Target practice, need suggestions...

[Phoenix357]

I have a used Model 686 .357 w/4" barrel and am shooting Blazer .357 158 gr. JHPs at 25 yards. The bullseye is 3".
I fire 12 rounds per target and was allowed to put 7 rounds in the bullseye, 4 just outside and 1 I don't want to talk about.

My question is: I know that most of the people on here shoot groups the size of a .50 cent piece, but for a newbe is that average shooting for a 4" barrel at 25 yards?

All the rounds collectively would fall into a paper plate, but it is still disappointing. I concentrate on my sight picture, grip, steady trigger pull, follow through and breathing... still not grouping them tight.

Any ideas, or tips on technique would be immeasurably appreciated.

 

[Hunt200]

I am happy if I can cover a six shot group with a half dollar at 25 feet, forget about 25 yards. If you hit 7 out of 12 and 4 just outside at 25 yards I would consider that good shooting.

 

[duckloads]

you did fine.

 

[duckloads]

I'll add, When I shoot my 460 XVR and 686, both with 8-3/8" barrels and Burris 2x7 scopes, I'll shoot them off a rest for 1-1/2" groups groups at 50 yards and 3-4" groups at 100 yds.

Stand up and shoot two handed at that distance, no way. Sure, I try sometime and can actually hit the backstop 100% of the time

Shooting off a rest is the fast way of finding out what ammo your gun likes. Then, you will know what the gun / ammo combination is capable of at any given distance.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

Heck, thats just fine shooting. To improve, just burn a lot of ammo in ernest practice. If I could shoot a fifty cent piece size group offhand at 25 yard's I would be a very happy camper indeed!

 

[bamabiker]

I did not shoot that good at 12 yards on my last range trip. I'm not showing any more of my targets.

 

[cp1969]

Try shooting at 7 yards (or closer). Get to where you can "call" every shot; that is, at the moment of the shot, you know exactly what the sight picture was and where the bullet should have landed.

When you can predictably keep them all in the bullseye, over and over, then move the target further away and repeat.

You'll use up a lot of ammo but you will know your gun and what you can or cannot hit.

 

[6pack]

25yds is a good poke.

At 42, I now wear my corrective lenses when I shoot. It'd been two full years since I had any trigger time before this summer. My first range session was ugly.

I've had two more since then. Improvement was noted each time.

It's a matter of relaxing, good stance and visual focus. My double action revolver work is still not up to snuff, but it's a far piece better. My Tupperware G22 and my 1911 are getting the best results.

Keep practicing. Try some .38spl loads and enjoy yourself.

The N-frames are coming around.

It sure is fun playing around.

 

[Bullseye Smith]

Here is a 25 yrd target that was shot with a 32Long in Bullseye. (Double Action )

 

[bountyhunter]

I have a used Model 686 .357 w/4" barrel and am shooting Blazer .357 158 gr. JHPs at 25 yards. The bullseye is 3".
I fire 12 rounds per target and was allowed to put 7 rounds in the bullseye, 4 just outside and 1 I don't want to talk about.

My question is: I know that most of the people on here shoot groups the size of a .50 cent piece, but for a newbe is that average shooting for a 4" barrel at 25 yards?

It's been my experience that the only place people hold 4" groups at 25 yards is on the internet... I never see any of them at the range. IMHO, holding all rounds inside a 4" diameter bull at 25 yards with a 4" barrel revo is probably better shooting than about 99% of the people out there can do.

I don't know anybody who can shoot a group the size of a 50 cent piece at 25 yards with a .357 offhand with iron sights. I have done it on a few occasions with my red dot sighted model 66 but that is hardly the normal performance. There are a few people who can, they are about as rare as honest politicians.

FOR REFERENCE: the target shown in the post above mine is called the "B-8" (shot it a million times) and the center 10 ring is about 3.3" diameter. Not the whole black area, just the smaller inside ten ring. The diameter of the whole black circle is something like 5.5".

 

[Cruizer Bill]

Shooting a handgun well requires LOTS of practice and error correction. Go to www.bullsyepistol.com and you will get the advice you need. The key is to concentrate and take your time. Make every shot count and treat it as the most important shot you have ever made.
Yes, I can shoot 4 inch groups consistently one-handed at 25 yards but I shoot all the time, 20,000 rounds or more per year and I go to the range three times a week, plus I shoot 12 or so 2700 point NRA matches and 30 or so league nights per year. I've competing for 15 years and shooting for 40 plus years. If you are new to shooting, do not expect to do this! It takes a LOT of practice. A good red dot sight helps too! Hang in there and come join us at the matches!!

 

[H Richard]

Usually when reading accuracy results in magazines, and it states 2" or 3" groups at 25 yards it is from a sandbag rest or a Ransom Rest machine. Handheld groups at 25 yards under 3" are GREAT groups. Notice the measurements in Bountyhunter's post.

 

[Bullseye Smith]

The target that I posted is the first target that the gun below it shot. We got done building the gun and used 7 rounds to sight it in and shot that target at 25 yards one hand rapid fire. We have a lady at the club that can take her 45 and clean the target 1 out of ten times, same for the 22 class. I have shot a 97 many times and on most of them it would run from 88 to 96. The 97 is a high for 22 and center fire. I spent many hours at the range to get that, plus alot of time shooting the bad guys on TV LOL. When I tore two fingers off my right hand and switched to the left I have to work twice as hard to get back where I was. Time and a bunch of ammo will get you there, I can't come close to the people at camp Perry shooting. What makes me feel good is that I have just over $300 in the 32 above and I shot against guys with thier Walthers and match thier scores with it. The Walthers are around $1200 each at that time for the 22 and the 32.

 

[Joe in SC]

P357, if you are shooting as you stated, offhand (unsupported, standing) then you are doing very well for a newbe or oldbe or whatever ! Shooting is just like any other learned skill in that proper practice will increase your skills. It sounds like you have very good hand and eye coordination. Practice the basics (sight alignment, sight picture, trigger control and breathing) and you will become a very good shot. Don't forget dry firing which is one of the best tools to improving your skills with a handgun.

Good luck and good shooting. Have fun.

 

[bountyhunter]

Not pointed out is this:

With even a good revolver, the typical group you can expect from a rest at 25 yards using generic crappy ammo is probably in the 1.5 - 2" range and could be significantly worse than that. That being the case, it would be pretty hard to shoot a good group.

I shoot in league with my 6" barrel model 66 and (like everybody else) have to buy whatever garbage ammo is available. The reload .38 stuff from Outdoormarksman is not very good and it's generally quite a challenge to hold all 25 rounds inside a 4" target at 25 yards.

My buddy makes some cast lead bullet reloads which are very accurate and gave me some. The group sizes were cut about in half.

The only gun I have that can consistently hold tight groups is my Ruger MkII .22 bullseye gun which can consistently shoot 1" groups from rest at 25 yards.

 

[Frailer]

If I could consistently produce 4" groups centered on the bull shooting offhand at 25 yards with a 4" .357 magnum I'd be quite happy.

 

[scooter123]

I can hold a 2 inch group at 25 yards all day long with my 620. However, I have to cheat to do it. For me it takes a sandbag rest, shooting in single action with a 3 lbs. trigger, and a 4 MOA J Point Reflex. When shooting offhand in double action I'm happy when I just hit the 8 inch shoot-n-c I use as my preferred target.

The plain truth is that 25 yards is a LONG ways downrange for a handgun, especially with the short sight radius on a 4 inch revolver. My general goal for accuracy in double action is 1 inch per 10 feet downrange. Do the math and that means that I'm doing well if I can shoot a 7.5 inch group at 75 feet. If you're hitting a 4 inch target using the iron sights, you are doing very very well.

 

[HEAD0001]

I never was much of a target or group shooter. I find shooting at paper targets to be a bit boring. IMO the best way to get better is to shoot at random targets. I like to do woods walks and pick out items(targets) to shoot at. At varying distances. Heck I love the fall because one of my favorite things to do is to shoot at leaves that are flowing along on top of a small stream in my yard. This gives good targets that are moving at a speed I can handle. Get out in the field and shoot at a brick-who cares what you shoot at-just vary it up. That puts the real fun into shooting for me. Group size?? Who cares-you either hit it or you don't. Tom.

 

[Rugskipper]

I have never had good luck with Blazer ammo. Try something else in your 686 (maybe .38 158 gr SWC's) and see what happens. I think you may be pleasantly surprised.

 

[Titegroups]

Shooting a handgun is more difficult than most people think, too much B.S. on tv cop shows. What you see is people's best targets, not average targets. If you can hold four inch groups at 25yds you are doing very well, if i can hold four inch groups at 15yds I'm happy, my best targets are sub two inch for six rounds and about inch and a half or so for five rounds.