What guns or calibers are you shooting long range?
- Thread starter Ru4real
- Start date
- Status
In the photo is a 5.2 pound AR 5.56 pistol with a dot, 7.5 inch barrel shooting 55 grain factory IMI 855 ammo. Also a 4.2 pound scoped, 7.5 inch barrel Ruger Super Blackhawk in 45 Colt shooting 300 grain hand loads.
Both guns have 3 pound triggers. Both shoot one inch 25 yard groups and 4 inch 100 yard groups. Muzzle energy is 860 for the AR and 960 for the Ruger. Both are fun to shoot at distance a long ways past 100.
The handguns could not be more different. And both are frustrating in that you cannot just pick them up and expect to do well without dedicated practice. IMO, this type of shooting is becoming a lost art.
View attachment 1075789
Both guns have 3 pound triggers. Both shoot one inch 25 yard groups and 4 inch 100 yard groups. Muzzle energy is 860 for the AR and 960 for the Ruger. Both are fun to shoot at distance a long ways past 100.
The handguns could not be more different. And both are frustrating in that you cannot just pick them up and expect to do well without dedicated practice. IMO, this type of shooting is becoming a lost art.
View attachment 1075789
I don't know what you consider 'long range', but I have two rifles chambered in 7.62x51/308 that I shoot as far out as 400m (far as my local range goes). While I will occasionally take aim at a 6" steel target at 100m, my 10mm pistols are primarily for defensive situations.
shoobe01
Member
Agree, long range is very different things to different people. I don't do long range compare to many I know, but use the .308 out to 900 pretty reliably. It's very scary to targets at close to a mile, but never /quite/ gotten on.
ETA: oops, forums. Handgunnery. Okay then...
Now I have the RDS on, I try to shoot to 100 yds every time I am at the range with my otherwise boring old M&P 9. 25 yds used to be a pretty good distance, now with the dot if I do my part offhand I should be able to hit a full sized IDPA/IPSC steel every single time. Need to find time to stretch it, see how it does at 150, 200? Further?
ETA: oops, forums. Handgunnery. Okay then...
Now I have the RDS on, I try to shoot to 100 yds every time I am at the range with my otherwise boring old M&P 9. 25 yds used to be a pretty good distance, now with the dot if I do my part offhand I should be able to hit a full sized IDPA/IPSC steel every single time. Need to find time to stretch it, see how it does at 150, 200? Further?
Last edited:
.308 Norma
Member
7mm IHMSA in a 14" Remington XP-100.
Old_Grouch
Member
For long range (rarely beyond 100 yd) I use my 8 3/8" Barrel Model 27.
For short range (25 yd) any one of several 4" barrel revolvers loaded with .38, my 4" Redhawk .45 Colt, or occasionally a 9mm auto.
For short range (25 yd) any one of several 4" barrel revolvers loaded with .38, my 4" Redhawk .45 Colt, or occasionally a 9mm auto.
Old_Grouch
Member
I can't think that anything smaller than 24'' would even be easily visible without magnification at 400. The other size determining factor is the accuracy of the gun itself. A handgun that will hold 1/2" at 25 yds is considered pretty darned accurate. That translates to no better than 8" at 400 yards. Realistically I'd be expecting nearly double that.
Last edited:
bangswitch
Member
I rarely shoot a handgun beyond 25 yards, 50 is as far as I ever go. But I love long range rifle shooting; to me, long range is 500 yards and beyond. I have a scoped M1A and a custom built AR 6.5 Grendel that I use frequently. I've had the Grendel past 1000 yards several times, the M1A as far as 850 yards.
CoalCrackerAl
Member
Im not steady enough to shoot much over 50 yards with a handgun. My son though is. And he likes to shoot my SW 25-5 at my 12x20 steel siloutte target. And he hits it. He also shoots his Beratta Neos 22lr at it too. And hits it. Oh and he shoots them standing up.
xphunter
Member
Are you asking this question in reference to straight wall cartridges only?
Revolvers and or semi-autos only?
Last, are you asking about handguns with iron sights only?
Pudge
Member
Most of my shooting is done offhand, and my home range tops out at 100yds. I generally shoot 45-50yds, and, with my 22/45 and a red dot, can go 10/10 on the 6" steel. 7/10 on the 4" is a big deal for me. I need to reposition them to shoot a longer distance so I can stretch that .22 out.
xphunter
Member
When I am shooting scoped revolver or a AR-Pistol, I always try to find some kind of field rest. Very rarely do I shoot off-hand.
Prairie dogs past 300 yards is a lot of fun with my AR-Pistol.
On steel I will play a long ways out there with some of my scoped revolvers.
When hunting not as far.
Varminterror
Member
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2016
- Messages
- 14,883
2-4moa is about as tight as I’d trust the revolver to deliver.
The AR, 1-2moa. 400yrds isn’t yet LR for a bottleneck cartridge in a specialty pistol.
Varminterror
Member
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2016
- Messages
- 14,883
For 100+ yard handgunning, specialty pistols in bottleneck cartridges completely change the game. AR pistols have opened the world of specialty pistols to a lot of new folks which might have never otherwise considered a bolt or break action specialty pistol. My current flame is a 6 Creedmoor on a Savage Striker action.
For revolvers, I thoroughly enjoy Ruger length 44mags, 454 Casull, and especially 357/44 B&D.
For revolvers, I thoroughly enjoy Ruger length 44mags, 454 Casull, and especially 357/44 B&D.
xphunter
Member
This is so true!
I took a newbie to distance and specialty pistols last Thursday. 1350 yards on steel with a 15" HSP, chambered in 223 Remington.
He said, smoke was coming out of his ears for a couple of days afterwards, not hardly believing what he was doing with a 223 Remington. 10" steel from 300 yards to 900 yards. 12 or 14" at 1K, and a IPSC target at 1350 yards
A scoped 45 Colt pistol and a 223 AR pistol with a 4 MOA red dot, for me. For others, sky is the limit, I just want to learn what others are doing. Thanks for sharing in your later post.
I can do 3-4 MOA with the scoped Ruger. So far I cannot do 1-2 MOA with a 4 MOA red dot on the 223. The dot sizes contributes, IMO. But the dot size is perfect for 100 yards and less, quick acquisition.
That’s pretty impressive! Don’t think I could ever do that with a 4 MOA dot. But this AR pistol was built for making hits quickly. I’m trying to figure out what I should be trying to hit at 400 yards. I’m thinking the IDPA silhouette seems appropriate.
xphunter
Member
If you want more information from me, I would be glad to chat with you on this thread, PM, or phone.
The specialty pistols are what I enjoy most, and we will shoot them out past a mile just for giggles sometimes. I use them for hunting big game as well, and sometimes at distances some people wrestle with. I typically keep things under 700 yards when hunting, with 550 and under being most common.
I do hunt quite a bit with revolvers (some kind of optic), and I do shoot traditional iron sighted revolvers and semi-autos too.
xphunter
Member
Your AR pistol is not designed for distance, as you have said.
If I plan to use something for distance, I choose an optic that makes it easier for me to accomplish that.
That being said, there is nothing wrong with having fun with what you have.
It is hard to be critical with holdovers, but a man sized target makes it easier.
I have two different Seekins uppers for my AR-Pistol. The second one is just under 16", and I have engaged steel with it beyond 1000 yards with 69 grain SMK's.
With your AR pistol (If it had a 100 yard zero) will take about 37-47 inches of elevation to hit a 400 yard target
If I plan to use something for distance, I choose an optic that makes it easier for me to accomplish that.
That being said, there is nothing wrong with having fun with what you have.
It is hard to be critical with holdovers, but a man sized target makes it easier.
I have two different Seekins uppers for my AR-Pistol. The second one is just under 16", and I have engaged steel with it beyond 1000 yards with 69 grain SMK's.
With your AR pistol (If it had a 100 yard zero) will take about 37-47 inches of elevation to hit a 400 yard target
needmorecowbell
Member
CMMG Banshee 10mm if we’re talking pistol cartridges
Good info, thank you. Very interesting and helpful information in your posts. If I can hit a silhouette at 400, I will consider it success!
In the `1980's, I competed in IHMSA handgun silhouette with a 6" S&W Model 19 357 Magnum, 10" 357 Magnum T/C Contender and a Super 14 7mm International Rimmed T/C Contender. All worked great out to 200 meters.
Other cartridges may be better but it was I had at the time. I still have them.
Other cartridges may be better but it was I had at the time. I still have them.
Rockrivr1
Member
I have an Inglis Hi-Power clone that has a tangent sight that goes up to 500 yards. I've played around with it and I can get repeatable hits on a 100 yard steel silhouette target with regularity. After that though it gets a little dicey. I tried it set for 200 yards and could only manage a hit every once in a while when shooting at a similar silhouette target. I doubt I'd hit anything after 200 yards. Great gun though and I thoroughly enjoy shooting it.
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
