Longish Range Handgun

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I'm looking for a handgun for longer range shooting, like 25, 50, or even 100 yards. I would prefer a more conventional design over something like an Encore or the Remington bolt action pistol. I would also prefer a conventional pistol caliber like 357, 45 ACP, 9mm, 44 etc. Am I looking for something way off or is that a doable proposal?

Go with the 357 Magnum. A 686 S&W or one of the custom shop ones. You will get a better trigger pull with the Smith over the Ruger GP-100. If I am correct. the locktimes of the double action when used in SA mode is faster than most SA locktimes.
Shooting a 357 magnum at 100 yards (I use scopes) is relatively easy. Every 50 yards it becomes more challenging, as wind begins to play a significant part. 357 Mag is flatter shooting than the 44 and less recoil.
 
I think I'm going to try some 50 yard work tomorrow with the 22. I may be a little steadier now than last time I tried it.
DMW, you'll put your eye out! Sorry, left over from watching A Christmas Story too many times!
 
my friends and I will "play" at the end of a range session, and try to shoot pistols at steel at 300, it can be done, I would not hunt out that far, or even half that far, maybe 100 max for my eyes and skill set with a pistol.

I have a "lucky shot" story - at the range with some out of towners from the UK who don't get to shoot much, so we took our toys to the range and let them shoot what they liked. As we were getting ready to leave, I had a target set up at 200 yards and was waiting for a break so I could go pull the target. I was asked by the UK Gentleman if I could hit that silhouette with my GP100 .357 4" barrel. I aimed at the head and the bullet hit center mass, I turned and said yes, apparently I can, and as quickly as possible put the revolver away before I got challenged to do it again.

The gun will do it, not so sure I can do it consistently, but with steady hands and no wind, it can be done, seems like it was about a 24-30 inch drop at 200 if I were guessing.

d
 
When you're irritating the ar dudes by out ringing the steel with .22 pistols it ain't cheating.
One of the places we used to shoot had an old tree at something like 212yds or something...I paced it once, at like 230 but it was a straight line.....actually i can google earth that now LOL. Some one had hung 3 or 4 bowling pins from a branch, and i used to shoot those with that 10" buckmark. Didnt hit every round by any means, but getting 5 or 6 hits out of a magazine wasn't unusual. haven't gotten to shoot many of my other handguns "long" range simply because theres no place they are legal.

Oh we were also playing with my buddies 22TCM pistol this week. That thing is a blast at 100yds. got some video of the the gun but not what we were shooting at.
 
Well that went pretty well. I had to remember I sighted the gun in for a 6 o'clock hold on a 3" Shoot n See sticker at 25 yards. That led to a 6 o'clock hold on a 12" Shoot n See at 50. I won't impress anyone except myself at 50 yards, but it was better than last time I tried it.

I was surprised the trajectory put shots about 6" above PoA at 50 yards when they're only 1.5 to 2 inches higher at 25. Does that make sense?
 
Well that went pretty well. I had to remember I sighted the gun in for a 6 o'clock hold on a 3" Shoot n See sticker at 25 yards. That led to a 6 o'clock hold on a 12" Shoot n See at 50. I won't impress anyone except myself at 50 yards, but it was better than last time I tried it.

I was surprised the trajectory put shots about 6" above PoA at 50 yards when they're only 1.5 to 2 inches higher at 25. Does that make sense?

There should be very little difference in trajectory or point of impact between 25 and 50 yds.

35W
 
That's kinda what I thought. Yet when holding center of the 12" target, all the shots were in the upper 3rd, so about 5" high. Holding 6 o'clock the shots were in the center 3rd, with some in the 3" bullseye. It's also possible the groups are not consistent enough to really tell anything with certainty.
 
I meant to try again today but I ran out of time and had to get home. I was focusing on my Marlin 60. I did pick up a rest to use for next time.
 
That kinda what I'm headed for, but with a 6" barrel. I don't think I'll use a scope either. I'm shaky enough on handguns with the iron sights. I don't need a scope to show me how bad it really is.
 
Velocity & weight are your friend. Velocity flattens trajectory and bullet weight will help overcome the breeze a little . I'm not an expert , not even close. If I want to shoot a handgun 100 yards or more I go for this thing-
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It's a 10" barreled freedom arms m83 in 454 casull. It has an excellent trigger and enough power to put out heavy lead at high speed. You won't be putting this one in the waistband of your sweat pants but for a dedicated long (ish) range handgun it's tough to beat.

Stop posting pictures of this because I really shouldn't be buying one right now :eek:
 
I think is is exactly what Ruger’s excellent Super Blackhawk in .44 Mag with the 7.5” (or longer) barrel was made for. I have one in stainless, great results at 50 with iron sights, haven’t gone to 100 yet


My Ruger 38 snubbie, double action, steel at 90 yards.



This is great but doesn’t prove much besides that contact was made at a velocity sufficient to be heard at the firing line. Not going to take any animal I can think of with .38 slugs on a rainbow trajectory moving 475 FPS or less
 
Stop posting pictures of this because I really shouldn't be buying one right now :eek:
False. You should be buying one , you'll love it! I got a smoking deal on that one- bought originally in the late 80s and only fired maybe 20 times, I paid well below $1k last year , my wife screeched but she got over it. I thought about having FA shorten the barrel but figured I'd never buy a 10" barreled revolver by choice so I might as well keep it like that because I've got plenty of other more portable handguns and it's fun to play dirty Harry every now and then.
Good luck!
 
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