What distance do you practice with your J frame snubbie?

[Pete99004]

I've been carrying my M60 most of the time and have done my practice with it out to 25 feet. I'm wondering what others do, as I can't see firing at something that is much past that distance with a 2" j frame - but maybe I should reconsider that and start practicing at longer distance.

I practice with my L frames out to 75+ but must admit that I'm not really very proficent at those distances. I can the majority of the rounds inside a 12" circle (ie. 4 of 7) but need to do more work to get tight groups.

How about you? Do you target shoot at distances further than 20 or 25ft.?


Pete

 

[chief38]

Hey Pete,
I usually practice with my M60 at the 7 yard (21 foot) line but I also do take 20 or so shots at the 50 foot line just to keep in practice with the snub gun. At the 7 yard line I practice mostly point and shoot double action and drawing from my holster, where as at the 50 foot distance I shoot single action and actually aim. I also like to shoot a few rounds of my carry ammo just to stay familiar with the recoil. I carry the BB heavy +P 158 grain LSWCHP's and they are a handful if practice is not done on a regular basis. Stay well!

regards,
Chief38

 

[dbl barrel]

i usually practice from 3 yards out to 15 yards.OnE day i was out at the range with a couple oF other officers off duty sighting in our deer rifles and joking around about shooting my centenniel at 100 yards. I said i could probably hit a man size target and the bet was on. One shot one hit no warm up. Could I do it again? Maybe. I have read that some big name gunwriters can hit an 8 inch steel plate at 100 yards. Fun practice but not practical.

 

[Papaboo]

Shooting Distance for 2 inch Model 60

I have to agree to shoot at your target at a distance of 7 yards and practice getting to and drawing your weapon and point and shoot, 2 taps at the target center mass! Remember you only have 5 rounds, make them count! Practice drawing with an empty weapon at home, bringing the gun out and towards the target tap tap! It should become easy and fluid, one movement, as quickly as you can, your life will depend upon it when there is no other choice. If you use your weapon stats point to firefights happen within 3 to 7 yards, if you are 50 feet away , get the heck out of there.
You are carrying for self defense and you may have to draw and shoot someone. Practice so you do it without thinking.
Remember your brain and being aware of what is going on around you is your best defense TO AVOID getting into that situation. Keep alert, its better to walk away than having to draw and fire.
Just some things I learned as a third generation PO in NY, I thought I'd share with you. Any questions shoot me an email.

 

[snubbyfan]

I do most of my defensive shooting practice 7 to 10 yards out. Point shooting, shooting with both eyes open, drawing and firing, moving and shooting, etc. I also stretch it out to 25 yards just for fun sometimes. Outshot my buddy once at 25 yards with my 442, he was shooting a Springfield XD .45 Tactical.

 

[BobC357]

I'm now out to 50 ft with the new FS M&P 9mm as I'm still getting used to it. I still use 100 ft for the .357 Mag -- sometimes farther. If I can be accurate at those distances, closer shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Chris L.]

I practice at 7 yards/21 feet with my CCW, which is the recommended distance you'd better start shooting if seriously threatened. If I can get all my shots within an 8" circle, I'm satisfied, and I'm getting there. As I improve, I will go further out.

 

[USAF385]

I practice at CLOSE ranges. 10, 15, 20 ft. Same as with my BG 380. Those are guns with a very specific purpose, so I practice with the intended purpose in mind.

 

[Chris L.]

I've been carrying my M60 most of the time and have done my practice with it out to 25 feet. I'm wondering what others do, as I can't see firing at something that is much past that distance with a 2" j frame - but maybe I should reconsider that and start practicing at longer distance.

With all these mass shootings happening lately, it's not inconceivable that one might need to take that long shot with a small CCW on a preoccupied mass shooter someplace who doesn't see you coming.

It's unlikely most of us will ever be in that situation, but we should train for it anyhow. Some may argue you should flee, and I don't want to be no hero, but history shows that the slightest opposition usually stops these cowards dead in their tracks and they off themselves before they have a chance to murder anyone else.

So yes... train for that long shot with your J-Frame, use the sights, and never assume that an encounter will only be 5-10 feet away.

 

[USAF385]

With all these mass shootings happening lately, it's not inconceivable that one might need to take that long shot with a small CCW on a preoccupied mass shooter someplace who doesn't see you coming.

It's unlikely most of us will ever be in that situation, but we should train for it anyhow. Some may argue you should flee, and I don't want to be no hero, but history shows that the slightest opposition usually stops these cowards dead in their tracks and they off themselves before they have a chance to murder anyone else.

So yes... train for that long shot with your J-Frame, use the sights, and never assume that an encounter will only be 5-10 feet away.

I'd think twice about taking that shot at 50 ft. in a crowded place with scrambling people, a target who would likely not be stationary, and a 1 7/8" barrel.

 

[P&R Fan]

I've been carrying my M340PD constantly in my non-dominant side pocket for the past few years. I carry it loaded with full power .357 Magnums, and I replaced the rubber grips with Eagle Secret Service stocks. Every range trip I fire a cylinder full, left hand only with these loads at bad breath distance. It's my BUG, so if I need it, it's probably gonna be up close and personal.
I have other J-Frames I will shoot at 7 yards or so. They include a M36, M60, M642 and M640-1.
The J-frame is now always my second gun. I practice at longer distances with my primary carry revolvers and Glocks.
Jim

 

[walkin' trails]

Remember that the 21 foot rule was the minimum safe distance that a police officer could draw revolver and shoot an attacker armed with a knife - the minimum. At even closer distances, speed and accuracy and movement (and probably cover/concealment/obsticles in the path of the attacker) are even more critical and must go together. I also advocate practicing to hit at 25 yards with a J. Being able to hit accurate at 25 yards should translate to consistent hits at much closer distances.

 

[Chris L.]

I'd think twice about taking that shot at 50 ft. in a crowded place with scrambling people, a target who would likely not be stationary, and a 1 7/8" barrel.

There are situations were it may be safe to take the shot. Say you are on the upper floor or walkway of a large open mall (a prime mass shooter target), and you can clearly see the shooter below with back toward you in the middle of a wide open floor indiscriminately shooting at people. It may be better to take the shot then to hope he doesn't come your way while you and your loved ones try to escape.

It is believed by many that the shooter at the Oregon mall was stopped by a CCW holder in a similar scenario, who then killed himself (?) as soon as his fantasy world bubble was popped. I don't know if that's been proven, but it seems a reasonable explanation as to how he was only able to kill two people in a very crowed mall even though he was well equipped to cause far greater damage.

As I said, it is extremely unlikely any of us civilians will be in that situation, but if you carry and you are serious about practicing there is no reason not to train for the possibility. Some shooters can hit out amazingly far with the small J-Frames.

 

[kennyb]

i carried a 2" m36 in the det.bureau for years...we had to qualify from 7,15,25 yards on a timed combat course...that little m36 sure made me look good

 

[BillyMagg]

I do most of my defensive shooting practice 7 to 10 yards out. Point shooting, shooting with both eyes open, drawing and firing, moving and shooting, etc. I also stretch it out to 25 yards just for fun sometimes. Outshot my buddy once at 25 yards with my 442, he was shooting a Springfield XD .45 Tactical.

I am always suprised how difficult it is to hit wild game with a handgun? I practice at 15 to 35 yds with all my handguns, they all wear iron sights, the time before last I was bagging off the hood of my old Landcruiser at about 60 yds with an older Beretta 70s in 22lr, changing up to my Springfield Armory Loaded and finishing up with my old 27-2, that now belongs to my little brother, my buddy was surprised, he was shooting his AR with ghost rings and a 10-22, he declined joining my handgun fun, I am 56, he is 61.

He is a much better shooter than I, but he plays the 7yd game, lots of double taps, and shoots even 44 mags and has a very nice follow up even with the 44 mag. I had respectable groups with all the above weapons, but, when you back up to those ranges with a handgun, have realistic expectations, if your eyes water and you stop in the middle of a cylinder or magazine, you more than likely have just changed your POI, regripping, any of the above will change where those bullets go, don't beat yourself up, just keep practicing, and absolutely nothing is more fun than those 100yd shots on cardboard and hearing that bullet "whop" the target, my best group at 100yd was with a Ruger Blackhawk convertible, with the ACP cylinder, 4 shots into 6", not sure where the other two went, this was in field conditions.

The only real point of this is it is fun, but up close, it is so much easier, pick up that front sight, put it on the target and follow through, keeping it there, you will hit, its just that simple. The more important element is form, I shoot Chapman modified Weaver, when I pick up a 2 inch snub or a 7.5 inch colt, I have the same accuracy expectations with both, and yes I understand sight radius, but the rear sight is really your eye, as long as you hold your weapon consistantly with a repeatable form, the rear sights of your weapon will frame the Front sight, pick up and hold that front sight the bullets will follow. Billy

 

[mc5aw]

< 15'. Anything more than that in a defensive situation and my first plan of action will be to find a safe exit route, not make a long shot. Greater than 50' and I need to find me a rifle.

 

[Martya]

I don't carry my J frames much, but as with my EDC semi, I practice defensive shooting with my 60-10 and 642 with 2 targets, from 4 and 7 yards up to both at 7 yards. When I am alone I try to draw and shoot two within 2 seconds, either one target twice or both once. I practice laying on my back, on one knee, roll and shoot, left handed, turn and shoot, stuff like that. Both have the same rounds in them, 38+P JHP.

I save the longer range shots for my non-carry 13-1 and M&P45FS.

 

[Moonman]

Distances and Practice along with Proficiency, change with your duties.

LEO"S need to show some proficiency at a higher level than a civilian.

Their job puts them in HARMS WAY daily, one by just wearing a uniform.

Civilians should always pay attention to situational awareness,
and probably RUN DON'T SHOOT.

LEO'S have government support and financial backing with shootings, civilians face more risks.

 

[crofoot629]

About 5 yards.
Then realize how poorly I shoot it and go back to a full size autoloader.

Emory

 

[rockquarry]

Practice at 25 yards and the need to practice at shorter distances becomes unnecessary. Shooting at the very short distances serves to mask shooting skill shortcomings. If one can shoot well at 25 yards, then 3, 7, 10, and 15 are not difficult. A J-frame will do surprisingly well at distance despite what some say, though it does take some practice.