Target Distance

[wharvey]

Besides the purpose it also depends on the gun. Today I was doing some work shooting from a holster. Range about 3 yards and firing from a low retention. I shot 24 rounds and managed to keep all but 3 one a paper plate; 9mm shield. Didn't think I was doing too bad as I'm right handed but working from a left handed rig.

When I'm practicing for NRA Action Pistol I typically shoot at 25 yards; GP100 with 6" barrel. This is too far for a beginner but does make one exercise the fundamentals, which may not happen if you just stay at close range.

Handguns can be shot effectively at pretty good distances. Use to have a blast shooting a prairie dogs with a pistol. Even managed to hit the out to a 100 yards sometimes. Wouldn't try this too soon as a beginning shooter but might consider it in the future, with the right gun of course.

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[dajogejr]

5 to 10 yards with my EDC pistol. 15 to 20 yards, I'm good on a paper plate and then some...

I put out a target with 4-5 spots on it and I alternate which one I'm aiming at. Normally, I'll double tap each spot then move to the next.

 

[RalphMP9FS]

Maybe I got it wrong, but after a 30 year hiatus from shooting, I prefer to practice at 40'-60'. If I can consistently hit a 14" x 20" paper target at that distance with a 1 second firing interval, I'm not too concerned at 15'-20'.

 

[GuyFromHuntsville]

In the Texas, the shooting requirements for a CHL are 20 rounds at 3 yards, 20 rounds at 7 yards, and 10 rounds at 15 yards.

Most all SD shootings are at 7 yards or less. And most CC pistols are not very accurate at longer distances due to their shorter barrels and smaller frames. So, IMO, train with drawing and firing at shorter distances (10 yards or less). Long distances, while fun and challenging, is not realistic for SD.

 

[micocyco]

Thanks to all for the responses.

I headed to the range after work today and shot off 100 rounds. I took your suggestions and started at 5 yards and ended up at 8. I'll push it back as I get better.

I have to say I was pleased with my shooting today. Sure I still have a way to go obviously, but a marked improvement. I was trying to put some stuff that I've read about or watched vids of over the last week into practice and it helped a lot!

baby steps to marksmanship!

New gun, new shooter or both you are doing the right thing
First be carful & never dry fire until you make sure the weapon cleared but do dry fire a lot a home with gun pointed in a safe direction, like at the TV : o
Don't worry about hurting the pistol , you will get tired of this long before you have to worry about that.
What ever distance you start at just stay there until you & the gun come to an agreement on where the next round will go.

 

[Doug M.]

And most CC pistols are not very accurate at longer distances due to their shorter barrels and smaller frames. So, IMO, train with drawing and firing at shorter distances (10 yards or less). Long distances, while fun and challenging, is not realistic for SD.

*
Shooting at longer distances is a pretty small percentage shot for civilian SD uses, but has value in skill development and demonstration. The deterioration in skill with a pistol over the last 10 or so years has been so bad that Pat Rogers (EAG Tactical) has changed his teaching to have the transition from rifle to pistol as a malfunction response at 15 yards instead of 25. Based on academy and post-academy experiences, I'd say that there is a direct link between the lack of shooting at the 50 and beyond and that problem.

FWIW: most smaller pistols and revolvers have the same basic intrinsic accuracy capability. It is the ergonomics of the pistol, the less precise sights, etc that will result in poorer performance if one does not put in the work. (A 2" M10 with no mechanical problems should do just as well as a K38, even out to 100 yards.) I can see this to some extent when comparing my performance with my 2 glocks. One is a G33, with XS Big Dots; one a 19L (17 with the grip cut down to 19 length) with Hackathorns.

 

[Pierre330]

New gun, new shooter or both you are doing the right thing
First be carful & never dry fire until you make sure the weapon cleared but do dry fire a lot a home with gun pointed in a safe direction, like at the TV : o
Don't worry about hurting the pistol , you will get tired of this long before you have to worry about that.
What ever distance you start at just stay there until you & the gun come to an agreement on where the next round will go.

I do a lot of dry firing! I truly think it's one of the things that's helping me improve. I am extremely careful about making sure the weapon is unloaded when I do this. But reminders are always welcomed and useful in ingraining it into one's mind! Thanks!

 

[micocyco]

I do a lot of dry firing! I truly think it's one of the things that's helping me improve. I am extremely careful about making sure the weapon is unloaded when I do this. But reminders are always welcomed and useful in ingraining it into one's mind! Thanks!

No problem , you are every welcome , something that all of us shooters can't hear too much. I did a lot of my dry firing practice while watching the news :roll eyes:
I am not new to shooting but did take a long break from it , until an incident caused my wife to want to have some way to protect herself. After taking her to shoot a revolver a few times , the only kind of pistol I had , we decided to both get semiautomatics she has the M&P 9c & I got a SD9VE. Luckily we found a range that gave us a lot of good advice & of course I found this forum with the great members.
I have found now ( after the gun & I are certain we know where the shot is going ) that I like to set the weapon on the bench turn away from the target run it out to 15 yards then turn back pick up , aim & fire 4 shots in 4 seconds if all 4 hit the torso I am pleased.
Be safe, have fun & post often

 

[Don 73]

Practicing at a greater distance can magnify your mistakes, which can be a good thing. A small flinching problem might not show it's head at 10 feet, but it will be plainly obvious at 50' and will allow you to work on correcting it.