What's your criteria for "good" shooting with a snubbie??

[Redcoat3340]

I practice with my S&W 642 about once every two or three weeks (and dry fire a lot lot more). Usually at 5 to 7 yards. Usually with a half box of .38s.

I'm wondering what folks set as their criteria for "good shooting" with the J-frames at 5, 7, and 10 yards? Anyone practice at more then ten? Are we talking center of mass is good enough or are we looking for a bunch of stuff in the x-ring.

At 72 I'm not the shooter I used to be, but I still get a lot of satisfaction of putting 'em all in the middle. My 642 is strictly for self-defense (obviously) and if I get 'em all in the 8 ring I'm happy. Am I setting my sights (okay, I punned) too low?

 

[andy52]

J frames are just to small for my hands but I can generally hold a 3-4 inch group at 7 yds. I'm a bit younger then you but not much.

 

[Babysitr]

too low, no way! hard for me to see clear at 64! I shoot a lot of 10 and plates at 25 yds. shoot my EDC guns at 8 and 10....for me the practice is about having fun, and shooting....enjoy it

 

[eb07]

Mine: 5 rounds in under 5 seconds at 5 yards from a draw in the black of an NRA b-8 target

 

[Ashlander]

I am 66 now. At 7 yards with my snubbies in double action, my goal is 3" groups centered on the bull's eye. If I have a flyer that spreads it out to 4" or so, that's still OK. If my group spreads beyond that, it's generally because I relaxed my grip a little or just wasn't focusing hard on the target (even with my eyes not being that good anymore, I still have to concentrate on the blur!).

I shoot fairly quickly - about a second between shots and concentrate on a smooth trigger-pull that doesn't move the gun around.

BTW, all my snubbies that I carry are all steel. The weight helps me a lot with follow-up shots and makes the shooting experience more pleasant.

 

[The_Truth]

If I can hit about a 4" circle on a paper plate at 21 feet I'm happy.

 

[Walter Rego]

If I can put all 5 rounds from my S&W Model 640 or all 6 from my Colt Dick Special into a coffee cup sized group on a silhouette target at 7 yards, fired two handed double action and as rapidly as I can get a flash sight picture after recoil I'm happy.

 

[6string]

A snub nose doesn't have to be an impediment. Trigger control is trigger control, and is the prime factor in offhand accuracy results from the standpoint of the shooter. The main limitation for a snubby is sight radius. Small errors in front/rear sight alignment have a huge impact downrange. Ironically, poor trigger control will ruin even the best sight alignment. That it's obscured by the recoil makes it hard to detect.
But, according to Bob Munden, the answer to the OP's question is 200 yards....

YouTube

 

[snubbyfan]

As long as I can do this.


From 'bout this far away, I'm on the left.


With this.


I think I'm doin' okay.

 

[Abflyboy]

5 rounds, draw from concealment
Par time 5 seconds
20 yards
'A' zone on USPSA target

 

[OKFC05]

I practice on a plate rack ( 8" plates) to avoid trying to shoot "bullseyes." Minimum safe distance is 9 yd; maximum the bay allows is 25 yd.

 

[pawngal]

I don't shoot any J frames, M66 or M10, I shoot single action, 6 rounds in under 10 seconds, 3-4 inch groups at 7-8 yards. Have done it at 10 yards, 15 starts spreading out.

 

[chiefbob81]

No survivors!

 

[tlawler]

I can do this with my 640 from 15 feet. Not great, but I think it would get the job done.

 

[scooter123]

My choice of J frame is a model 36 with the original service grips. So it's a small revolver with really tiny grips. As a result when I practice with the model 36 I don't worry about split time because I have to adjust my grasp after each shot. In addition I also concentrate on functional accuracy over nice pretty groups. My criteria is simple, can I shoot a headshot on a standard B-27 at 30 feet. I will also note I shoot in Double Action only and do NOT stage the trigger, because if you are going to use one of these revolvers defensively your opponent wont be waiting for you to cock your gun. What you will be doing is shooting as quickly as possible.

 

[Bronco89]

I no longer have a snubby at the moment. A temporary condition that I hope to rectify. My most recent was a Taurus 85, which I shot very well with. Don't let people convince you that snubbies are expert guns, less accurate, or any of that bull. short barreled guns do magnify "YOUR" mistakes, but they shoot just great under 25 yards. My subbie rules are as follows:
1) Grips, grips, and grips,
----a) really this is true with all my wheel guns.
2) Slow it down at first and use HBWC at first.
----a) Work my way up to 5/rps from a holster.
----b) shoot enough Hornady 110gr+P to feel comfortable.
3) Start @ 3 yards and work the target back to 10 yards.
----a) use a 11"x18" splatter target with snubbies Not big targets.
----b) Keep them inside the 8 ring, (preferably the 9 ring)
----c) don't expect less from a good snubbie.

 

[Donn]

The range I frequent doesn't allow rapid fire or draw from a holster, so I go from the low ready, shots about one second apart with my homely, old Model 49. I use larger, rifle size targets from ten to thirty feet, two handed, strong, and weak hand, DA only. If all the holes are in the black, (and they usually are), it's a good day. The 49's not my EDC, but I do pocket carry from time to time. Should the worst happen when I am, I want to be sure I'm as good as the gun is.

 

[malph]

When practicing with a J-frame snub, I go more for speed than pinpoint accuracy. I also try to put practice into one-handed shooting both strong and weak hand.

I see the J frame snub as a close in and dirty weapon. If I have to use it in a self defense situation, there is a decent chance I'll be off balance, perhaps on the ground, perhaps with one arm grappling with an attacker, ...

There is no better weapon for those kind of scenarios.

If I can keep 5 shots, fired RAPIDLY into a fist sized group from 3-7 yards, I'm happy.

I do sometimes shoot the gun at longer ranges but I can only do that shooting slowly with a lot of concentration on trigger pull.

That is fun and ego gratifying if I can hit a chunk of steel at 25-50 yards but I'm not sure it is very practical.

 

[Engineer1911]

I have several M36 and M37 revolvers. My pet wadcutter load is 2.7 grains of Bullseye or AA #2 with a 148 gr Lee wadcutter. In a K- or L-frame revolver, this load is mouse gas level. In those tiny round butt J-frames [that get lost in my hand], when the trigger guard hits my knuckle on every shot, group size is 3" to 5" at distances of 7 feet to 15 feet.

I have a Classic Boat Anchor, a 4" M681 that is double action only with an Aristocrat rib mounted on the barrel. That hand filling beastie delivers 6-hole clover leafs at 20 feet. Concealed carry probably can't be done without walking with a body lean to one side. I bought a used, finely tuned 2" M10 with square butt frame that easily shoots under 3" at 7' to 15' feet.

Small gun accuracy needs weekly shooting practice.

 

[Old cop]

This is my drill for my J frame & LCP: Using a standard paper plate empty the gun as fast as possible, reload & repeat. The goal is to keep all of your rounds on the plate @ three, five & seven yards. I slow down a bit as distance increases but I'm not concerned w/tight groups.