when your life or your family's life could be in jeopardy?

Again... good info and commentary!!

~Harvester

 

[Steve in Vermont]

If you can, set the loaded gun down and run back approx. 25yds, immediately turn around and run back. Then immediately pick up your gun and fire two round at center mass 7yds away. Don't hesitate, do it. Don't be surprised if you miss either. I remember seeing several candidates that couldn't hit a full size silhouette their first time. It's not something you need to practice continuously but it's a good indicator of what to expect. That's my .02

Read this in the AM, just before leaving for the range. Tried it several times and will work this into my routine. Thanks for the good advice.

 

[Bill_inBouse]

Good ideas all. The only thing I have not read on this thread is shooting from the prone or on your back position. Took an advanced pistol class last year that included simulating getting knocked on your behind,then having to draw from the laying position and engaging the target.

 

[old bear]

have limited me to more of a "stand and deliver" practice regimen, knowing that I can't run for **** anymore, can't drop & roll very well, etc. Bifocals don't help much either, but I shoot with them on because I usually wear them.

I'm with Lobo gun leather. old dislocated shoulder that never healed properly, torn Rotator cuff and a twitchy knee have really limited my fight or flight options, so I practice at distances between 15 – 30 feet. All shooting is done double action. I concentrate on accuracy first with speed as a close second.

I'm to beat up to fight much anymore or to run to far.