guyfromohio said:
25 Internet Yards
Allow me to preface with the fact that I know that some people actually shoot at 25 yards and do quite well.
However, I see in thread after thread where the guy with the new handgun shoots a 2" inch group at 25 yards. I don't know about the majority here, but at 25 yards, my front post is about the same size as the entire silhouette target. In fact, my (I'm a member there) state-of-the-art range goes to 45' in the pistol bay and 75' in the rifle. So 25 yards? Really? Or does one really mean 25 FEET?
Personally, unless I'm playing some sort of game with myself, I'm shooting at 21'.
Again, talking about unscoped handguns. And I acknowledge that a percentage of great shooters can group offhand at 25 yards. What say you THR? Do we call shenanigans?
Indoor ranges I shot at have 25 yard lanes.
When I do load development and accuracy range tests, I initially test loads at 7-10 yards for reliable slide cycling/spent case extraction/ejection then retest more accurate loads at 15 yards. Accuracy benchmark at 15 yards is around 1"-1.5" for me.
Once most accurate loads are determined at 15 yards, I test them at 25 yards to see how they perform.
Range tests are done on factory stock Sig 1911 XO and Glock 22 with factory and KKM/Lone Wolf 40-9 conversion barrels.
On the Handloading and Reloading category, most of my 9mm/40S&W/45ACP load development steps are fully documented and linked on this post (just FYI, I have over 400,000 rounds of trigger time the past 20+ years) -
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=9924922#post9924922
9mm 124 gr Berry's regular plated RN (solid base) with 3.8/4.0 gr Titegroup @ 1.160" (25 yards)
9mm 124 gr RMR HM RN with 5.2 gr of BE-86 @ 1.160" (25 yards)
40S&W 180 gr RMR HM RNFP with 6.1 gr of Herco/BE-86 @ 1.155"
45ACP MBC 12 BHN 200 gr SWC with 4.0 gr Promo @ 1.240"
To verify accuracy testing in person, I even had another THR member witness the actual range test (this was the smallest shot group from range session) and meet the range staff who witnessed my other range tests -
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=9646469#post9646469
As to internet myths, can I get 2" groups at 25 yards on every range session?
No.
I have good days and bad days and often 3"-4" is the best I can do. I am not a bullseye match shooter as I shot USPSA matches and utmost accuracy from 25-50 yard slow fire was not my focus (but it was for my shooting/reloading mentor who shot bullseye matches). Rather, fast double taps at 7-15 yards was my focus.
Sometimes, I see the dismay of shooters who can't group with their new pistols. When they see my smaller shot groups, they wonder if they bought the wrong pistols. I tell them they simply need to practice more with their pistols and when I produce small shot groups with their pistols, they smile and say they will practice more.