How far do you usually shoot your handguns?

A club I used to belong to used to require you to "qualify" at anything past 25 yards with a handgun. They used one of the black powder competition target's that was about 3' square, with a bull that was about 12". All you had to do was keep rounds on the paper, and you were good to go. You had to shoot from a bench though, and you couldnt shoot field positions.

The boy who shot it before me used a 38 Chief Special and was about dead on with it at 100. I was amazed.

I used my Glock 17, and held a tad too high, and had somewhat of a group at 12 on the bull.

The clubs main concern was you would send a round over the berms and into the surrounding neighborhoods. Kind of silly actually, as there was about a100' vertical cliff behind the berms and a prison on top of that, so you'd have to be WAY off to do that.

Then again, look at the ceilings of just about any range that has a cover/roof, and maybe there is something to it.

Usually 10-25 yards. If I can put all five shots on an eight inch target with my NAA revolver, it's a good day. Occasionally I'll try farther shots - a couple of days ago I was shooting poppers with my .357s out beyond 50 yards.

7 is typical. It’s difficult to see where I’m hitting a paper target much beyond 10 yards at an indoor range.

Well it says 500. Jk. 25 yds normally. Target .22s I always shoot from 50.View attachment 930829

Majority of my handgun shooting is 10-15 yards, 6" gong at 25, and attempting to shoot 8" gong at 50-100. Not very proficient with that part.

I practice mostly at 7 and 15 yards with pistols I frequently carry (9mm and .40) but on occasion will do a range day at 25 and 50 yards with my 6" barrel S&W's (.357 and .41 Magnum), and also my 10mm 1911.

25 yards. If I can put good groups there the short shot will take care of themselves.

I usually shoot at 25 yards even with my sp101 or Glock 43. I very occasionally with shoot at 10 yards. I also shoot at 50 yards.

LoonWulf said:

So I've heard that before also, are they afraid if folks shooting target stands, or other people's targets?

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The targets are hung from the wire snipe sign stands. Even on the 7 yard line there are holes in the 2x4 that the wire target hangers are hung from. This would put the center of a target about 2 feet below the 2x4. So, I'm guessing that is the first concern.
You should have been there for the discussion when I asked to shoot my SKS with the bayonet out to see the difference in POA to POI.

AK103K said:

There seems to be a difference in mentalities here.

Ramo was great at the movies (at first anyway ), but hes got no place in your practice regimen. Even high rates of fire have a purpose and are skill-driven, not wasteful.

Unless of course, youre just looking for a "mad minute".

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Definitely a different mindset. I go to the range because I enjoy it. I'm not worried about working on my ability to defend myself in any imagined scenario. However if it ever came to that I think my familiarity with my weapons would be at least somewhat useful. I shoot a lot, but it's pretty unstructured. Nothing wrong with running defensive drills if that's your thing, but I'm more there for the recreational aspects.

You know, different strokes for different folks.

mmb617 said:

Definitely a different mindset. I go to the range because I enjoy it. I'm not worried about working on my ability to defend myself in any imagined scenario. However if it ever came to that I think my familiarity with my weapons would be at least somewhat useful. I shoot a lot, but it's pretty unstructured. Nothing wrong with running defensive drills if that's your thing, but I'm more there for the recreational aspects.

You know, different strokes for different folks.

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I do both, and probably at about a 50/50 split.

Its all fun too though, even when it is work.

View attachment 931012

150 yards. But..........it wasn't my gun (was my dad's).
Had a Burris 1-4x scope on it and it sucked.
Yanked the scope a couple days before, and of course that's when a deer pops out at 60 or so...and walks down the Jeep trail to the corner.
Had a Dew on the way up, another in stand.......got kinda antsy for some reason and took a walk.
3rd was for photo only.

Little store we stop at for breakfast goodies was only place that had Pitch Black 2.
So I bought a case and had em in the back of the Jeep LOL

On the defensive stuff.............seen lots of folks shoot 25 yards only (closest distance at outdoor club).
They have no idea where impacts are up close.

Also, many a hobby shooter does OK on the range in a relaxed setting.
Do a little IPSC type of stage, where a timer goes off............and many will fumble and go to heck skill wise.

Learning to shoot under a bit of stress is not a bad thing.

Our club has a 7 yard area.
Some folks indoor (local range) and at club, only shoot 7 yards.
People tend to do what they feel most comfortable doing.

Worked at a shop w indoor range.
The average handgun owner...........should sell their gun and play golf.

I've even seen those who require a gun as part of their employment, miss full size silhouette targets, at 7 yards.
Not kidding.

When I had good eyes I liked shooting 8 3/8" Smith 48 and 629 on clay pigeons laying on the 100 yard bank.
Used to do that w my first SBH too.

My 4" Smith was max for 50 yards, sights too crude for me to run farther.
Kinda sucks about my Commander, being short sight radius.
Should put an adj rear on my P30L.

Great, hop on forum........and now gotta spend more money LOL

Howland937 said:

Majority of my handgun shooting is 10-15 yards, 6" gong at 25, and attempting to shoot 8" gong at 50-100. Not very proficient with that part.

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You will in time The thing is you are trying. Many don't.
Gotta learn how. And many just don't want to.

Like in archery, the longer stuff doesn't let you get by with being sloppy.
IMHO some longer shooting should be part of practice, to drive that home.

I live in a state that makes it hard to justify Self Defense at 25 yards or more. I practice usually between 10 and 20 yards.

3 to 25 for most of my indoor target work.

I shoot the same for my outdoor range, but at least there I can shoot fast and move instead of staying in a lane with a 1 per second max speed.

Today I had a retiree qualify, so I shot our retiree qual twice with my daily duty GLOCK 34 for fun.

It’s 30 rounds, not too tough;
5 shots two handed at 10 yds in 10 sec,
10 shots two handed at 7 in 10 sec,
5 strong hand and then 5 weak hand at 5 7secs each,
then a 2-2-1 failure drill at 3 in 5 sec.
I scored a 295/300/17X and then this 299/300/19X (I threw the very last weak-hand shot into the 9 at 5 yards )

For fun I also shot 15 rounds at 50 yards two hand standing, I hit the B-27 within the 7 ring 11 times. I then did it kneeling, put all but 2 within the 7 ring; most of my shots at this range were a tad high and left. (I don’t profess to be much of a long range shot with my GLOCK, in all honesty I was happy to just hit the paper at 50!)

I really need to focus on my front sight better. I keep finding myself shooting left of my intended point of impact.

Stay safe.

daniel craig said:

I live in a state that makes it hard to justify Self Defense at 25 yards or more. I practice usually between 10 and 20 yards.

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Things are getting crazy these days.......who knows how far one may have to shoot.

I benchrest all of my defensive pistols at 25 yards when developing loads for them and to see what the pistol is capable of. That way, when I miss, I can't blame the gun.

Going shooting today down at the cabin and have paper targets and reactive targets from 3 yards to 25 yards. Bringing my P365 (since it's always on me) and my new Remington R1 Limited 1911.

The days of 25&50-Yds Bullseye are over. Currently 3&7-Yds with the EDC.

Steel or paper?




GR