50 yards with defensive pistols.

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12Bravo20 said:
And there is nothing wrong with that either.

Now for some of us, we train as we fight. And for military veterans, that was drilled into us right away during boot camp/basic training. I always train for the worst case scenario and hope that I never have to use a firearm to take another life ever again. I will also try to retreat and/or avoid bad situations as much as possible. But I do want to know that I can make a shot if needed, so I practice.
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Roe now that I'm out could not be more different. There are basically no rules when dealing with nukes. Hostages, who cares.
 
Trey Veston said:
Not sure where you are getting that I advocate self-defense shooting at 50 yards. The whole thing started from hearing about the Tucson officer that shot a BG in the head at 43 yards. I was curious as to how accurate my defensive pistols were at greater distances. Now I'm getting lectured on lawsuits and legal issues?

I'm confused how someone extrapolates having fun at the range shooting long distances to someone either advocating or expecting defensive shooting scenarios at that range.
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Just following the drift of the thread. Your “head size” target reference set the tone of the thread. IMO. I my self carry a Ruger LCP. I’m not for even trying a shot beyond 25 yards.
 
"We all have the obligation to retreat...." Speak for your self brother. I have no such obligation.
 
In our recent King Soopers shooting this past spring, an armed citizen could have easily found themselves taking fire, cornered, and needing to engage the terrorist at 50 yards. This occured at a store in MY town where we frequently shopped. It is a valid data point for ME, regardless of what "recognized trainers" or internet pundits say about maximum defensive shooting distance. I make sure distance shooting is a portion of my training regimen. Even DAO or micro-pistols can be effective at such a distance with competent practice.
 
Drail said:
"We all have the obligation to retreat...." Speak for your self brother. I have no such obligation.
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True enough. But you do have an obligation if your return fire hits some one other than your intended target and unless you specifically train for just such an event ………..!!
 
P5 Guy said:
Talking the RSOs into letting me shoot any handgun at 50 yards is the bigger challenge.
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I regularly shoot at my local outdoor range….regularly at 50 yards.
If you are shooting Bullseye pistol, one third of the match is at 50 yards…standing, one hand.
 
“Sights for percussion revolvers are regulated for 100 yards.”

Are you sure about that? I have three of them and they all shoot dead on at 25 yards.
 
When the Illinois Police Training and Standards Board finally got around to creating a standard course of fire and mandating annual qualification around 2005 the made the 25 yard portion optional. I suspect this had more to do with not causing all the officers who hadn’t fired their weapon since the academy to be unable to work until they could qualify then any analysis of actual shootings.
 
While practicing at further distances is arguably helpful in shooting at closer distances its also arguably not real world related, unless we're going to go down that struck by lighting chance you're gunning down a mass shooter rabbit hole.

Cops, sure they sometimes take a shot a bit out. But as law abiding civilians we're not held to the same standards. Its actually much worse.

For SD I can understand going out to 25yds max but even that could very well be questionable. Thats not to say practice at longer distances can't help at closer ones. But there's a difference in for fun shooting versus training.

You'd be better off real world practicing at 15yds and in with a focus on drawing and getting hits on target. Also shooting from retention. Chances are much more likely if you ever have to draw your firearm in SD its going to be much closer than you think.
 
Good Ol' Boy said:
While practicing at further distances is arguably helpful in shooting at closer distances its also arguably not real world related, unless we're going to go down that struck by lighting chance you're gunning down a mass shooter rabbit hole.

Cops, sure they sometimes take a shot a bit out. But as law abiding civilians we're not held to the same standards. Its actually much worse.

For SD I can understand going out to 25yds max but even that could very well be questionable. Thats not to say practice at longer distances can't help at closer ones. But there's a difference in for fun shooting versus training.

You'd be better off real world practicing at 15yds and in with a focus on drawing and getting hits on target. Also shooting from retention. Chances are much more likely if you ever have to draw your firearm in SD its going to be much closer than you think.
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It wasn't a rabbit hole at the grocery store where my wife filled her prescriptions and I frequently picked-up items on the way home from work. I guess if there would have been any armed citizens present, they could have called out to the terrorist to "come closer" if he was outside the accredited defensive shooting distance.
 
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As a survival tactic 50 yard shots are sometimes the difference between dinner and death. A guy in the dorms back in college had a spot way back in the sticks that he would take the ladies to. He got his Camaro stuck one night and they had to walk out. That made me a firm believer in having a truck gun. 6 shots from a 357 may not mean 6 meals, but I’m going to connect on one of them. Critters aren’t hard to get to within 50 yards, any closer gets tough in a hurry, and a man should be able to put meat over a fire whether it be whitetail, rabbit, or more exotic fare like raccoon or groundhog. Learn your gun at all ranges and know your quitting point.
 
Jeff White said:
When the Illinois Police Training and Standards Board finally got around to creating a standard course of fire and mandating annual qualification around 2005 the made the 25 yard portion optional. I suspect this had more to do with not causing all the officers who hadn’t fired their weapon since the academy to be unable to work until they could qualify then any analysis of actual shootings.
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Yes indeed. Over a two year period I saw a lot of those officers attempt to qualify. It was simply unbelievable how incredibly poor their accuracy was and how they all had NO concept of muzzle safety. One of them actually fired a round into the ground right between my legs as he was walking up to the firing line from behind me. They all laughed. We still let them use our range for quals but whenever they showed up we would all leave.
 
Overqualified always beats under qualified, unless you are one of those mindless beauraucrats who fear people who know what they are about. Being competent with a handgun at distance makes shorter distances easier.

I agree, most shooting problems are closer, but that does not bar longer problems from arising. Now I know someone will claim, but the odds against a long range shot are miniscule. Yes. As is the chance of being shot at at all. So by the logic of the short only shooters, one might as well not have a defensive weapon.

So I'm an old coot. Anyone who cannot make a head shot at fifty yards simply cannot shoot well.
 
.455_Hunter said:
It wasn't a rabbit hole at the grocery store where my wife filled her prescriptions and I frequently picked-up items on the way home from work. I guess if there would have been any armed citizens present, they could have called out to the terrorist to "come closer" if he was outside the accredited defensive shooting distance.
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I have no idea what you're referring to.

Care to elaborate?
 
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